Composed when he was a teenager, and published a year apart, in 1783 and 1784, BeethovenÕs two Rondos, WoO 48 and WoO 49, are among the earliest of his works to survive. As such, they offer a fascinating glimpse into the young mind of one of musicÕs greatest geniuses.
With hallmarks of the masterpieces that were to follow, these youthful works demonstrate an admirable handling of form, melody, and instrumental colour. Although they are not without technical challenges, these Rondos are a delightful introduction to BeethovenÕs music for piano.
The works are presented here in a new critical Urtext edition along with a full editorial commentary.