This article presents a complete catalog of original compositions by Ferruccio Busoni, including a large number of early works, most of which remain unpublished. The earliest preserved pieces were written when he was barely seven years old. Over 200 of the total of 303 original compositions were produced before the age of twenty. For a more selective list of recorded works, see Ferruccio Busoni discography. Busoni also produced a number of cadenzas, transcriptions, and editions. For a complete list see List of adaptations by Ferruccio Busoni.

Introductory notes

Opus numbers

Busoni's opus numbers are confusing. Initially he numbered each work as he wrote it. Upon reaching Op. 40 he began assigning opus numbers of unpublished youthful works to new compositions. Later he started again from Op. 30, adding an "a" to Op. 30 to 36. From Op. 41 the numbering is fairly regular although it bears little relationship to the actual date of composition, and many compositions were published without opus number. Among unpublished compositions, some have two opus numbers. Because of their confusing nature Roberge recommended against using them and eliminated them from his List of Works. However, since opus numbers are written on manuscripts, included on published scores, used for identification of compositions by many recordings, and included in the standard reference works by Dent (1933), Kindermann (1980), Beaumont (1985), and Sitsky (2008), they are given here as an aid in identification. The user should be aware, however, that a particular opus number may refer to more than one item and says very little about the date of composition or publication.

Catalog numbers

The letters BV (Busoni-Verzeichnis [Busoni Catalog]) followed by a number are used for identification of Busoni's original compositions. The BV numbers are based on the first comprehensive catalog of Busoni's unpublished as well as published works prepared by Jürgen Kindermann. The letters ****KiV are also sometimes used, as well as the abbreviations ****Kind- and K. Although Kindermann himself did not specify any letters to be used for referring to his catalog, he has agreed to the use of the abbreviation BV. The catalog is not strictly chronological, since it frequently incorporates published works by the date of publication rather than the date of composition. When the catalog number is preceded by the letters BV B, for example, Ten Chorale Preludes by Bach, BV B 27, it refers to a cadenza, transcription, or adaptation (see List of adaptations by Ferruccio Busoni).

Catalog of original compositions

BV catalog numbers are from Roberge. Titles and opus numbers are listed as in Beaumont, except as noted. Titles are in the original language, except for instrumentation and generic terms, such as "string quartet." For example, Beaumont partially translates "Berceuse pour le piano," to "Berceuse, for piano." Additional title information provided by Roberge, for example, a key signature not found in the original title, is sometimes added in parentheses. For works with text, the first line is typically given, followed by the name of the poet in parentheses. Translations, when provided, are in brackets. Dates of composition and durations are from Beaumont, unless otherwise indicated. Dedications are from Roberge. Busoni Archive: Most of Busoni's unpublished early manuscripts, as well as those of later works, have been preserved in the Busoni-Nachlaß [Busoni-Archive]. The collection consists of 366 cataloged items, many of which were lost during the Second World War, and after the war were divided between Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Musikabteilung, in West Berlin and the Deutsche Staatsbibliothek, Musikabteilung, in East Berlin. Kindermann lists the locations and manuscript numbers of each work, for those manuscripts which were available until the year he published his catalog (1980). Some of the lost items reappeared later; most are now at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow. After the fall of the Berlin wall, the two libraries were reunited as the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin. Sitsky (pp. 363–383) has an appendix listing manuscripts (with numbers, locations, titles and/or a short description), including those lost, which may yet reappear, as well as those not part of the Busoni-Archive, which are either not numbered or are numbered with a different system. The Busoni-Archive manuscript numbers provided by Sitsky are prefixed with the letters "SB", a procedure which has been adopted here as well. Abbreviations: acc., according to; arr., arrangement; SB, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin; B&H, Breitkopf & Härtel, Leipzig (unless otherwise indicated); cat., catalog; ded., dedicated to; dur., duration; frag, fragment; fp, first performance; (score), link to score at the International Music Score Library Project; instr., instrumentation; MS, manuscript; pub., published; rev., revised; unpub., unpublished.

