Bagatelles, Opus 119 (Beethoven)
Encyclopedia
The Eleven Bagatelles
, Op. 119 were written at various times by Ludwig van Beethoven
between the 1790s and the early 1820s. By the end of 1803, he had already sketched nos. 1–5 (along with several other short works for piano that he never published). In 1820, he composed nos. 7–11 and published them as a set of five (1821). In 1822, he went through his old bagatelle sketches to construct a new publishable collection from them, ultimately settling on what are now known as nos. 1–5. He then composed no. 6 (late 1822) as a concluding piece to that set, which he sent off to England for publication in 1823, along with nos. 7–11 (which had not yet been published in England).
The English publisher printed all eleven bagatelles together as one collection, and it is unclear to what degree this represents the composer's intentions. Some scholars have argued that the two halves of Op. 119 (nos. 1–6 and nos. 7–11) are best thought of as separate collections. But it is also possible that when Beethoven composed no. 6 in late 1822, he had already planned to send all eleven pieces to England and that no. 6 was meant not merely as a conclusion to nos. 1–5, but also as a way to connect nos. 1–5 to nos. 7–11 (thus forming a larger set in two parts). Key relationship and thematic similarities between no. 6 and no. 7 support this hypothesis, as does the fact that in subsequent correspondence, Beethoven expressed only satisfaction with how the bagatelles were published in England.
Bagatelle (music)
A bagatelle is a short piece of music, typically for the piano, and usually of a light, mellow character. The name bagatelle literally means a "trifle", as a reference to the innocent character of the piece.-Earliest known bagatelle:...
, Op. 119 were written at various times by Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
between the 1790s and the early 1820s. By the end of 1803, he had already sketched nos. 1–5 (along with several other short works for piano that he never published). In 1820, he composed nos. 7–11 and published them as a set of five (1821). In 1822, he went through his old bagatelle sketches to construct a new publishable collection from them, ultimately settling on what are now known as nos. 1–5. He then composed no. 6 (late 1822) as a concluding piece to that set, which he sent off to England for publication in 1823, along with nos. 7–11 (which had not yet been published in England).
The English publisher printed all eleven bagatelles together as one collection, and it is unclear to what degree this represents the composer's intentions. Some scholars have argued that the two halves of Op. 119 (nos. 1–6 and nos. 7–11) are best thought of as separate collections. But it is also possible that when Beethoven composed no. 6 in late 1822, he had already planned to send all eleven pieces to England and that no. 6 was meant not merely as a conclusion to nos. 1–5, but also as a way to connect nos. 1–5 to nos. 7–11 (thus forming a larger set in two parts). Key relationship and thematic similarities between no. 6 and no. 7 support this hypothesis, as does the fact that in subsequent correspondence, Beethoven expressed only satisfaction with how the bagatelles were published in England.
- G minor. Allegretto
- C major. Andante con moto
- D major. A l'Allemande
- A major. Andante cantabile
- C minor. Risoluto
- G major. Andante — Allegretto
- C major. Allegro, ma non troppo
- C major. Moderato cantabile
- A minor. Vivace moderato
- A major. Allegramente
- B flat major. Andante, ma non troppo
See also
- Bagatelles, Op. 33
- Bagatelles, Op. 126