BEETHOVEN: SEPTET

MS 5419
MS Short Title LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN: SEPTET
Text LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN: SEPTET IN E-FLAT MAJOR OP. 20, ARRANGED FOR ORCHESTRA BY FERDINANDO MORINI AND FOR PIANO BY FRANZ LISZT
Description MS in Italian on paper, Firenze, after 1841, 2 vols. 182+160 pp. (complete), 43x28 cm, single column, (38x24 cm), ruled with 20 staves, text in display script, music in full score, autograph, signed, piano arrangement in double staff notation at bottom of the pages by Morini, signed; vol. 1, the "Stichvorlage": with calligraphic titlepage with dedication to Principe Guiseppe Poniatowski, Director of the Philharmonic Society in Firenze, surrounded by floral scrollwork; vol. 2: Same titlepage as vol. 1, but without decorations. Binding: Firenze, after 1841, 2 vols, green cardboard, quarter red morocco gilt, sewn on 4 cords.
Provenance 1. Ferdinando Morini, Firenze (1841-1879); 2. Otto Haas, London, June 1974.
Commentary Franz Liszt arranged Beethoven's Septet for piano in 1841. This arrangement is copied by Morini at the bottom of each page in both volumes. Liszt arranged some 10 different works by Beethoven for piano, including symphonies 5-7 in 1837. Ferdinando Morini (1790-1879) violinist and composer from Firenze, was employed by the Grand Duke of Toscana Leopold II. His final autograph and autograph "Stichvorlagen" are both without any corrections, containing exactly the same music, with identical texts of the titlepages and uniformly bound. These two volumes are the only witnesses to his fine orchestral arrangement of Beethoven's Septet, even if volume 1 was prepared for printing, it was never published. He was a great admirer of Beethoven and also arranged 5 violin sonatas, 4 piano trios, 2 string quartets, 3 quintets, etc. for orchestra.
Place of origin Firenze, Italy
Dates after 1841