Beethoven-1825 Canon for solo violin
Workshop recording, 20 9 14 Peter Sheppard Skaerved

Beethoven Canon (August 3 1825) on the practice desk

In the midst of preparing for my two lecture recitals about Beethoven in Glasgow next week, I took time out to record what seems to me to be Beethoven’s only piece for violin alone (published as ‘presumably for two violins’). It clearly has been put together to work for violin alone.

But more than that; it seems to me a wonderful, tiny glimpse into the composer, in a bagatelle state of mind, having just completed Op 132, and about to embark on the ‘Grosse Fuge’. I confess to love these tiny offcuts from composers’ workbenches.

Same day: 830pm. The post has elicited a flurry of excitement and discussion among composers and players. This arrived from the wonderful composer Martin Butler:

‘This is great! Students who I’ve told ‘write a canon before breakfast’ please note: something like this will do nicely’ (Martin Butler. 20 09 14)