Rondo for Piano and Orchestra (Beethoven)

Composition by Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven's Rondo for Piano and Orchestra in B-flat major, WoO 6 was composed in 1793 and originally intended as the final movement for his second piano concerto.^[1] Hans-Werner Küthen states this was probably the finale for the first and second versions of the second piano concerto, being replaced by the final version of the rondo in 1795.^[2] He also notes that the most likely inspiration for the insertion of an andante section into the rondo is the concluding rondo of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 22.^[2]

It was eventually published in 1829, with the solo part completed by Carl Czerny.^[1]^[3] It is scored for an orchestra of 1 flute, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, and strings, the same instrumentation as the concerto.

Structure

The composition consists of a single multi-tempo movement marked Rondo: Allegro – Andante – Tempo I – Presto.

References

Notes

^ ^a ^b Anderson 1988.
^ ^a ^b Küthen 2012.
^ Cooper 2000.

Sources

Anderson, Keith (1988). Beethoven: Piano Concerto Nº.1/Rondo in B-flat major (CD). Naxos Records. 8.550190.
Cooper, Barry (2000). Beethoven. United States: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0191592706.
Küthen, Hans-Werner (2012). Rondo in B flat major WoO 6 for Piano and Orchestra (Reduction for 2 Pianos) (PDF). G. Henle. ISMN 979-0-2018-1149-9.