Ludwig van Beethoven, Skizzenblatt zur Klaviersonate op. 28, Autograph

Lost trace

A further leaf is glued onto this autograph sketch leaf for the Piano Sonata op. 28. We know this leaf, or at least the text and handwriting. It is the certificate of authenticity that the Viennese art and music dealer Ignaz Sauer (1759-1833) always attached to the autograph scores by Beethoven which he sold. Sauer had acquired a sketchbook at the auction of Beethoven's musical estate, which he later took apart and sold to collectors leaf by leaf. He added a handwritten certificate to each leaf. This certificate is not least one of the most important clues for the reconstruction of the sketchbook. Other leaves in the Beethoven-Haus collection which also have one are HCB Mh 66 and HCB BSk 10.

We know of a total of seven leaves with sketches for the Sonata op. 28 and all of them are from the "Sauer Sketchbook". On the leaf shown here there is a sign that at least one further leaf must have existed, of which we no longer have any trace. Beethoven noted the second part of an insertion sign "-de" above the ninth stave on the first page. The corresponding "Vi-", which generally comes in front, is not on this leaf. Beethoven used the syllables "Vi-de" to show passages that were to be replaced. He never used one of the two syllables on its own. The fact that one part is missing can only mean one thing: this part was on another leaf (possibly on the previous or next page, as the sketchbook was still bound and in use). None of the other six known leaves with sketches for op. 26 bears a corresponding sign. So there must have been a further leaf with sketches for this piano sonata. Sometimes (rarely) leaves which have disappeared do turn up again. But we should not get our hopes up. (J.R.)