Beethoven Gesamtausgabe
Encyclopedia
The Beethoven Gesamtausgabe is the first collected edition of the works of Ludwig van Beethoven
. Its full title is Ludwig van Beethovens Werke: vollständige kritisch durchgesehene überall berechtige Ausgabe (which roughly translated means Ludwig van Beethoven's Works: complete, critical, thoroughly revised, authorized edition). It was published between 1862 and 1865, with a supplementary volume appearing in 1888.
The edition contained 263 works arranged in twenty four "series". While a groundbreaking achievement, its limitations soon became apparent. Musicologist Friedrich Spiro delivered a paper to the Fourth Congress of the International Music Society in 1911 that advocated a revision of the Gesamtausgabe. Spiro pointed out both numerous inaccuracies in its musical text and various authentic works of Beethoven that were never included (such as Op. 134, Beethoven's own piano duet arrangement of his Große Fuge
, Op. 133).
Subsequently, Willy Hess
prepared a catalogue of those authentic works of Beethoven not included in the Gesamtausgabe, a catalogue that was published in 1957.
In providing annotation for the celebrated recording of Beethoven's piano concerto
s by Steven Lubin
and Christopher Hogwood
, Prof. Robert S. Winter noted that the parts available for the concertos at the time of the recording (1987) were the same ones available when the Gesamtausgabe was completed. He points out both that the original sources which have come down to us of the concertos can be ambiguous, and that even in instances where they were not, "the anonymous editors of the concertos [in the Gesamtausgabe] dressed them in 1860s garb--a wholly understandable response. In other instances they simply misconstrued the sources". Part of this, Winter suggests, can be attributed to the fact that the piano
changed significantly between Beethoven's time and the time when the Gesamtausgabe appeared. (A similar phenomenon is observable when one compares the piano concertos of Mozart
as originally written by the composer and the versions of the Alte Mozart-Ausgabe
published in the 1870s; the latter have numerous changes, particularly in matters of phrasing.)
A new complete edition of Beethoven's music began publication in 1961, initiated by the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn
. However, the work on this was reported in 1991 by Nicholas Marston to be proceeding slowly. According to their website, 56 volumes are projected of which half have now been published.
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
. Its full title is Ludwig van Beethovens Werke: vollständige kritisch durchgesehene überall berechtige Ausgabe (which roughly translated means Ludwig van Beethoven's Works: complete, critical, thoroughly revised, authorized edition). It was published between 1862 and 1865, with a supplementary volume appearing in 1888.
The edition contained 263 works arranged in twenty four "series". While a groundbreaking achievement, its limitations soon became apparent. Musicologist Friedrich Spiro delivered a paper to the Fourth Congress of the International Music Society in 1911 that advocated a revision of the Gesamtausgabe. Spiro pointed out both numerous inaccuracies in its musical text and various authentic works of Beethoven that were never included (such as Op. 134, Beethoven's own piano duet arrangement of his Große Fuge
Große Fuge
The Große Fuge , Op. 133, is a single-movement composition for string quartet by Ludwig van Beethoven. A massive double fugue, it originally served as the final movement of his Quartet No. 13 in B major but he replaced it with a new finale and published it separately in 1827 as Op...
, Op. 133).
Subsequently, Willy Hess
Willy Hess (composer)
Willy Hess was a Swiss musicologist, composer, and famous Beethoven scholar. He achieved fame after compiling and publishing a catalogue of works of Beethoven that were not listed in the "complete" edition. He orchertrated the Piano Concerto No...
prepared a catalogue of those authentic works of Beethoven not included in the Gesamtausgabe, a catalogue that was published in 1957.
In providing annotation for the celebrated recording of Beethoven's piano concerto
Piano concerto
A piano concerto is a concerto written for piano and orchestra.See also harpsichord concerto; some of these works are occasionally played on piano...
s by Steven Lubin
Steven Lubin
Steven Lubin is an American pianist and musical scholar. He is best known for his performances on the fortepiano, the early version of the piano.-Studies:...
and Christopher Hogwood
Christopher Hogwood
Christopher Jarvis Haley Hogwood CBE, MA , HonMusD , born 10 September 1941, Nottingham, is an English conductor, harpsichordist, writer and musicologist, well known as the founder of the Academy of Ancient Music.-Biography:...
, Prof. Robert S. Winter noted that the parts available for the concertos at the time of the recording (1987) were the same ones available when the Gesamtausgabe was completed. He points out both that the original sources which have come down to us of the concertos can be ambiguous, and that even in instances where they were not, "the anonymous editors of the concertos [in the Gesamtausgabe] dressed them in 1860s garb--a wholly understandable response. In other instances they simply misconstrued the sources". Part of this, Winter suggests, can be attributed to the fact that the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
changed significantly between Beethoven's time and the time when the Gesamtausgabe appeared. (A similar phenomenon is observable when one compares the piano concertos of Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
as originally written by the composer and the versions of the Alte Mozart-Ausgabe
Alte Mozart-Ausgabe
The Alte Mozart-Ausgabe is the name by which the first complete edition of the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, is known nowadays, published by Breitkopf & Härtel from January 1877 to December 1883, with supplements published until 1910...
published in the 1870s; the latter have numerous changes, particularly in matters of phrasing.)
A new complete edition of Beethoven's music began publication in 1961, initiated by the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
. However, the work on this was reported in 1991 by Nicholas Marston to be proceeding slowly. According to their website, 56 volumes are projected of which half have now been published.
Sources
- Nicholas Marston, "Beethoven Literature: Editions of the Music," in Barry Cooper, ed., The Beethoven Compendium (Ann Arbor, MI: Borders Press, 1991). ISBN 0-681-07558-9. pp. 314–6.
- Robert S. Winter, "Beethoven and the Piano Concertos," liner notes to Ludwig van Beethoven: The Five Piano Concertos as performed by Steven Lubin, piano, and the Academy of Ancient MusicAcademy of Ancient MusicThe Academy of Ancient Music is a period-instrument orchestra based in Cambridge, England. Founded by harpsichordist Christopher Hogwood in 1973, it was named after a previous organisation of the same name of the 18th century. The musicians play on either original instruments or modern copies of...
directed by Christopher Hogwood, L'Oiseau Lyre 421 408-2, released in 1988.
External links
- "The Unheard Beethoven": Website containing numerous Beethoven works omitted from the "Gesamtausgabe" and catalogued by Hess.
- Information on the new complete edition of Beethoven from the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn.