König Stephan
Encyclopedia
King Stephen, Op. 117 is a commemorative work composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
in 1811. It includes an overture
in E flat major and nine vocal numbers. Only the overture is usually played today. The title refers to King Stephen I, founder of the kingdom of Hungary
in the year 1000.
In 1808 Emperor Francis I
of Austria commissioned the construction of a large theatre in Budapest
, to alleviate the nationalist feelings incipient in Hungary and to celebrate the loyalty of Hungary to the Austrian monarchy. At the time of the inauguration of this theatre in 1811, Beethoven was commissioned to put to music two commemorative texts written by August von Kotzebue
: King Étienne and Ruins of Athens. These overtures are among the least played orchestral works of the composer.
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
in 1811. It includes an overture
Overture
Overture in music is the term originally applied to the instrumental introduction to an opera...
in E flat major and nine vocal numbers. Only the overture is usually played today. The title refers to King Stephen I, founder of the kingdom of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
in the year 1000.
In 1808 Emperor Francis I
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Francis II was the last Holy Roman Emperor, ruling from 1792 until 6 August 1806, when he dissolved the Empire after the disastrous defeat of the Third Coalition by Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz...
of Austria commissioned the construction of a large theatre in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, to alleviate the nationalist feelings incipient in Hungary and to celebrate the loyalty of Hungary to the Austrian monarchy. At the time of the inauguration of this theatre in 1811, Beethoven was commissioned to put to music two commemorative texts written by August von Kotzebue
August von Kotzebue
August Friedrich Ferdinand von Kotzebue was a German dramatist.One of Kotzebue's books was burned during the Wartburg festival in 1817. He was murdered in 1819 by Karl Ludwig Sand, a militant member of the Burschenschaften...
: King Étienne and Ruins of Athens. These overtures are among the least played orchestral works of the composer.
Movements
- Overture (Andante con moto - Presto, E-flat major)
- Male chorus: Ruhend von seinen Thaten (Andante maestoso e con moto, C major)
- Male chorus: Auf dunkelm in finstern Hainen Wandelten (Allegro con brio - C minor)
- Victory march (Feurig und stolz - G major)
- Female chorus: Wo die Unschuld Blumen streute (Andante con moto all'Ongarese - A major)
- Melodrama (Stéphan): Du hast dein Vaterland
- Chorus: Eine neue strahlende Sonne (Vivace - F major)
- Melodrama (Stéphan): Ihr edlen Ungarn! (Maestoso con moto - D major)
- a. Religious March (Moderato - B-flat major)
- b. Melodrama with chorus: Heil unserm Konige! (Allegro vivace e con brio - B-flat major)
- Final chorus: Heil! Heil unserm Enkeln (Presto - D major)