Beethoven: Allegretto, WoO 39

Introduction

The Allegretto for Piano Trio in B-flat major, WoO. 39 is a composition for piano trio by Ludwig van Beethoven that was composed in 1812 as a gift for Maximiliane Brentano, the then ten-year-old daughter of his friend Antonie Brentano. Later he was also to dedicate the Piano Sonata Op. 109 to Maximiliane. The composition was first published in 1830 by F. P. Dunst in Frankfurt, along with the Piano Trio in E-flat major, WoO. 38, and the Piano Sonata in C major, WoO. 51.

Background

Beethoven composed the piece while travelling to Teplitz, where he intended to spend the summer. At the time, the Brentanos were resident in Karlsbad. He presented the work to the family on the 26 June 1812, prior to travelling to Prague. The exact reason for composing the piece is unclear, although Watson states in a footnote, that it was to encourage Maximiliane in her piano playing.

Structure

The composition is a single movement marked Allegretto and takes around 4–5 minutes to perform.