Presents

Ludwig van Beethoven

Präludium and Fugue in e minor, H.29

for 2 Violins and Violoncello

Beethoven’s Präludium und Fuge for Two Violins and Violoncello was composed in 1795 while he was studying composition with Johann Georg Albrechtsberger, the most famous teacher then living at the time. The Präludium, which serves as the first movement, is written in so-called free counterpoint, which allows far greater rhythmic and melodic freedom than so called astrict counterpoint. By free counterpoint Albrechtsberger meant in the style of Johann Sebastian Bach. The Präludium was originally conceived as a Nachahmungssatz, or Imitative Movement, a piece in which the voices imitate one another. In a Nachahmungssatz, Albrechtsberger required his students to observe many specific rules, but these were not as strict as those required to be followed in a fugue. Beethoven's autograph score has several corrections made by Albrechtsberger. Later, when he wrote down a fair copy of this piece, Beethoven included all these corrections. Though headstrong and not particularly fond of being corrected, in this instance, Beethoven obviously accepted the validity of Albrechtsberger's corrections.

The Fugue is based on a chromatic theme. It does not occur on the list of themes which Albrechtsberger regularly gave to his students, so most likely it was a theme by Beethoven. Beethoven was understandably proud of his achievement as witnessed by the fact that he later combined his Nachahmungssatz (the prelude) with the fugue, to form the Präludium and Fugue which he clearly intended for public performance and publication. On the fair copy, the words "mit einem Presto endigen" ("to end with a Presto") in Beethoven's handwriting appear. However, the Presto was never written, nor was the piece published during his lifetime

Parts: $14.95