  We announce a new four parameter partition theorem from which the (big)
theorem of Gollnitz follows by setting any one of the parameters equal to 0.
This settles a problem of Andrews who asked whether there exists a result that
goes beyond the partition theorem of Gollnitz. We state a four parameter
q-series identity (key identity) which is the generating function form of this
theorem. In a subsequent paper, the proof of the new four parameter key
identity will be given.
