Structural implications of the double bars in the autograph of Beethoven's Diabelli Variations

A recent article by the author demonstrated that the distribution and design of the double bars in Beethoven’s autograph scores has considerable significance for our understanding of how he perceived the structure of his works. The autograph of the Diabelli Variations was not then available for study but has since been acquired by the Beethoven-Haus. An examination of it throws startling new light the work's structure. Eleven different structures, proposed by different writers, can be compared with that implied by Beethoven's double bars and other notational features. This structure shows major differences from theirs. The location and design of these double bars in the autograph should therefore be indicated in any new edition, and also taken into account both by future analysts and by performers of the work.