Beethoven in his lifetime published three sets of
bagatelles, Opus 33, 119, and 126. He is also known to
have written several that were either never published
or were published posthumously, as is the case of his
well-known Für Elise.
This transcription of the newly discovered unpublished
bagatelle in E flat was prepared by Don Rechtman, who,
according to the American Musicological Society, is
arguably one of the worst musicologists to ever attempt
to join the organization. It is his sincer...(+)
Beethoven in his lifetime published three sets of
bagatelles, Opus 33, 119, and 126. He is also known to
have written several that were either never published
or were published posthumously, as is the case of his
well-known Für Elise.
This transcription of the newly discovered unpublished
bagatelle in E flat was prepared by Don Rechtman, who,
according to the American Musicological Society, is
arguably one of the worst musicologists to ever attempt
to join the organization. It is his sincere hope that
the presentation of this work by Beethoven will either
reverse their opinion or provide sufficient cause to
affirm their original impression.
During his brief stay in 1968 as a composition major at
the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, he
accidently meandered into the closed archives in the
attic of the library. He carefully borrowed several
documents that he thought might be of interest, and for
safe keeping, placed them in a box in his own attic
where they resided for many years.
He came upon the aged manuscript during his first ever
annual housecleaning, and quickly recognized its value.
He worked tirelessly to transcribe Beethoven’s
scribbles, and possessing a similar illegible style of
writing, Don was able to record the manuscript in the
form seen here. He attempted to include only those
scribbles that seemed to make some sense, including
metronome markings, dynamics, and pedaling.
Unfortunately, it was not ready in time for the
Beethoven 250th Anniversary celebrations, but it at
least is available for the 300th Anniversary
celebration.
A Sibelius-generated (follow the cursor" video is on
the web page at
http://www.orfeomusic.org/Music/Bagatelle/Bagatelle.htm
