Ludwig van Beethoven, Skizzenblatt zum Streichtrio op. 9,1 und einer unvollendeten Klaviersonate, Autograph

Early sketches, still legible

Throughout Beethoven's life sketches formed the basis for the work on his compositions. He not only wrote down every musical idea, but also preserved his sketches right up until his death. Whereas he used bound sketchbooks in his later years, Beethoven mainly used single leaves or unbound sheets until around 1798. His handwriting also changed during this time. After 1800 his writing had reached its famous illegibility and hardly changed any more. However, in the years prior to this he often modified it and was much more careful. This single leaf, dating from between the end of 1797 and spring 1798, contains drafts for piano variations in E-flat major on the front page, probably intended for the last movement of a sonata (which was not completed). On the reverse there are sketches for the second and fourth movement of the String Trio op. 9 no. 1. (J.R.)