One might think that listing a composer’s works is not a difficult task. The case of Beethoven shows it is not that easy after all!
According to the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn, over 45 years Beethoven is estimated to have created about 750 works. The ones published during his life received an opus number (138 opus numbers in total). What about the ones published after his death, or the ones never published, existing in fragments or if the origin is questionable?
The very first catalogue of his works was published between 1862-1865 with a supplementary book in 1888, by publisher Breitkopf & Härtel. The name of the catalogue was Ludwig van Beethoven’s Works: complete, critical, thoroughly revised, authorized edition (German: Ludwig van Beethovens Werke: vollständige kritisch durchgesehene überall berechtigte Ausgabe; also known as Beethoven Gesamtausgabe). The work was important and a significant effort, but not perfect. Musicologist Friedrich Spiro in 1911 pointed to many inaccuracies and missing works, like Op. 134, Beethoven’s own piano duet arrangement of Große Fuge, Op. 133.
In 1957 Willy Hess, Swiss musicologist and composer, completed this work, publishing the ones that were not included in the original version. The Hess catalogue contains 335 entries and 66 doubtful works.
In 1955, the Kinsky–Halm Catalogue was published with all Beethoven works without opus number, introducing the famous WoO mark (Werke ohne Opuszahl, Works without opus number). In this catalogue there are 205 works and 18 pieces that are questionable in origin. Many compositions have both WoO and H numbers.
Italian musicologist Giovanni Biamonti published his work in 1968. It is called: Catalogo cronologico e tematico di tutte le opere di Beethoven, comprese quelle inedite e gli abbozzi non utilizzati. The Biamonti catalogue combines in chronological order the opus numbered, the WoO and Hess numbered lists into one. It contains 138 Opus numbers, 335 Hess numbers and 205 WoO works, plus a personal one that includes more fragments from sketch books, letters and notes. The total number in the Biamonti catalogue is 849.
From 1961 the Beethoven-Haus is working on their own catalogue. It seems that even today, there is no one complete list of Beethoven’s works! Truly amazing!
