Ludwig van Beethoven, Skizzenblätter zu den Streichquartetten op. 132 und op. 130, Partiturskizze, Autograph

Connection between two string quartets

Beethoven wrote three string quartets for the Russian Prince Nikolaus Galitzin: opp. 127, 132 and 130 (in the order they were written). This bifolium with sketches shows how closely connected the Quartets opp. 132 and 130 are as far as their genesis is concerned. The first page contains score sketches for the third movement "Heiliger Dankgesang" from the String Quartet op. 132. The remaining three pages (2-4) contain drafts for a movement in A major, which was actually intended as the final movement for op. 132. We know it today in G major as the fourth movement "Alla danza tedesca" in the Quartet op. 130. Anton Schindler had already made the connection between these two quartets in his Beethoven Biography of 1860. As evidence he claimed the manuscript of the original movement in A major had survived. Without a doubt the original version mentioned is the bifolium from Wegeler's collection, which used to be in Schindler's possession. (J.R.)