Details of the First Edition

Hamburg Liebhaber Walzer (Hamburg Amateur Waltz), composed by F. Kuhlau and dedicated to Miss Fingerhuth, published by Gottfried Vollmer in Hamburg and Altona. The score on the reverse side has "Hamburg Liebhaber Walzer" written at the top, with no publication number. It is in a folded landscape format, with the left half containing the piano score marked "Forte-Piano" and the right half containing the flute duet score marked "Flute 1 and Flute 2." This work was first advertised for publication in the Jenaer Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung, April 14, 1806, Vol. 3, No. 2, Nr. 88. It was dedicated to "Miss Fingerhuth" and has no opus number. It was published as one of seven piano pieces in a collection by multiple composers. Of the seven pieces, the last four are a Minuet, an Ecossaise, a Quadrille, and a "Lündrischer" (?). It is clear from the composer's name that Kuhlau composed the first piece, "Minuet for Piano, Ancient and Modern," which is explicitly marked "Composed by F. Kuhlau." The second piece is titled "Emperor Napoleon's Coronation March for Piano and Two Flutes," and the composer is not indicated. Although this march is an arrangement for two flutes, it does not appear to be Kuhlau's work. For the third piece, "Hamburg Liebhaber Walzer," and the fourth piece, "Altona Liebhaber Walzer" (4 Groschen), there is no mention of the composer.

Regarding the first piece, the criticism concludes with the following harsh words:

If works of this kind are not considered special, they warrant only a very brief critique. If the composer intended the first piece to exhibit the character of a new era, he has failed. If he is attempting to characterize this trio in a modern style, it is in its worst form. If this is satire, it achieves its purpose by extensively employing the so-called tempo rubato, a technique frequently used by Haydn.

Kuhlau became the target of criticism, which must have been painful for him, as his first published score, "Beautiful Variations on a Romance from Della Maria's Opera 'The Prisoner'," had been published two years prior. However, this waltz is not that bad. This piece belongs to the genre of short works called "bagatelles" (trifles), and the dedicatee is "Fingerhuth" (Translator's note: "Fingerhut" is German for "thimble"). It is possible that "Fingerhuth" is not a personal name but rather refers to a female friend, suggesting that perhaps a former female friend enjoyed playing the piano or two flutes. The title "Ancient and Modern Times" might also suggest the past and present in his life.