Draft:2 Preludes through all the Major Keys (Beethoven)
| 2 Preludes through all the Major Keys | |
|---|---|
| by Ludwig van Beethoven | |
 Beethoven in 1789, by Joseph Neesen | |
| Key | all major keys |
| Opus | 39 |
| Composed | 1789 |
| Published | 1803 |
| Scoring | Piano/Organ |
2 Preludes through all the Major Keys, Op. 39, is a set of two preludes by Ludwig van Beethoven. Composed in 1789, they were published in December 1803, along with his Romance No. 1 for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 40, and a Serenade for Piano and Flute, Op. 41. Although the original autograph is lost, a copy from Artaria still exists in Berlin.[1]
The first prelude is 6 minutes long, which gives a substantial amount of time for key changes.[1] Each key occupies between 2 and 26 measures in length, starting and ending in C major. The original ending to this prelude is now its own composition, catalogued as Hess 310.[1] The second prelude is highly virtuosic, as it cycles through all the keys twice in less time than the first prelude, starting and ending in C major.[2]
References
External Links
- 2 Preludes, Op. 39: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project