How many Beethoven Piano Sonatas?

[Ed Marlo]

It is always said that there are 32 Piano Sonatas written by Beethoven.  Yesterday, however, my Dad came across a very old French book in an antiques shop titled 'Complete Beethoven Sonatas' which has 38 Sonatas in it.  They are all numbered from 1 to 38, 33-38 all have their own dedications, but no Opus numbers.  So, anyone know what this is all about?

[PianoStudentReady2Perform]

Wow, I have no idea.  But that is certainly interesting.  Perhpas they are mislabeled or something.  Do you recognize the pieces?

[SteinwayTony]

They could be fragments or unfinished sonatas.  The Andante Favori in F (WoO 57), for example, was originally going to be the slow movement of the Waldstein, but Beethoven scrapped that idea.  It would certainly be interesting to hear how that sonata would have sounded. 

Oh, and they could be sonatinas, of which Beethoven wrote a few.

[Ed Marlo]

Interesting ideas.  They are labelled in the contents page as Sonata 1 - 38 - I'll have to learn them, record them, and see if anyone recognises them. 

[faulty_damper]

He wrote some sonatas in his youth before his 2nd Opus was published.  That would account for some of the extra sonatas.

[TheHammer]

faulty_Damper is correct. There are three other sonatas which are called the "Kurfürstensonaten" WoO (work without opus number) 47. They were written in 1782-1783, Beethoven being like twelve years old. Then there is another sonata in C Major WoO 51 composed in 1791/92. Any other Sonata-like works I know are called Sonatinas (WoO 50, and (Kinsky-Halm) Appendix 5), so it's indeed something around 38 sonatas.

[Ed Marlo]

Cheers for the info.  Quite rare to find a book with the complete Sonatas including the woO ones.  It is an odd shape as well.  1 book, smaller than A4 size, just over an inch thick - and it has everything in!

[SteinwayTony]

Is a scan or a picture a possibility?

[Ed Marlo]

I'll try and get it sorted.  Can't promise it quickly though, the lack of both a Digital Camera and a scanner could cause some dificulty. 

[krittyot]

The Andante Favori in F (WoO 57), for example, was originally going to be the slow movement of the Waldstein, but Beethoven scrapped that idea.  It would certainly be interesting to hear how that sonata would have sounded.

Arrau played it in Great Pianists series by Philips.

[pianowelsh]

some editions have sonatinas incorporated but without seeing it couldnt say maybe you have museum piece

[Ed Marlo]

Well, it was bought in an antiques shop..