A Beethoven Rarity: Music for Mandolin

A DAILY DOSE of BEETHOVEN (May 18, 2020)

If you discusses Beethoven's music for the mandolin, some might raise an eyebrow and think the instrument too lowbrow.

Beethoven owned a fine Milanese mandolin though, and was friends with two accomplished mandolin players: his violin teacher, Wenzel Krumpholtz, and Josephine de Clary. He composed 6 pieces for them, four of which survive. None were published.

We present here the delightful Adagio for Mandolin and Harpsichord WoO 43b.