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"Wellingtons Sieg oder die Schlacht bei Vittoria" op. 91
 Listening samples
Composition
August bis Oktober 1813 (Fassung Panharmonikon); Oktober bis Dezember 1813 (Orchesterfassung)
dedicated to Georg IV. August Friedrich Prinzregent von England
On June 21st, 1813, the troops of Sir Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, defeated the troops of French marshal Jean-Baptiste Count Jourdan and King Joseph of Spain, Napoleon's older brother, on the plains of Vitoria. The news of the victory reached Vienna on July 27th where Beethoven stayed on that day (he spent the rest of the summer in Baden).
Inventor and music mechanic Johann Nepomuk Mälzel, then a friend of Beethoven as he manufactured ear-trumpets for the composer, had the idea of turning the French defeat into a composition. He convinced Beethoven to compose a victory symphony for his mechanical orchestra, the so-called "Panharmonikon". Mälzel probably noticed the wide musical scope of Beethoven's piece when he transferred it to the machine's barrel. Thus, the composition was far too extensive for a mechanic orchestra using automated barrels. He suggested Beethoven should adapt the piece for grand orchestra, add a battle music and an introduction. Compared to modern standards, "Wellington's victory" is not one of Beethoven's masterpieces. It is far too trivial. In 1813/14, however, the composition was in line with the then taste and tradition and proved a great success for Beethoven and Mälzel. Together with the Seventh Symphony it was performed for the first time on December 8th and 12th, 1813, on a charity concert for disabled soldiers. But success also lead to problems: Beethoven and Mälzel started a dispute on the copyright because both wanted to market the highly popular composition. When Mälzel went on a journey to England and took the score with him, Beethoven initiated legal action (without any success) and published an appeal in London newspapers, calling himself the rightful owner. It took several years until both men settled the issue. (J.R.)
| First editions |
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Originalausgabe, op. 91, Klavierauszug, Birchall |
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Originalausgabe, op. 91, Stimmen, Steiner, 2363 |
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Originalausgabe, op. 91, Partitur, Steiner, 2367 |
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Originalausgabe, op. 91, Partitur, Steiner, 2367; Teilscan |
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Originalausgabe, op. 91, Stimmen, Steiner, 2368 |
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Erstausgabe, op. 91, Klavierauszug, Steiner, 2361 |
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Titelauflage, op. 91, Klavierauszug, Haslinger, 2361; Teilscan |
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Titelauflage, op. 91, Klavierauszug, Steiner, 2361; Teilscan |
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Titelauflage, op. 91, Stimmen, Steiner, 2365; Teilscan |
Scores
| Written documents |
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Billet an Herrn Hartmann, Wien, vor dem 23. Februar 1814
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Billet an Sigmund Anton Steiner, Wien, Herbst 1815
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Brief an George Smart in London, Wien, 16. und 19. März 1815 |
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Eigentumsbestätigung für Sigmund Anton Steiner, Wien, 29. April 1815 |
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Eigentumsbestätigung für Sigmund Anton Steiner, Wien, 20. Mai 1815 |
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Brief an Johann Peter Salomon in London, Wien, 1. Juni 1815
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Brief an Andreas Rasumowsky, Wien, 5. Juni 1815 |
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Brief an Ferdinand Ries in London, Wien, 22. November 1815
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Brief an Sigmund Anton Steiner, Wien, Dezember 1815
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Brief an Ferdinand Ries in London, Wien, 20. Januar 1816
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Anzeige zur Subskription auf "Wellingtons Sieg oder die Schlacht bei Vittoria" op. 91 von Ludwig van Beethoven |
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Brief an Ferdinand Ries in London, Wien, 28. Februar 1816
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Eigentumsbestätigung und Quittung für den Verleger Robert Birchall in London, Wien, 9. März 1816 |
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Brief an Ferdinand Ries in London, Wien, 11. Juni 1816
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Brief an Johann von Häring, Baden, 9. September 1816
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Brief an Johann von Häring, Wien, Ende November 1816
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Brief an Ludwig van Beethoven in Wien, London, 8. November 1816 |
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Brief an Tobias Haslinger, Wien, 29. Dezember 1816
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Anschlagzettel für ein Konzert unter der Leitung von George Smart in London am 29. Mai 1819 |
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Brief an Ferdinand Ries in London, Wien, Anfang Mai 1823
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Literatur
Location of other important manuscript sources
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Berlin: Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Musikabteilung mit Mendelssohn-Archiv
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Frankreich, Paris: Bibliothèque du Conservatoire, in: Bibliothèque nationale de France
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© Beethoven-Haus Bonn
E-Mail: bibliothek@beethoven-haus-bonn.de
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