The Flemish Department of Culture has acquired two manuscripts by Ludwig van Beethoven. These are manuscripts of the composition of his first piano sonata. These manuscripts will be included in the list of “Flemish Masterpieces”. Unbeknown to many there is an interesting link between Flanders and Beethoven.
Flemish Department of Culture acquires two manuscripts from Beethoven's first piano sonata
Published:
Only a few manuscripts of Beethoven's first piano sonata in F minor are known to exist worldwide. The two manuscripts of the first part of the sonata are in currently in libraries in Vienna and Moscow. The third part, which covers the finale of the sonata, was to have been sold by Arenberg Auctions in Brussels.
The document was owned by a private individual here in Flanders. Prior to the auction the Flemish authorities received an export licence application for the manuscript. The asking price for the two-page manuscript was 100,000 euro. However, the export licence for this rare and unique manuscript was refused.
The owner then decided that the manuscript could be sold to a customer in Belgium, whereupon the Flemish Department of Culture made an offer of 101,000 euro. The Flemish authorities are financing the purchase of the manuscript with cash from the Top Works Fund. This is a fund that was set up to ensure that important works remain in the country.
A link with Flanders
The office of the Flemish Culture Minister Jan Jambon (Nationalist) said in a statement that the manuscript is "particularly relevant for research into Beethoven". Ludwig van Beethoven was one of the few composers of his time who used sheet music in his work.
The composition sheets are now being handed over to the Alamiere Foundation. This is the international centre for music studies in the Low Countries. The Flemish Department of Culture is now in talks with the City of Mechelen (Antwerp Province) on how the manuscript can best be presented to a wider audience. Ludwig van Beethoven's grandfather came from Mechelen.