Chapter 9. On ornaments

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Manuscript music

Pages 65-66 of an unidentified manuscript method book for piano with instructions on realization of musical ornaments.

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Campus

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["Purchase, eBay 20090928"]

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Notes

Little is known about the kind of keyboard instruction Beethoven received as a child. Books of keyboard exercises, such as those by Czerny, Cramer and Clementi, became widespread only in the nineteenth century, though various method books circulated in manuscript form in the eighteenth century, such as the two pages shown here. The fortepiano was still a new instrument during Beethoven’s childhood, and his early keyboard lessons apparently did not emphasize the nuanced touch required on this instrument (as opposed to the organ, which does not distinguish between loud and soft). Beethoven’s encounter with the famous virtuoso pianist Abbé Sterkel in Aschaffenburg in 1791 seems to have influenced his playing. According to Wegeler Beethoven was reluctant to perform after Sterkel since his own playing was “rough and hard” in comparison, but he surprised everyone present by perfectly imitating Sterkel’s manner of playing.

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This work is in the public domain and therefore the digital images attached to this catalog record may be used without permission. Credit statements for these images should read “From the collections of the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies, San José State University.” For information on obtaining higher resolution reproductions and permission to publish, see the Beethoven Center's website https://www.sjsu.edu/beethoven/collection/library-materials/index.php

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