The young composer: Beethoven before Op. 1

Beethoven was born and spent his formative years in Bonn, the then capital of the Electorate of Cologne. During this time he produced a number of works which, whilst they were not dignified by the composer with opus numbers (that privilege was reserved for a set of three piano trios written in 1793 (of which more later)), clearly signalled the emergence of a major musical talent. These pieces were subsequently given WoO numbers (Werke ohne Opuszahl/works without opus numbers); amongst them can be found Beethoven’s first published work (9 Variations on a March by Dressler, WoO. 63), a piano concerto (E-flat, WoO. 4) and a full scale funeral cantata on the death of the Emperor Joseph II (Trauerkantate auf den Tod Kaiser Josephs II, WoO. 87).

Bonn, under the Electors Maximilian Frederick and, later, Maximilian Franz, was one of the centres of the Aufklärung (Enlightenment); the young Beethoven grew up surrounded by ideas and ideals that were to have a profound effect on his mature thinking.


Scores:
9 Variations on a March by Dressler, WoO. 63 (original edition)


Music: (you must install Spotify to hear the music links below)
9 Variations on a March by Dressler, WoO. 63
Aria & Chorus Da stiegen die Menschen an’s Licht: Trauerkantate auf den Tod Kaiser Josephs II, WoO. 87

Text:
The calendar on the left (which, I confess, is more of a wish-list than a syllabus!) is also available for printing here.



Sessions start on Wednesday 5 October (2.30pm - 4.30pm) at the Community Hall, Hazel Court, Maes y Gollen,  Sketty Park, Swansea, SA2 8BP
Course fees have been kept at the same level as last year i.e. £30.00 (full), £20.00 (concession) and £5.00 (passport to study)


Please contact me if you have any queries: click here

Any copyrighted material on these pages is included as “fair use”, for the purpose of study, and critical analysis only, and will be removed at the request of the copyright owner(s).