Beethoven - Horn Sonata, Op.17, Arranged for String Quintet by C. Khym (1817) - Score and Parts
Ludwig van Beethoven - Quintet after Horn Sonata in F major, Op.17, arranged for 2 violins, viola, cello, and double bass (or 2 cellos) by Carl Khym (ca.1170-after 1819). Complete score (48 pages) and parts (55 pages), available as a PDF download.
Now available is Carl Khym’s 1817 arrangement of Beethoven’s Horn Sonata, Op.17 for string quintet, with parts and score prepared from the first edition published by Simrock. While there are not many details about the Bohemian oboe virtuoso Carl Khym (sometimes written Charles Khym or Chym), Khym had made a number of quintet arrangements of Beethoven’s work, such as his Piano Trio, Op.2, No.2 and Clarinet Trio, Op.11. This particular quintet version of Beethoven’s Horn Sonata is interesting for its inclusion of the double bass as a possible low voice. The 5th instrument in the original publication is designated by Khym as either for Violoncello II or Basso. Because performing this part an octave down would create an octave separation between the cello part and the bass, I’ve included a transposed double bass part to play at the original octave, which seems to be the intention by the arranger.
Like many of the early Beethoven arrangements that exist in the early 19th century, the original publication contains numerous errors between the parts that make consistency difficult in an ensemble. By putting all the parts into a score, it was possible to correct the errors that exist while retaining the musical markings from Khym. This would make an excellent addition to the string quintet repertoire that exists and a way to hear Beethoven in a new way, reimagined by a musician who was his contemporary.
Ludwig van Beethoven - Quintet after Horn Sonata in F major, Op.17, arranged for 2 violins, viola, cello, and double bass (or 2 cellos) by Carl Khym (ca.1170-after 1819). Complete score (48 pages) and parts (55 pages), available as a PDF download.
Now available is Carl Khym’s 1817 arrangement of Beethoven’s Horn Sonata, Op.17 for string quintet, with parts and score prepared from the first edition published by Simrock. While there are not many details about the Bohemian oboe virtuoso Carl Khym (sometimes written Charles Khym or Chym), Khym had made a number of quintet arrangements of Beethoven’s work, such as his Piano Trio, Op.2, No.2 and Clarinet Trio, Op.11. This particular quintet version of Beethoven’s Horn Sonata is interesting for its inclusion of the double bass as a possible low voice. The 5th instrument in the original publication is designated by Khym as either for Violoncello II or Basso. Because performing this part an octave down would create an octave separation between the cello part and the bass, I’ve included a transposed double bass part to play at the original octave, which seems to be the intention by the arranger.
Like many of the early Beethoven arrangements that exist in the early 19th century, the original publication contains numerous errors between the parts that make consistency difficult in an ensemble. By putting all the parts into a score, it was possible to correct the errors that exist while retaining the musical markings from Khym. This would make an excellent addition to the string quintet repertoire that exists and a way to hear Beethoven in a new way, reimagined by a musician who was his contemporary.
Ludwig van Beethoven - Quintet after Horn Sonata in F major, Op.17, arranged for 2 violins, viola, cello, and double bass (or 2 cellos) by Carl Khym (ca.1170-after 1819). Complete score (48 pages) and parts (55 pages), available as a PDF download.
Now available is Carl Khym’s 1817 arrangement of Beethoven’s Horn Sonata, Op.17 for string quintet, with parts and score prepared from the first edition published by Simrock. While there are not many details about the Bohemian oboe virtuoso Carl Khym (sometimes written Charles Khym or Chym), Khym had made a number of quintet arrangements of Beethoven’s work, such as his Piano Trio, Op.2, No.2 and Clarinet Trio, Op.11. This particular quintet version of Beethoven’s Horn Sonata is interesting for its inclusion of the double bass as a possible low voice. The 5th instrument in the original publication is designated by Khym as either for Violoncello II or Basso. Because performing this part an octave down would create an octave separation between the cello part and the bass, I’ve included a transposed double bass part to play at the original octave, which seems to be the intention by the arranger.
Like many of the early Beethoven arrangements that exist in the early 19th century, the original publication contains numerous errors between the parts that make consistency difficult in an ensemble. By putting all the parts into a score, it was possible to correct the errors that exist while retaining the musical markings from Khym. This would make an excellent addition to the string quintet repertoire that exists and a way to hear Beethoven in a new way, reimagined by a musician who was his contemporary.