Redoutensaal with masked ball, engraving by Weimann Photo (c) Julia Teresa Friehs

12 German Dances, WoO 13 for piano (1796, Beethoven aged 25

no.1 in D major
no.2 in B flat major
no.3 in G major
no.4 in D major
no.5 in F major
no.6 in B flat major
no.7 in D major
no.8 in G major
no.9 in E flat major
no.10 in D major
no.11 in A major
no.12 in D major

Dedication possibly Vienna Artists’ Pension Society
Duration 14′

Listen

Background and Critical Reception

The general feeling among Beethoven commentators is that this set of 12 German Dances, like the previous ones we have heard, were written for orchestra. It is reasonable to assume they would have been a repeat commission for the masked charity ball of the Viennese Artists’ Pension Society, given the success of the previous year’s commission in 1795, but on this occasion no orchestral scoring survives; just a short score for piano.

Thoughts

These are lively pieces and good fun to listen to – and no doubt good fun in the ballroom too. Their full value would be revealed there, for to listen to them without the dancing means they start to blend in to one after a while.

Recordings used and Spotify links

Gianluca Cascioli (DG)
Jenõ Jandó (Naxos)

 

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Also written in 1796 Cimarosa – I nemici generosi

Next up Piano Sonata no.5 in C minor Op.10/1