Richard Pennycuick <[log in to unmask]> wrote

>Grove says the Sextet Op 81b was possibly written in 1795 and published
>in Bonn in 1810, the Les Adieux sonata Op 81a in Leipzig and London in
>1811.  My assumption from this is that someone, not necessarily Beethoven,
>assigned the same opus number to two works.  To confuse the matter still
>further, Beethoven's other Sextet, Op 71, was written in 1796 and also
>published in 1810, but in Leipzig.

There are more Beethoven pieces divided in a and b and in this case
Richard's assumption probably is right.  More interesting is the question
why Beethoven decided to publish such an old piece.  Was he short of
money again (this often happened) and did he hope for a handsome profit?
I guess so.  The years 1810/11 were very difficult years for most Viennese,
due to the declining economy.

Joyce Maier
www.ademu.com/Beethoven - update September 30, 2003