Sketches [Op. 4]

Catalogue of Works by Bedřich Smetana

Basic information

Title:
Sketches [Op. 4]
The autograph has not been preserved. Inscribed on the final version: Stambuchblätter.
Title by autograph:
-
Classification according to the catalogue of J. Berkovec:
1.66
Title according to the catalogue of J. Berkovec:
Skizzen
Parts/Subjects:
1. Preludium, 2. Idylle, 3. Erinnerung, 4. Beharrliches Streben
Opus number:
Op. 4
Dedicant:
Schumann, Clara
Note:
DBS 1875: "Op. 4. Skizzen. 4 Stücke. Clara Schumann gewidmet. 1857." (listed under op. 5: "Beide Hefte erschienen bei Rob. Veit in Prag.") SSD 1875: "Klaře Schumanove věnov. Oba sešity vyšli v Praze u Veita. 1857." [Dedicated to Clara Schuman. Both booklets were published in Prague by Veit. 1857.] Bartoš: Črty/Skizzen [Sketches]

Cast

Instrumental cast:
Pfte

Other information

Sketches, Op. 4: piano version

Place of origin:
Prague, Gothenburg(?)
Date of beginning of composition:
1848
Date of composition completion:
1857
Note on date and place of origin:
The sketches were originally part of five notebooks entitled Lístky do památníku [Album Leaves], which B. Smetana wrote between 1848 and 1852. He gave them to Clara Schumann to look at without titles, marked only with numbers. A selection of eight compositions from these notebooks gave rise to Op. 4 (Notebooks II/2, 5, 6 and Notebook III/5) and Op. 5 (Notebook II/6 and Notebooks III/1, 2, 3, 6). The compositions were revised in 1856–1857 and Smetana gave them titles.
Premiere date:
06. 11. 1856
Place of premiere:
Gothenburg
Performer/Soloist:
Note on premiere:
Only the 1st part was interpreted.

1st edition of the score

Publisher:
Dedicant:
Place of publication:
Prague
Title of the work:
Skizzen für das Pianoforte, Vol. I, Op. 4
Part of a whole:
Skizzen
Edition number:
26, 27, 28, 29
Year:
1858
Note:
Parts: No. 1. Praeludium; No. 2. Idylle; No. 3.Erinnerung; No. 4. Beharrliches Streben

Critical edition

Publisher:
Editor:
Place of publication:
Prague
Title of the work:
ČRTY OP. 4
Part of a whole:
Klavírní dílo Bedřicha Smetany [Collected Pianoforte Works of Bedřich Smetana], 5 volumes
Name of edition:
KDBS IV (Album Leaves), pp. 55-65
Year:
1968
Note:
Parts: 1 - Preludium [Prelude], 2 - Idyla [Idyll], 3 - Vzpomínka [Memory], 4 - Vytrvalá snaha [Unremitting Effort].
Filed in the chapter: CYKLY SKLADEB Črty [COMPOSITION CYCLES Sketches], Op. 4. CE also contains the first version of the first and fourth part of the cycle, Collected Pianoforte Works of Bedřich Smetana, vol. 4, (Album Leaves), pp. 82-86, 90-92; CE also contains a sketch of the fourth part, Collected Pianoforte Works of Bedřich Smetana, vol. 4, (Album Leaves), p. 153