If we are to follow Thayer's view that Beethoven had completed his
23rd Piano Sonata, the so-called Appassionata, in the year 1804, then
we would arrive at the conclusion that it should take another four to
five years until he would compose another piano sonata. With respect
to Beethoven's composition of the next group of sonatas, Thayer (p.
477) renders the following comment:
"The three Pianoforte Sonatas, Op. 78, 79 and 81a, are closely
connected in time, notwithstanding their diversity of
sentiment").
Therefore, let us endeavor to establish a time frame for each of
these sonatas and also look at Beethoven's general life circumstances
during this time.
CREATION HISTORY
"According to a note by Archduke Rudolph, the Fantasia, Op. 77, was
composed in October as was the Sonata, Op. 78" (Thayer: 477).
Of what 'October' does Thayer write here? Since Thayer (p. 474-475)
lists this sonata as having been completed in the year 1809, it must
refer to the fateful year of Vienna's French occupation.
Without going back into the particular section of our Biographical
Pages, let us recall some of the events of that year:
- In the fall of 1808, Beethoven occupied an apartment on the second
floor of that building in Vienna (1074) Krugerstraße, in which
Countess Erdödy lived in an apartment on the main floor, and
Beethoven spent a great deal of time there as her house guest;
- However, this time also saw the arrival of the Kassel Kapellmeister
offer from the Court of Jerome Bonaparte.
- The 1808 Christmas Season saw Beethoven's Erdödy house concert
and that 'mammoth' concert of which Johann Reichhard from Kassel
reported at length;
- The winter of 1809 saw the completion of the annuity contract
between Beethoven and his patrons, Archduke Rudolph, Count Andrew O
Reilly, Prince Lobkowitz and Prince Kinsky, in which Countess
Erdödy and Baron Gleichenstein acted as mediaries; ultimately,
this contract made the 'Kassel offer' redundant;
- In addition to Beethoven's composing his Fifth Piano Concerto, the
spring of 1809 also saw his (possibly temporary) quarrel with
Countess Erdödy, on a 'domestic staff' matter;
- In the meantime, Beethoven had moved again, although 'only' within
Vienna (into the Walfischgasse), while Vienna's nobility fled from
the approaching French armies, so that Countess Erdödy, but also
Archduke Rudolph left Vienna (the latter left Vienna on May 4,
1809);
- Thayer reports that during the bombardement of Vienna by the
French, Beethoven sought shelter in his brother Caspar Carl's
basement, covering his sensistive ears with pillows;
- On May 31, 1809, the composer of whom, as Beethoven stated, he had
learned hardly anything, but whom he, at the Liebhaberkonzert of the
spring of 1808, had kissed on the forehead and on his hands: Joseph
Haydn;
- During the course of the summer, Beethoven wrote to his publishers,
here and there and reported of harsh times and of a general lack of
artistic inspiration.
