Ludwig van Beethoven, Skizzenblatt zur Sinfonie Nr. 9 op. 125, 1. Satz, Autograph

A leaf from the "Notirungsbuch K"

Here you can see one of the many remaining leaves with sketches for the Ninth Symphony op. 125; this one contains sketches for the first movement. The leaf originally belonged to a complete sketchbook, which was sold at the auction of Beethoven's estate in November 1827. It was bought by the publisher Artaria under the name "Notirungsbuch K". Sketchbook K no longer exists as a complete book, but its parts are located in different libraries. The largest part of the book is the so-called Engelmann Sketchbook, which bears the number HSB Mh 60 and is in the Beethoven-Haus. The leaf shown here was originally part of the Engelmann Sketchbook and thus is one of the pieces from which Sketchbook K can be reconstructed. (J.R.)