BV 1 to 100

BV 101 to 200

BV 201 to 303

Appendix

This section lists additional original works not assigned numbers in the Kindermann catalog. They are listed in the order given in Roberge (pp. 45–46) with one additional item (no. 9).

Catalog details

This section contains detailed information for selected catalog items. ^ BV 42: String quartet no. 2 (in F minor) Comprises: 4 movements

1. Allegro Agitato 2) Andante Sostenuto
2. Scherzo - Trio 4) Allegro Vivace MS: SB53 (4 pages score) Title: 2º Quartetto composto da Ferruccio Benvenuto Busoni Ded: Al mio amatissimo padre (Ferdinando Busoni). Date: Scritto il 28 Aprile 1876 (at the end of the 1st movement). Pub: unpublished Ref: Kindermann, pp. 43-44; Roberge, p. 11; Beaumont, p. 357. ^ BV 45: Il Dolore: Romanza senza parole [Sorrow: Romance without words] (in A minor), for piano Tempo: Andante MS: SB40 (6 pages score) Ded: Alla Memoria dell' Illustrissimo Signor Barone Hermann de Todesco. Date: Composta il 21 Giugno 1876 all'età di anni 10 in Gmunden. MS: SB N. Mus. ms. 120 (copy of SB40) Title: Der Schmerz. Lied ohne Worte für Klavier allein, componirt von dem 10jährigen Ferruccio Benvenuto Busoni. Ded: Zur Erinnerung an den Herrn Baron Hermann von Todesco. Date: Scritta il 21 Giugno 1876 all'età di anni 10. Ref: Kindermann, pp. 45-46; Roberge, p. 11; Beaumont, p. 357; Sitsky, pp. 13, 364, 380. ^ BV 48: Gavottina (in F major) Op. 3 no. 3, for piano MS: SB55 (2 pages); SB56 "Gavotta" is identical to SB55. Date: Scritta l'11 Novembre 1876 all'età di anni 10 e mezzo a Vienna. Note: This piece was probably intended for BV 71 (Beaumont). Ref: Kindermann, p. 47; Beaumont, p. 358; Sitsky, p. 364. ^ BV 51 Ouverture (in E major), for (large) orchestra (unfinished) Tempi: Moderato - Allegro MS: SB58 (title page, 25 pages score) (fragment) Title: Ouverture per Grande Orchestra composta da Ferr. Weiß-Busoni Date: Composta nell'anno 1876 in Vienna. Instrumentation: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons; 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, bass trombone; timpani, tubular bells, harp; strings Pub: unpublished Arrangement: piano duet, see BV 128 Ref: Kindermann, pp. 48-49; Roberge, p. 12; Beaumont, p. 357. '''^ BV 57: Sonata (No. 4 in F minor)? (unfinished)''' Alternative titles:
3. Zwei Kompositionen in d-Moll und f-Moll für Pianoforte (Kindermann) 2) Two Pieces in D minor and F minor for Piano (fragments) (Roberge)
4. 2 pieces Op. 6, for piano (Beaumont) 4) Sonata fragment Op. 6 (Sitsky) MS: SB78 Comprises:
5. Titlepage: "Op. 6" 2) Piece in D minor (3 pages, fragment)
6. Piece in F minor (5 pages, fragment) Notes: 1) On the last page of (3) is written: "Sonata 4ª"
7. On the first page of (3) are listed: Iª Sonata Do magg: [probably BV 58 IIª Sonata Re magg: [probably BV 61] IIIª Sonata Mi magg: [probably BV 65] IVª Sonata Fa min: [probably this work, BV 57] Vª Sonata [to] IXª Sonata [all without indication of key] This list probably refers to an intended set of sonatas which was never completed. (Kindermann, Sitsky) Ref: Kindermann, pp. 51-52; Sitsky, pp. 23-24; Roberge, p. 12; Beaumont, p. 358. ^ BV 58: Sonata No. 1 in C major Op. 7, for piano MS: ' SB64 (Title page; 1 blank page; no.1: 3 pages; 2 blank pages; nos. 2-4: 6 pages; 2 blank pages) Comprises:
