Johann Joseph Fux, Gradus ad Parnassum, Auszug, Partitur, Autograph Beethovens

Collection of textbooks

The appropriate specialist literature, generally including a handful of standard works, is part of every theoretical education. This is also the case with musicians and composers who not only write compositions but also have to learn the theory behind them. In the eighteenth century the music theory textbook "Gradus ad Parnassum" by Johann Joseph Fux, which was first published in Vienna in 1725, was a key work for those studying composition. The original edition in Latin was such a great success that its use was widespread and it was soon translated into German, Italian, French and English. It was not possible to avoid "Gradus ad Parnassum" and it soon became the epitome of counterpoint. Beethoven had also studied the work and had a copy of his own.

However, Beethoven probably did not make the copy of the two four-part fugues from the "Gradus" shown here for his own use. From 1809 onwards he had a rather special pupil, the only one to whom he not only taught practical but also theoretical music. This was the Archduke Rudolph. In preparation for these lessons, Beethoven compiled a complete compendium of extracts from the relevant works of theory of the time (on figured bass and counterpoint), from which he copied out interesting or important parts. (J.R.)