King Stephen (Beethoven) Explained

King Stephen, Op. 117 (König Stephan) 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 at Pest, to alleviate the nationalist feelings incipient in Hungary and to celebrate the loyalty of Hungary to the Austrian Habsburg monarchy. At the time of the inauguration of this theatre in 1811. It was first performed on Feb. 9, 1812. to put to music two commemorative texts written by August von Kotzebue: König Stephan (King Stephen) and Die Ruinen von Athen (The Ruins of Athens).

Movements

0. Overture (Andante con moto - Presto, E♭ major)
1. Male chorus: Ruhend von seinen Thaten (Andante maestoso e con moto, C major)
2. Male chorus: Auf dunkelm in finstern Hainen Wandelten (Allegro con brio - C minor)
3. Victory march (Feurig und stolz - G major)
4. Female chorus: Wo die Unschuld Blumen streute (Andante con moto all'Ongarese - A major)
5. Melodrama (Stéphan): Du hast dein Vaterland
6. Chorus: Eine neue strahlende Sonne (Vivace - F major)
7. Melodrama (Stéphan): Ihr edlen Ungarn! (Maestoso con moto - D major)
8. • a. Religious March (Moderato - B♭ major)
   • b. Melodrama with chorus: Heil unserm Konige! (Allegro vivace e con brio - various keys, starting in B♭ major)
9. Final chorus: Heil! Heil unserm Enkeln (Presto - D major)

Instrumentation

SATB choir

piccolo (second male chorus only)

2 flutes

2 oboes

2 clarinets in A, B♭ and C

2 bassoons

contrabassoon (overture only)

4 horns in various keys

2 trumpets in C, D and E♭

3 trombones (alto, tenor and bass)

timpani

1st violins

2nd violins

violas

cellos

double basses

References

• Lecompte Michel, Guide illustré de la musique symphonique de Beethoven, Fayard, 1995, 335p.
• Catalogue Beethoven (Opus)