8. Allegro con brio 2) Andante mosso
9. (Menuet) - Trio 4) (no tempo marking; 2/4) Title: Sonata No. 1 in Do magg: Op. 7 Composta da Ferruccio Benvenuto Busoni Date: il 20 Maggio 1877 all' età di anni undici e 2 mesi in tempo sua malattia Note: This sonata was probably intended to be part of a set of at least 9 sonatas, never completed (see BV 57). Ref: Kindermann, pp. 52-53; Sitsky, pp. 23-24; Roberge, p. 12; Beaumont, p. 358. ^ BV 61: Sonata No. 2 in D major Op. 8, for piano MS: SB67 (Title page; 21 pages score; 1 blank page) Comprises:
10. Allegro con fuoco 2) Andante con Variazione: Andante con moto quasi Andantino
11. Andante - Allegro Vivace Title: Sonata No. 2 in Re magg: Composta per il pianoforte. Op. 8 da Ferruccio Benvenuto Busoni Date: il 5 Luglio 1877 in Gmunden all' età di anni 11. Note: 1) This sonata was probably intended to be part of a set of at least 9 sonatas, never completed (see BV 57).
12. BV 62 may originally have been intended to be part of this sonata (Beaumont). Ref: Kindermann, pp. 54-55; Sitsky, pp. 23-24; Roberge, p. 12; Beaumont, p. 358. ^ BV 62: Scherzo (in F-sharp minor), for piano Tempo: Presto MS: G. Ricordi, Milan Title: Scherzo, tratto dalla Sonata Op. 8 in Mi magg: composto da Ferruccio Benv. Busoni [Scherzo from the Sonata Op. 8 in E major, composed by Ferruccio Benvenuto Busoni] Ded: All'Illustre Critico Sigr. Filippo Dr. Filippi. Date: Gmunden, (Austr. Sup.) Luglio 1877 Pub: F. Lucca, Milan, 1882, plate. no. Z 35468 Z, (5 pages) Title: Scherzo per pianoforte tratto dalla Sonata Op. 8 in Mi Maggiore Ded: All'Illustre Critico Cavaliere Filippo Dottr. Filippi. Notes:
13. Scherzo movement probably originally intended for the Sonata No. 3 in E major Op. 9, BV 65 (Sitsky); or the Sonata No. 2 in D major Op. 8, BV 61 (Beaumont). 2) According to Busoni's handwritten catalog of works (ca. 1881) the piece was composed on 5 July 1877.
14. Publication was announced on 16 September 1882 in L'Arte, Trieste. Ref: Kindermann, pp. 55-56; Sitsky, p. 41; Beaumont, p. 358. ^ BV 64: Preludio (in E minor), for piano Tempo: Andante sostenuto MS: SB68 (1 page) Title: Preludio Date: Gmunden den 4 September 1877 (at the end of the composition). Text: "Du bist wie eine Blume" (Heinrich Heine) ["You are like a flower"] Note: The text by Heine appears in the piano part rather than the title. Ref: Kindermann, p. 57; Roberge, p. 13; Beaumont, p. 358; Sitsky, p. 365. ^ BV 65: Sonata No. 3 in E major Op. 9, for piano (unfinished) MS: SB69 Title: Sonata No. 3 in Mi magg: Op. 9 Comprises:
15. (no tempo marking; E major; 4/4; 8 pages) 2) one intervening title page: Sonata Nº 3 Mi maggiore
16. Finale (E major; 6/8; sketch, 6 pages) Date: Composta il 14 September 1877 (at the end of the composition). Notes: 1) BV 62 was probably originally to be part of this sonata (Sitsky).
