Ludwig van Beethoven, Skizzenblätter zu "Ungarns erster Wohltäter" op. 117,8 und 9, Autograph

Pieces of the puzzle for King Stephen

In summer 1811 Beethoven was commissioned to compose incidental music to the stage work "König Stephan" ("King Stephen") for the celebratory opening of the Pest Theatre. Beethoven wrote the work within a few weeks, while he was taking the waters in Teplitz. The sketch leaf shows how Beethoven worked. He might well have been at the beginning of his work. A great many different ideas are written down like puzzle pieces which first have to be turned over and then put in the correct position before the actual task can be begun. At one point he already writes "le meilleur" (the best) - a note which often appears in Beethoven's sketches. He uses it to highlight ideas which he thinks are good and useful. Beethoven also made a note of parts of the text and descriptions of the action from the drama. Thus he linked the scene to be set to music and its atmosphere with the musical ideas that had already occurred to him. The different ink colours show that Beethoven worked with this leaf at different times. (J.R.)