Ludwig van Beethoven, Kanon "Herr Graf, ich komme zu fragen" WoO 221 und Skizzen zu unbekannten Werken, Autograph

Canon for Zmeskall

This sketch leaf is probably from the year 1797 and mainly contains sketches for unidentified works or ones which were not performed. On the front on the lower four staves Beethoven wrote down a three-part canon with the words, "Herr Graf, ich komme zu fragen wie Sie sich befinden, ob sie gut geschlafen und angenehm geträumt (...)" ("Dear Count, I come to ask how you are, whether you slept well and [had] pleasant dreams (...)"). The text leads one to believe that the Count referred to was Beethoven's friend Nikolaus Zmeskall, whom he often called the "musical Count". Zmeskall was a Hungarian official who carried out countless small tasks and everyday favours for Beethoven. He was also an amateur musician and a good cellist. Beethoven often sent him short messages, partly in the form of jokes as with this canon, to arrange a meeting or to request a favour. (J.R.)