17. This sonata was probably intended to be part of a set of at least 9 sonatas, never completed (see BV 57). Ref: Kindermann, pp. 57-58; Roberge, p. 13; Beaumont, p. 358; Sitsky, pp. 41, 365. ^ BV 67: "Ave Maria," (Antiphon) Op. 1, for voice and piano MS: unknown Comp: 1 October 1977 (set Note 1) Pub: Vienna: C. A. Spina and Hamburg: August Cranz, n.d. [1878 (Dent)], plate no. C.24586, (5 pages) Title: Ave Maria per Canto accompagnamento dir Pianoforte, Op. 1 Ded: Omaggio al celebre Tenore Cav. Angelo Masini Notes:
18. Date of composition for this work is written on the first page of ms SB360 (BV 50): "Ave Maria 1/10/77" 2) According to Busoni's handwritten catalog of works (ca. 1881) the piece was composed in 1877 in Gmunden. Ref: Kindermann, pp. 58-59; Dent, p. 345; Roberge, p. 13; Beaumont, p. 358. ^ BV 71: Cinq Pièces [Five Pieces] Op. 3, for piano Comprises:
19. Preludio: Andante 2) Minuetto - Trio
20. Gavotta - Trio 4) Etude: Allegretto con moto
21. Gigue: Allegro Comp: 1877 MS: unknown Pub: Leipzig: August Cranz, n.d. [1877 (Dent)], plate nos. C.24541 to C.24545, (3, 5, 5, 5, and 7 pages) First performance: Vienna and Baden, 1878; Ferruccio Busoni, piano Notes: 1) According to Busoni's handwritten catalog of works (ca. 1881) this piece was composed in 1877 in Vienna.
22. This is Busoni's first published work. Ref: Dent, p. 340; Kindermann, pp. 61-63; Roberge, p. 13; Beaumont, p. 358; Sitsky, pp. 40-41. ^ BV 72: Andante con moto (in E minor) Op. 10, for clarinet and piano Alternative titles:
23. Komposition in e-Moll für Klarinette und Pianoforte (Kindermann) 2) Suite in E minor for Clarinet and Piano (Roberge)
24. Suite Op. 10, for clarinet and piano (Beaumont) Comprises: Andante con moto (in E minor) (4/4, 80 bars) (one movement only) MS: SB79 Page inventory: Full score: Title page; 3 pages score (clarinet in C; piano); 1 blank page; 2 pages score Clarinet part in C: both sides of a single sheet Title: Klarinetten-Suite, Op. 10 Date: 1877. Pub: Munich: G. Henle Verlag, 1992; cat. no. HN 467; ed. by Georg Meerwein Title: Andante con moto Full score: pp. 1-3 (clarinet in C; piano) Clarinet part: p. 1 (in B-flat); p. 18 (in C). Note: Between measures 40 and 41 the full score and the clarinet part of the manuscript have an additional 14 bars not included in the published score. These were later stricken from the ms full score. The clarinet part notates this section in "two-part texture." (Meerwein) Ref: Meerwein, Full score: pp. vi-vii (Preface), 53 (Comments); Kindermann, p. 63; Beaumont, p. 359; Roberge, p. 13; Sitsky, p. 365. ^ BV 203: Six études Op. 16, for piano Comprises: Etüde 1. Allegro deciso Etüde 2. Allegro moderato Etüde 3. Moderato Etüde 4. Allegro vivace e con fuoco Etüde 5. (Fuga.) Allegro giusto Etüde 6. Scherzo. Vivacissimo, energico, feroce Comp: 1883 (B.) Manuscript: Unknown Publications:
25. Vienna: Albert J. Gutmann, n.d. [1883 (D.)], cat. no. A.J.G. 614, plate no. 8285, (29 pages) 2) No. 5 only: Vienna: Albert J. Gutmann, Copyright 1884 by G. Schirmer, New York, cat. no. 530, (8 pages)
26. Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, Copyright 1886 by G. Schirmer, New York, cat. no. EB 5079, plate no. 28468 (29 pages) 4) No. 5 only: [Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel], Copyright 1886 by G. Schirmer, New York, plate no. A.J.G. 530, (8 pages)
27. Reprint: Wiesbaden-Leipzig-Paris: Breitkopf & Härtel, n.d. [1950? or later], cat. no. 5079, plate no. 28468, (29 pages) 6) Nos. 2-4: Moscow: Muzyka, 1969, ed. Grigorii Kogan (R.) Dedication: Johannes Brahms First performances:
28. Graz, 21 October 1883; (no. 5 only); Ferruccio Busoni, piano. (R.) 2) Vienna, 1884; (only 2 of the 6); Ferruccio Busoni, piano (D.) Ref: Dent, pp. 46, 341; Kindermann, pp. 163-165; Sitsky, p. 47; Beaumont, p. 365; Roberge, p. 26. BV 204: Sonate f-moll Op. 20 für Klavier [Sonata in F minor, Op. 20, for piano] Comprises:
29. Allegro risoluto vivace ed energico 2) Andante con moto
30. Nella guesa d'un'improvvisazione - Allegro fugato Manuscript: SB187 (Sonate Op. 20) Dedication: Anton Rubinstein gewidmet Dated: Vienna Natale 1883 [Vienna, Christmas, 1883] (at the end of the manuscript) First performance: Vienna, Bösendorfer Saal, 6 March 1884; Ferruccio Busoni, piano Publication: B&H, 1983, as Op. 20a, ed. Jutta Theurich Recording: Wolf Harden, piano (Naxos 8572077) Ref: Dent, p. 341; Kindermann. pp. 165–166; Sitsky, p. 26; Beaumont, p. 365; Roberge, p. 26. BV 241: [6] Stücke [Pieces] Op. 33b, for piano Comprises: Series I (ded. Max Reger):
31. Schwermut [Melancholy] 2) Frohsinn [Gaiety],
32. Scherzino [Little Scherzo] Series II (ded. Isabella Stewart Gardner): 4) Fantasia in modo antico [Fantasia in antique style]. Allegro risoluto
33. Finnische Ballade [Finnish Ballade] 6) Exeunt omnes [Everyone exits] Composed: 1895 (Beaumont) Manuscript: Busoni Archive No.223 (sketches) Title: Finnische Ballade 4 sheets, notated on one side only, attached Publications:
34. Leipzig: C. F. Peters, Copyright 1896, cat. no. 2838, plates 8222 (nos. 1-3); 8223 (nos. 4-6), 36 pages 2) Helsinki: Fazer, 1957 (no. 6 only, with a note by Roberto Wis)
35. Moscow: Muzyka, 1969 (nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, ed. Grigorii Kogan) 4) Frankfurt, New York, and London: C. F. Peters, 1982 Ref: Dent, p. 342; Kindermann, pp. 213-216; Beaumont, p. 368; Roberge, p. 31. ^ BV 274: Sonatina in diem nativitatis Christi MCMXVII für Klavier zu zwei Händen MS:
36. Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel (dated 22 December 1917, at the end of the composition) 2) SB304 (dated 19 December 1917; 21 December 1917, at the end) Dedication: "An Benvenuto" (Benvenuto Busoni) Pub:
37. Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, Copyright 1918, cat. no. EB 5071, plate no. 27744, (9 pages) 2) Leipzig: VEB Breitkopf & Härtel, [1949] (reprint)
38. Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel, [1960 or later] (reprint) 4) Milan: Ricordi, 1986. First performance: Tonhalle, Zürich (?); 24 January 1910; Ferruccio Busoni, piano. Ref: Kindermann, pp. 331-332; Dent, p. 344; Roberge, p. 39; Beaumont, pp. 251, 370; Sitsky, pp. 79, 376, 381.

Clarinet and piano compilation

Biographical notes