Another Beethoven centered beam
- John Ruggero
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Another Beethoven centered beam
This one comes from the first movement of the Sonata op. 28:
In this case, Beethoven uses the centered beam to preserve normal stem direction for the three notes involved. But not to obey "the rules". He does it because he wants the stem direction to stay the same for the phrases on either side: up stems for the octave melody and down stems for the following little "fill" in mostly triplets.
It went against his musical instincts to write what was engraved in the first edition:
I see this again and again. It killed these composers to change stem direction in the middle of a musical unit and they only did it when forced to.
Here's an example of that from the same movement. The stems are going the "wrong way" at the arrow because he is continuing from the two voice writing immediately before. And it wouldn't do to change stem direction in the middle of a phrase (but that is exactly what later editions do). Then in the next measure he resumes normal stem direction because a new figure has started.
In this case, Beethoven uses the centered beam to preserve normal stem direction for the three notes involved. But not to obey "the rules". He does it because he wants the stem direction to stay the same for the phrases on either side: up stems for the octave melody and down stems for the following little "fill" in mostly triplets.
It went against his musical instincts to write what was engraved in the first edition:
I see this again and again. It killed these composers to change stem direction in the middle of a musical unit and they only did it when forced to.
Here's an example of that from the same movement. The stems are going the "wrong way" at the arrow because he is continuing from the two voice writing immediately before. And it wouldn't do to change stem direction in the middle of a phrase (but that is exactly what later editions do). Then in the next measure he resumes normal stem direction because a new figure has started.
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- John Ruggero
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Re: Another Beethoven centered beam
Here's another interesting Beethoven sighting. Note the broken beam in both first editions of the third movement of the sonata op. 31 no. 1. This appears to be another attempt to preserve the phrasing implications of a difficult-to engrave centered beam in the manuscript. See viewtopic.php?t=1074 Unforuntately, Beethoven's manuscript is lost so we will never know for sure.
Later editions don't break the beam, probably because such a strong break is not called for here. In some situations, a centered beam may have implied a milder shaping to musicians of the time.
Later editions don't break the beam, probably because such a strong break is not called for here. In some situations, a centered beam may have implied a milder shaping to musicians of the time.
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Re: Another Beethoven centered beam
What did you choose for your edition, in the end?
- John Ruggero
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Re: Another Beethoven centered beam
I decided to use a centered beam with a footnote explaining the situation, Neera
It seems that the tradition of converting centered beams into broken beams didn't die out in the 19th century. Here is what Schenker did with a passage from the third movement of Beethoven's Sonata op. 31. 2. First excerpt is from one of the two first editions, the second from Schenker's edition from the 1920s:
It seems that the tradition of converting centered beams into broken beams didn't die out in the 19th century. Here is what Schenker did with a passage from the third movement of Beethoven's Sonata op. 31. 2. First excerpt is from one of the two first editions, the second from Schenker's edition from the 1920s:
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Re: Another Beethoven centered beam
Good choice, John!
A pain to realise, perhaps, but much more expressive!
A pain to realise, perhaps, but much more expressive!
- John Ruggero
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Re: Another Beethoven centered beam
Thanks, Neera. I've done so many of these centered beams now that it has become much easier. Of course it would be great if the software were doing this automatically. But I don't think I'll suggest it at Dorico headquarters. They have enough "regular" stuff on their hands.
I just found that the 1999 Wiener Urtext edition also breaks the beams in the example from op. 31 no. 2.3 immediately above! So the phrasing implications of centered beams seems to be well-accepted by some.
Edit. Actually by everyone, it seems. The Breitkopf Complete Works, von Buelow, Old Peters, Schnabel, Assocated Board, Arrau, Henle editions, all break the beams! This tradition goes way back before Schenker. The question is who started it. Perhaps it was Breitkopf Complete Works. The sources before that at IMSLP like Hummel and Andre use centered and non-centered unbroken beams at this spot as in the first editions.
I just found that the 1999 Wiener Urtext edition also breaks the beams in the example from op. 31 no. 2.3 immediately above! So the phrasing implications of centered beams seems to be well-accepted by some.
Edit. Actually by everyone, it seems. The Breitkopf Complete Works, von Buelow, Old Peters, Schnabel, Assocated Board, Arrau, Henle editions, all break the beams! This tradition goes way back before Schenker. The question is who started it. Perhaps it was Breitkopf Complete Works. The sources before that at IMSLP like Hummel and Andre use centered and non-centered unbroken beams at this spot as in the first editions.
Last edited by John Ruggero on 09 Mar 2024, 03:16, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Another Beethoven centered beam
Here’s an excerpt from an edition I’ve recently curated.
The first edition (Breitkopf, 1840) has the centred beam as I’ve decided to keep, while the two revisions that followed (Breitkopf & Litolff, both 1890-1910, not sure of the exact date) forced the beam all in one direction—whichever you choose in this case makes the slur look awkward.
- John Ruggero
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Re: Another Beethoven centered beam
The centered beam and slurring look fine to me. Centered beams over large intervals never really went out of fashion. I did wonder about the numbers. Is that piano fingering?
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Re: Another Beethoven centered beam
Ahah, sorry, it lacked a tiny bit of context!
These are duets for two cellos, and the numbers are fingerings, yes!
These are duets for two cellos, and the numbers are fingerings, yes!
- John Ruggero
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Re: Another Beethoven centered beam
Fooled me. I thought: very strange piano fingering...
I'm accustomed to seeing a straight brace for instrumental duets rather than a piano brace. I went looking around at IMSLP a little and found one use of a piano brace. Maybe a cello tradition? The rest were straight braces.
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif)
I'm accustomed to seeing a straight brace for instrumental duets rather than a piano brace. I went looking around at IMSLP a little and found one use of a piano brace. Maybe a cello tradition? The rest were straight braces.
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