Beethoven 1791

AGE 20 - 21 [1791]

Compiled by Gary D. Evans

Last Updated: March 25, 2019 6:59 PM

THE EARLY PERIOD

BONN: 1791 (Age 20 - 21)

Continued bursts of creative activity; 40% of work for voice -

From age 19-21 (1790-1792), Beethoven's creative output grew dramatically along with his maturity. Leaders in Bonn commissioned the two Emperor Cantatas, WoO 87 and WoO 88, to mark the death of Franz Joseph II in 1790 and the accession of Leopold II as Holy Roman Emperor. These were not performed at the time and were lost, then later discovered 90 years later.

Sometime late in December, 1790, Haydn traveled from Vienna to London and stopped in Bonn, where was introduced to Beethoven. On Haydn's July 1792 return trip from London back to Vienna, again stopping in Bonn, they met again and probably discussed the possibility of Beethoven beginning studies with him in Vienna at a future date.

image from 1801

WORKS CREATED

WoO 1: Ritterballett	Begun 1790, 1st performed 3/6/91
WoO 5: Violin Conc in C	(1st movement fragment only. Completed by Hellmesberger and published 1879 w/ dedication to Gerhard von Breuning)
WoO 38: Piano Trio#8 (piano, violin & cello) in Eb
WoO 51: Easy Pianoforte Sonata in C	(fragment - portions lost): (Dedicated & presented to Eleonore von Breuning) (2nd movement added to by Ferdinand Ries. 3rd movement is missing)
WoO 64: 6 variations for Harp or piano in F on a Swiss song
WoO 65: 24 variations in D on Arietta, "Venni Amore by Righini	Published in August. Dedicated to Countess von Hatzfeld.
WoO 89 Bass aria "Prufung des Kussens"
WoO 90: Bass aria "Mit Madeln sich vertragen"
WoO 92: Soprano Aria
WoO 111: Song, "Punschlied"
WoO 113: Song, "Klage"
Hess 89: Piano arrangement of Ritterballett (WoO 1)	(Unheard Beethoven mp3 file here)

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

DATE	LIFE NOTES
	By this time B. had dev. many friendships & contacts w/ aristocratic families (eg. Westerholts, Ekhoffs, Kochs). The Koch's ran a social and were for members of this group.
?	Excellent review as a pianist.
Mar 6	Count Ferdinand Waldstein had produced a Ballet in old German costume-Ritterballett which was performed by the local nobility. Beethoven wrote the music (WoO 1) but his name was not made public. [Kerman pg7]
Summer	Haydn, while in England took on new student: a widow, Rebecca Schrecter with whom he became romantically involved by winter - may subseq. have influenced his later lack of attention to B's teaching 1792 [Haydn p69]
Aug 30 ?	Court orch. traveled to Mergentheim where the Elector, Grand Master of the Tutonic Order, had to preside over its sessions for several weeks. He arranged to have his orchestra travel w/him. They journeyed up the Rhine & Main in two yachts with perfect weather and all were very playful. Lux, a singer and famous comedian was playfully elected the Great King of the Journey. He assigned duties & B. w/ Bernhard Romberg were assigned the kitchen. B. was presented with a mock diploma promoting him thru kitchen ranks, it was ceremoniously tied with unraveled strands of the ships rigging giving it an official look. B. retained it thru the years as a memento. While there, B. & friends traveled to Aschaffenburg, the summer palace of the Electors of Mainz to visit the famous pianist, Sterkel. Sterkel challenged B. to play his own Righini Variations (WoO 65). B. initially declined until Sterkel suggested B. could not possibly remember them in any case (the music score could not then be found for reading). B. took the challenge & played brilliantly, including variations that had not previously been heard. Furthermore, B. played using Sterkel's light and graceful style that B. had heard that evening - imitating the style perfectly. All were amazed!) ? Oct 20
Dec 5	Mozart died in Vienna.
Dec 28	Fourth opera season in Bonn - works performed included those of Mozart, Dittersdorf, Paisiello, and Dalayrac.