Biamonti 69 as Prelude to Hess 64 Fugue (mp3)

Three Imitative Movements, Biamonti 69 (about 1794). These brief fragments, probably dating from the time of Beethoven's studies with Albrechtsberger, are described as canons by Biamonti and as "Nachahmungssaetze" by Hess in vol. IX of his Supplement ("Nachahmung" = "imitation", which is to be understood in its technical sense : one voice imitating another). Biamonti is certainly mistaken in calling them canons, because the voices imitate one another only loosely, and not strictly at all, as a canon would require. At the end of the first one Beethoven writes : 'u.s.w. variirt' [= 'and so on, varied'], indicating that he did not consider it a finished piece. Whether the other two are finished is unclear: Hess does give double bars at the end, but these may be only editorial.

The best manner to present these three fragments is by simply gluing them together : this way the changes in tempo and metre from one to the other give the notion of 'movement', of 'something happening', while the fragments on their own lack musical substance. Together they can be heard as a Prelude. And what could be more obvious than coupling this Prelude with the Hess 64 Fugue, which Hess prints immediately following the Three Imatative Movements ? A junk prelude for a junk fugue, so to speak. Arranging things this way was of course never Beethoven's intention, but all in all, it works surprisingly well : the illusion of a serious prelude followed by a learned fugue is complete. Do enjoy, as long as you know it is only an illusion.

Hess:    
Biamonti: 69

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