In the "Dressler" Variations of 1782, WoO 63, Beethoven takes a simple, laborious C-minor march theme through nine variations. It is very remarkable that these earliest variations, the first published Beethoven work, would show all those traits that would become typical for him: the C minor key, the march rhythm, and also the variation form. An intensification of motion becomes apparent, at first in the 2nd variation, and with alternating use of the right and the left hand, which already appear united in virtuoso style in the 5th variation.
Inevitably primitive by his later standards, the "Dressler" Variations are impressive enough for an eleven-year old, through they hardly suggest the genial power he would develop in this genre within the next eight years, for example in the far more polished "Righini" Variations of 1790. What is surprising, however, is that more than twenty years later, in 1803, when he was in the flush of maturity and starting full-scale work on the Eroica Symphony, Beethoven agreed to a new edition of the "Dressler" Variations, with only some light improvements made by him or someone else.
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[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ospXVaJHfSY&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]
Inevitably primitive by his later standards, the "Dressler" Variations are impressive enough for an eleven-year old, through they hardly suggest the genial power he would develop in this genre within the next eight years, for example in the far more polished "Righini" Variations of 1790. What is surprising, however, is that more than twenty years later, in 1803, when he was in the flush of maturity and starting full-scale work on the Eroica Symphony, Beethoven agreed to a new edition of the "Dressler" Variations, with only some light improvements made by him or someone else.
If quoting this post in response, please edit out the Youtube link.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ospXVaJHfSY&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]
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