Concerto No. 4 [antikvár]

BEETHOVEN, OR 58 PIANO CONCERTO NO 4, 0 MAJOR. According to the few sketches which reveal the date of this Concerto, it may be assumed that it was commenced in the year 1805. Offered to the publishers Hoffmeister Kühnel in Leipzig on JVlarch 271806, it was apparently still incomplete. But a letter lo Breitkopf Härtel dated July 5'h of the same year, proves that Beethoven intended the work to be offered to the publishers by his brother Karl, who was journeying to Leipzig. But this journey of his brother's must have been postponed, as otherwise, Beethoven would not have offered the same work to the same publisher on September 3 fd. The publishers stipulated for a three years contract comprising everything that Beethoven wrote, but negotiations broke down when, on November 18'h, the composer demanded 300 florins for the Piano Concerto and other works. In August 1808 the work was published by the Society of Arts and Industries, but in parts only. The first performance of the Concerto had already been played from manuscript in JVlarch 1807 in one of the two concerts inaugurated by Prince Lob-kowitz in his palace, devoted entirely to Beethoven's works, the piano part being played by the composer himself. The title of the original edition is: — "Fourth Concerto for Piano, with 1 st and 2nd Violins, Viola, Flute, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets, 2 Horns, 2 Bassoons, Trumpets, Drums, Cellos and Bass. Most respectfully dedicated to his Royal Highness the Arch Duke Rudolph von Oesterreich by L. van Beethoven op. 58. Vienna and Pesth Society of Arts and Industries (Publication No. 592)." The first full score was issued by the firm of C. F. Peters in Leipzig, but not until the year 1861. In 1863 Breitkopf & Härtel brought out the second score in the complete edition of Beethoven's works. The Eulenburg miniature score, which is now reprinted with this introduction was first published in 1899. The original manuscript of this work appears to have been lost. Wilh. Altmann