Both of these works for two oboes and cor anglais, which Beethoven composed in the 1790s, belong to the lighter genre of serenades and divertimentos. He might have written them in response to a commission or have been inspired by the prevailing popularity of this delicate combination of instruments. Likewise, with the Variations WoO 28 on the famous theme “La ci darem la mano” by Mozart, he made a contribution of his own to the arrangements of operatic melodies for wind ensembles that were so popular at the time. Our edition follows the recently published volume in the Beethoven Complete Edition and thus reflects the latest scholarly research on Beethoven.
