Sotheby's Again!

[lysander]

Has anyone heard that In December 1999 Sotheby's auction house in London excited Beethoven enthusiasts and collectors by listing in its sale catalogue an autograph manuscript of a completely unknown Beethoven work!
Beethoven composed a twenty-three measure allegretto for string quartet in 1817 and gave the two-leaf manuscript to English visitor Richard Ford, who wrote hos own inscription at the top of the page .
The Martin Bodmer foundation in Switzerland bought the manuscript for £150,000 .
The Foundation's pulication of the work includes a transcription of the 'Allegretto' (in score and parts) an on a slightly reduced facsimile of the manuscript.
Stephen Roe's introduction in German and English, recounts the history of the work's creation and rediscovery. Roe's brief description relates the intriguing fact that Beethoven wrote the Allegretto for Ford the same day that he completed his Fugue in D major for string quartet, Opus 137, also an allegretto.

[Rod]

We've discussed this piece here before. Regulars will have heard this piece too, as the premiere performance of it, by the Eroica Quartet, has been available for some time online at the BBC. Here is the link for you:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/467734.stm

The Fugue was in fact for string QUINTET. An excellent piece that bizarely never gets recorded. Stranger still considering the relative lack of Beethoven string quintet material. Op29, Op4 and the Fugue would make a good CD, if they can get it all onto 1 disk, that is.

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"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin


[This message has been edited by Rod (edited March 02, 2003).]

[lysander]

Originally posted by Rod:
We've discussed this piece here before. Regulars will have heard this piece too, as the premiere performance of it, by the Eroica Quartet, has been available for some time online at the BBC. Here is the link for you:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/467734.stm

The Fugue was in fact for string QUINTET. An excellent piece that bizarely never gets recorded. Stranger still considering the relative lack of Beethoven string quintet material. Op29, Op4 and the Fugue would make a good CD, if they can get it all onto 1 disk, that is.

Thankyou once again Rod for bringing this fascinating information to my attention and pointing me in the right direction.
Though I found the site, I was unable hear the piece, my windows media says it doesn't support the format I am trying to play.
I am very grateful for your help.
Regards
Lysander.

[Cocchini]

Originally posted by lysander:
Thankyou once again Rod for bringing this fascinating information to my attention and pointing me in the right direction.
Though I found the site, I was unable hear the piece, my windows media says it doesn't support the format I am trying to play.
I am very grateful for your help.

Lysander.

LYSANDER; If you go to the following site: http://www.realnetworks.com/freeplayer/, you can download a free copy of RealPlayer which will allow you to hear this work.

Cheers,
Alfred