"An die Hoffnung", Lied für Singstimme und Klavier op. 32

Listening samples

An die Hoffnung (365 kB)

Composition
Anfang 1805

Text poet: Christoph August Tiedge

Beethoven's first musical version of the song "An die Hoffnung" (To hope) op. 32 was written in February/March 1805. He used a text from "Urania" by Christoph August Tiedge (1752-1841) - a lyric and didactic poem taken from the second reviewed edition from 1803. Beethoven did not dedicate the piece to anybody but gave it to his friend Josephine Deym, as she told her mother on March 24, 1805 in a letter: The good Beethoven made me a nice present, a fine song he wrote following a text taken from Urania "An die Hoffnung".
The song's title " An die Hoffnung" was interpreted particulary with reference to Josephine Deym, who was considered Beethoven's immortal lover for a long time. However, Helga Lühning, publisher of the book "Lieder und Gesänge" in the new Beethoven complete edition, could prove that Beethoven did not make up the title as Schürmann und Tellenbach presumed. Therefore, the song does not have anything to do with the immortal lover but is part of Tiedge's table of contents.

Beethoven still had some intentions when he gave Josephine the song as a letter dated March/April 1805 shows. The song's manuscript - autograph or revised copy - probably bore a personal dedication which Prince Karl Lichnowsky saw when visiting Beethoven. In a letter, the composer reassured Josephine who was worried that rumours might come up about her relationship to Beethoven. Beethoven played the situation down: The matter is not as bad as you, my beloved J.(osephine) might think. L. accidentally saw the song at my place but did not mention it and concluded that I had special feelings for you. (Original quote in Beethoven complete edition (BGA) 216) (J.R.)

First editions
	Originalausgabe, op. 32, Bureau des Arts et d'Industrie, 502
	Titelauflage, op. 32, Haslinger, 4012; Teilscan
	Titelauflage, op. 32, Riedl, 502; Teilscan

Scores

Written documents
	Brief an Josephine Deym, Wien, März/April 1805
	Billet an Josephine Deym, Wien, gegen Ende Mai 1805

Pictures
	Christoph August Tiedge (1752-1841) - Fotografie eines, wohl von Johann Friedrich Baumann und Johann Christian Benjamin Gottschick gefertigten Stichs nach einer vermutlich von Friedrich Georg Weitsch stammenden Zeichnung, um 1920?

Literatur

Berlin: Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Musikabteilung mit Mendelssohn-Archiv

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