At an auction house in New Hampshire recently, a rare sketch leaf manuscript written by Ludwig van Beethoven was bid on.
The sketch leaf was from Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, which he composed from 1819 to 1823. It was first performed in April of 1824.
The manuscript received a high bid of just under $400,000, but that wasn’t high enough to reach the seller’s reserve price.
Despite that fact, it is an important piece for those who study Beethoven.
Bill Summers is an associate professor of music at Dartmouth College. He spoke with Vermont Edition about the manuscript.
