A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Plus Ultra

by George Grove

PLUS ULTRA. A sonata in A♭ by Dussek for pianoforte solo, op. 71. The motto 'Plus Ultra' appears to have been provoked by that of Woelfl's sonata, Non Plus Ultra; but whether it was affixed by the composer or by the publishers is not certainly known; probably by the latter, as the work was first published in Paris, to which Dussek had recently returned, with the title 'Le Retour à Paris.' The title-pages of the two works are as follows:—

'Non Plus Ultra. A Grand Sonata for the Pianoforte, in which is introduced the favourite Air Life let us Cherish, with Variations. Composed and dedicated to Miss E. Binny by J. Woelfl. Op. 41. London: Printed and sold for the author by J. Lavenu.'

'Plus Ultra. A Sonata for the Pianoforte, composed and dedicated to Non Plus Ultra,^[1] by J. L. Dussek. Op. 71. London: Cianchetti and Sperati.

1. It alludes to a Sonata published under this title.'

The dates of publication of the two works are probably 1800 and 1808 respectively.

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