AlexandreGrus editor, Chabal printer 1840 printing of the compilation, “6 Valses et uneMarche Funébre pour le Piano”. The first waltz in this score is a revisedversion of the original one published by Schott in 1828. The score bears acurious stipple engraving on the verso of the frontispiece of a period scenewith what appears to be slaves at work at a tropical coastal harbor.Completely out of place for the work. Probable first edition of the firstwaltz, in a new arrangement to circumvent the Schott copyright.
Frontispiece:
6/VALSES/ ET UNE MARCHE FUNÉBRE/POUR/LEPIANO./ PAR/L.V.BEETHOVEN./A.V./Prix: 5 p/A PARIS, chez Alex. GRUS, Editeur deMusique, Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, 31 en face le Gymnase./ Abonnement deLecture Musicale/ Bears the A. Grus stamp.
Contents:20 pages, with decorative advertising detached wrapper printed on first page.
FrontispieceVerso:
Stippleengraving of a coastal cove scene probably in a tropical locale, with slaves ofAfrican origin conducting their daily work, two ships are moored in the coveand two large weeping willows are a focal point. The monogram AB is onthe bottom right.
Contents:
13total pages, 7 leaves, first sheet of music is labeled page 1. Bottomleft, CHABAL. Boulevard des Italiens No. 10, Plate C. 36. End paper is blank.The first Waltz is named “Le Desir” the balance just by numbers. Theoriginal Beethoven work is at the end as Waltz 7.
Thisspecific printing is not mentioned in Kinsky. The work, which is listedin Kinsky as Anhang 14, was originally published after Beethoven's death in1828 by Schott. What is known is Franz Schubert wrote the first of theWaltzes based upon the theme of the funeral march from Beethoven's op. 26 PianoSonata, the other composers are quite unknown. The waltzes themselves were allwritten prior to Beethoven's death however not grouped together in acompendium. Schott printed the combined work as “Sechs Walzer für Klavier” inMainz and “6 Valses et une Marche Funébre pour le Piano” in Paris.Between 1828 and 1900 the work received some 70 printings. What makesthis specific edition interesting is the first waltz in this printing by Gruslabeled “Le Desir” is a different arrangement from the Schott version withSchubert's Waltz. The Schott edition in 1840 would have still been undercopyright. Grus commissioned a revised version of the Schubert waltz, theother waltzes remain in tact from the Schott edition. This specificedition is not contained in the main Beethoven thematic catalog Kinsky.
Theedition was edited and sold by Alexandre Grus (1810-1871) and printed byChabal. Grus opened his shop in 1832 at 60 Rue Saint Louis. In 1840they moved to 31 Boulevard Bonne-Nouvelle as listed in this score.Interestingly, this edition was printed by Chabal, a brand new firm in 1840 whoprinted prolifically in their first year, reaching plate 91 by 1841. Grusbecame an important Parisian music publisher which ran through 1933 by both he,his son Leon and his grandson Lucien. They were big enough to swallowVerdi's French publisher Leon Escudier in 1882, as well as Hielard in 1893 andCatelin. They were sold to Lemoine in 1933 well after the death ofLucien.
Frontispieceseparated, last page separated. Some age toning as seen in scans and dampmarks at the bottom center. Otherwise fine. Interesting andunusual!
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