bagatelles, opus126

[christopher]

I'm looking for information on the opus126 bagatelles. Does anyone know anything about their origins? Is there anything written about them in any of the bios on Beethoven? Thanks for your help

[Peter]

Op.126 were intended to form a single entity as the note in the sketches reveals 'Ciclus von Kleinigkeiten' (cycle of little things - the word Bagatelle actually means 'trifle'). Their unified scheme is revealed in part by the key scheme - after the first two in G major/minor they move through a sequence of descending thirds. Written in 1824 after the last sonata and the Diabelli variations, they assimilate the language of these late works and are virtually Beethoven's last word on the piano.

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'Man know thyself'

[v russo]

Originally posted by Peter:
Op.126 were intended to form a single entity as the note in the sketches reveals 'Ciclus von Kleinigkeiten' (cycle of little things - the word Bagatelle actually means 'trifle'). Their unified scheme is revealed in part by the key scheme - after the first two in G major/minor they move through a sequence of descending thirds. Written in 1824 after the last sonata and the Diabelli variations, they assimilate the language of these late works and are virtually Beethoven's last word on the piano.

they are fabulous indeed! There is that late Beethoven Back-to-Bach approach which (like in the late sonatas) yields some fantastic results. These works are much more than a "trifle", but I am sure that was B's full intention. Beethoven had a way of making the most insignificant music forms..MOST SIGNIFICANT!

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v russo

[This message has been edited by v russo (edited February 27, 2004).]