Beethoven - Variations for cello and piano

Variations by Ludwig van Beethoven for cello and piano

Edited by Jens Dufner
Fingering of piano part by Ian Fountain
With supplementary violoncello part marked by David Geringas

Variations on a well-liked theme, mainly from contemporary operas, were extremely popular at the end of the 18th century. Even the young Beethoven made several contributions to this genre. We do not know of any concrete occasion for the composition of the three cycles of Variations for Violoncello and Piano – they are on two themes from Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” and one from Handel’s oratorio “Judas Maccabaeus”. The number of reproductions at that time does, however, reveal that they were very popular right from the beginning.
This revision is based on new findings contained in the Critical Report of the Beethoven Complete Edition (published in 2008).

Titles :

• Zwölf Variationen-Twelve variations-Douze variations "Judas Maccabäus" (Handel) WoO 45
• Zwölf Variationen-Twelve variations-Douze variations "Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen" Die Zauberflöte (Mozart) op.66
• Sieben Variationen-Seven variations-Sept variations "Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen" - Die Zauberflöte (Mozart) WoO 46