Robert Burns - Beethoven manuscript fails to sell at auction
Published November 30th, 2005
A rare Beethoven manuscript which includes songs written by Robert Burns has failed to sell at auction.
The 22-page manuscript in Beethoven’s own handwriting shows five arrangements for popular Scottish and Irish folk songs.
The music, commissioned by Scottish publisher George Thomson, was expected to fetch between £350,000 and £450,000.
Bidding at Christie’s reached £300,000, but the owner was not willing to sell for that amount.
Christie’s said it could not reveal the reserve price.
It is the most complete manuscript in Beethoven’s hand to come to the market for 15 years.
Between 1803 and 1814 Beethoven wrote 126 settings for Thomson, who wanted to popularise Scottish and Irish folk songs in 19th century drawing rooms.
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