As is the case with other composers, the works of Beethoven are classified by genre and more kinds of numbering systems. The most relevant and important numbering is the opus numbering. There are 172 Beethoven compositions numbered in this system and these are listed under 138 opus numbers (one opus number can contain multiple compositions). Apart from opus numbers, there …
Werke ohne Opuszahl (Works without opus number), abbreviated WoO, is a German musical catalog prepared by Hans Halm and Georg Kinsky in 1955. The goal was to list all Beethoven compositions that were not numbered with opus numbers or exist only in fragments. The original German title was Das Werk Beethovens: Thematisch-bibliographisches Verzeichnis seiner sämtlichen vollendeten Kompositionen. Example for WoO …
In musicology work numbers that are assigned to compositions are called opus numbers. In abbreviated form “Op.” stands for one composition and “Opp.”refers to more than one work under the same opus number. If a composition was published posthumously, it was denoted as “Op. posth.” Opus numbers not necessarily mean a chronological order of works. The word has its origin in …
What is scherzo? It is an Italian word, meaning joke (scherzo /ˈskɛərtsoʊ/, plural scherzos or scherzi). In music execution it can mean a certain way of playing a piece. If in a musical notation scherzando is written by the composer, it means that the music should be played in a playful manner. The other meaning is to describe a complete …
What is the curse of the ninth? The curse of the ninth is a superstition in the history of classical music. According to this, a ninth symphony for a composer will be the last, and death will come during writing or after completing this piece. There are two interpretations, according to the first, this is to ‘defend’ the fame and …
What is Freemasonry? Freemasonry has its origins in the Middle Ages, it evolved from the guilds of stonemasons and cathedral builders. Later, as these professions were less popular, they started to accept honorary members without connection to the original vocation. From the 17th century symbolism, ancient religious and chivalric brotherhood rituals were introduced. It was the first international organization whose …