Twelve Ecossaises for orchestra WoO 16a
Composition
Authorship and history unknown, first edition under Beethoven's name in 1806
On 21 March 1807 the Viennese publisher Traeg advertised Twelve Ecossaises for two violins and double bass (or two flutes and horn, or for solo piano) by Ludwig van Beethoven, which he then marketed. The actual publisher was Rudolph Werkmeister in Berlin. As we know today, they are not works by Beethoven but anonymous arrangements of Beethoven themes. Beethoven himself had nothing to do with this edition, as he never had any business dealings with Werkmeister. The first publisher in Berlin with whom he had contact was Schlesinger in 1819. (J.R.)
