Beethoven's Logic

Discuss the rules of notation, standard notation practices, efficient notation practices and graphic design.
Post Reply
User avatar
John Ruggero
Posts: 2453
Joined: 05 Oct 2015, 14:25
Location: Raleigh, NC USA

Beethoven's Logic

Post by John Ruggero »

We find a "curious" omission of rests in the introduction to the fugue in Beethoven's Piasno sonata op. 106:
op 106.4 logic MS.jpeg
op 106.4 logic MS.jpeg (124.22 KiB) Viewed 2157 times
At least it seemed so to following later editions, which add a quarter and eight rest to fill in the lower voice.
op 106.4 logic B&H.jpeg
op 106.4 logic B&H.jpeg (46.24 KiB) Viewed 2157 times
Only the Schenker edition presents the text as written.

To me this spot epitomizes the difference between Beethoven's logic and that of an editor who seeks to make everything fit preconceived norms.

Clearly the F :ss leads to the G :s that follows in the tenor voice. Another composer might have added a double stem and maybe even a prolongation dot to make this explicit, as the owner of this copy of the first edition seems to have penciled in. (See red square in the first example.)

Beethoven, however, always concerned about spielfreude, felt that it was unnecessary to sustain the G#. And since he did not want to tell a musical lie by writing in rests for a voice that was not resting at all, but combined within the upper part, simply leaves out the rests. What could be simpler or more logical?
M1 Mac mini (OS 12.4), Dorico, Finale 25.5, GPO 4, Affinity Publisher 2, SmartScore 64 Pro, JW Plug-ins, TG Tools, Keyboard maestro

http://www.cantilenapress.com
User avatar
John Ruggero
Posts: 2453
Joined: 05 Oct 2015, 14:25
Location: Raleigh, NC USA

Re: Beethoven's Logic

Post by John Ruggero »

Here is Schenker's version:
op 106.4 Schenker.jpeg
op 106.4 Schenker.jpeg (58.1 KiB) Viewed 2149 times
Note the somewhat unusual use of 5 on the G# as shown by the arrow, which is designed to bring out the note as the real bass voice. This is just one example of Schenker's truly remarkable fingering in his edition of Beethoven's piano sonatas.
M1 Mac mini (OS 12.4), Dorico, Finale 25.5, GPO 4, Affinity Publisher 2, SmartScore 64 Pro, JW Plug-ins, TG Tools, Keyboard maestro

http://www.cantilenapress.com
Post Reply