Sometimes Beethoven’s music would be arranged for other instruments without his permission, or at best his grudging approval. In 1803, Franz Kleinheinz (a contemporary of Beethoven who had come to Vienna to study with Albrechtsberger) made two arrangements of Beethoven’s music.
The first arrangement that Franz Kleinheinz made was of Beethoven’s Opus 25 Serenade for flute, violin, and viola (Day 137), which Kleinheinz arranged for flute (or violin) and piano. It was published with Beethoven’s corrections and approval as Opus 41.
Regarding Franz Kleinheinz’s two arrangements of Beethoven’s music, Beethoven wrote to his publisher: “The arrangements were not made by me, but I have gone through them and made drastic corrections in some passages. So do not dare to state in writing that I have arranged them. If you do, you will be telling a lie, seeing that, moreover, I could never have found the time, or even had the patience, to do work of that kind — Are you satisfied?’ (Letters #82)
#Beethoven250 Day 168
Serenade for Flute and Piano in D Major (Opus 41), 1803
Michael Faust on flute and Indian-born German pianist Sheila Arnold on fortepiano in a magical performance at Beethovenhaus in Bonn.