Ludwig van Beethoven, Skizzenblatt zur Messe op. 123, Autograph

Vague date

From its appearance this sketch leaf was used like a leaf from a pocket sketchbook: it is folded in the middle and written in pencil. However, it cannot be assigned to one of the known pocket sketchbooks with sketches for the Missa solemnis, nor can it be assigned a date. The majority of the sketches for the Credo in the sketchbooks "Wittgenstein" and "Artaria 195" as well as in the pocket sketchbooks "BH 107" and "BH 108", which all contain sketches for the Missa solemnis, were all done at the earliest around the end of the year (November/December) 1819 and were completed by the end of March/beginning of April 1820. Later only single sketches appear sporadically for the Credo. So it is probable that the sketches on this leaf were done during the main phase of work on the sketches for the Credo, that is in the first quarter of 1820. As is often the case, only a vague date can be assigned and not one with any certainty. The maximum time frame is as follows: Beethoven began work on the mass in 1819 and had completed the autograph score by the end of 1822 at the latest. (J.R.)