Flute Sonata in B-flat major (attributed to Beethoven)
The Flute Sonata in B-flat major, Anh. 4 [lower-alpha 1] is a composition attributed to Ludwig van Beethoven found amongst his papers after his death. It remained unpublished until 1906.
Background
Following Beethoven's death, a number of unpublished works were discovered amongst his papers including the Piano Trio, WoO. 38, the Piano Sonata, WoO. 51, the Rondino, WoO. 25 and this sonata for flute and keyboard.[1] Alexander Thayer noted that when the sonata was discovered, the manuscript was not in Beethoven's handwriting, making attribution to the composer problematic.[2]
The manuscript was initially obtained by Artaria & Co., who elected not to publish the composition.[2] The sonata was finally published in 1906 by Breitkopf & Härtel. The current location of the manuscript is unknown.[3]
Structure
The composition is in four movements.
- Allegro
- Polacca
- Largo
- Thema mit variationen: Allegretto
Typical performances last around 22 minutes.
Carla Rees, in a review of a recording of the sonata released by Naïve Records in 2008 noted that the sonata is a true duo with both instruments sharing in the melodic material, she also speculated based on the writing for the flute that the work may have been a transcription of a violin sonata.[3]
References
- Notes
- ↑ "Anh." denotes "Anhang" or "appendix" to the catalogue.
- ↑ Watson 2012, p. 288
- 1 2 Thayer 1921, p. 138
- 1 2 Rees 2008
- Sources
- Rees, Carla (2008-04-08). "Review: Music For Flute (Naive V5128)". Musicweb International. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
- Thayer, Alexander Wheelock (1921). The Life of Beethoven. 1. New York: G. Schirmer, Inc.
- Watson, Angus (2012). Beethoven's Chamber Music in Context. Woodbridge: Boydell Press. ISBN 978-1-84383-716-9.
External links
- Flute Sonata in B-flat Major, Anh.4: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
- "Flute Sonata in B-flat Major, Anh.4 performed by Zdenek Bruderhans (flute) and Stefan Ammer (fortepiano)". YouTube. 2011-05-02.
- "Flute Sonata in B-flat Major, Anh.4 performed by Shinya Koide (flute) and Eriko Habata (Piano) - Live Performance". YouTube. 2016-04-05.