Beethoven Cadenza

1st movement cadenza, Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major by Ludwig van Beethoven

Fanny wrote this cadenza to Beethoven’s first Piano Concerto (op. 15) in April 1823 at age 17. It is likely that she performed the concerto as a soloist at one of her mother’s Sunday house concerts around that time.

Ludwig van Beethoven was one of Fanny’s favorite composers since childhood. She even named her son Sebastian Ludwig Felix, after her three favorite composers (Bach, Beethoven, and her brother).

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(download the score to Beethoven’s Concerto No. 1 on IMSLP)

HenselPushers edition notes:

• The manuscript can be viewed here: MA Ms. 33.