Meeresstille und glückliche Fahrt (Beethoven) explained
Meeresstille und Glückliche Fahrt, Op. 112 ("Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage") is a cantata for chorus and orchestra composed by Ludwig van Beethoven. It is based on a pair of poems by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. They met in 1812; Beethoven admired him and the work is dedicated to Goethe. It was first performed in Vienna on 25 December 1815, and first published in 1822.[1] The piece is in a single movement, with a typical performance taking between 7 and 8 minutes. The single movement is in two sections: (1) "Meeresstille" – Sostenuto – D major; and (2) "Glückliche Fahrt" – Allegro vivace – D major.
The cantata evokes the imagery of the pair of poems which later inspired the concert overture of the same name by Mendelssohn. The poems' titles are not synonymous: in the days before steam, a totally calm sea was cause for alarm; it is only when the wind at last rises that the ship can continue on its journey. The first section depicts a ship becalmed, the second its success in resuming its voyage.
Text
| German | English |
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| Meeresstille | Calm Sea |
| Tiefe Stille herrscht im Wasser,Ohne Regung ruht das Meer,Und bekümmert sieht der SchifferGlatte Fläche ringsumher.Keine Luft von keiner Seite!Todesstille fürchterlich | In der ungeheuern WeiteReget keine Welle sich. | Deep stillness rules the waterWithout motion lies the sea,And worried the sailor observesSmooth surfaces all around.No air from any side!Deathly, terrible stillness | In the immense distancesnot a single wave stirs. |
|---|
| Glückliche Fahrt | Prosperous Journey |
| Die Nebel zerreißen,Der Himmel ist helle,Und Äolus lösetDas ängstliche Band.Es säuseln die Winde,Es rührt sich der Schiffer.Geschwinde! Geschwinde | Es teilt sich die Welle,Es naht sich die Ferne;Schon seh ich das Land! | The fog is torn,The sky is bright,And Aeolus releasesThe fearful bindings.The winds whisper,The sailor begins to move.Swiftly! Swiftly | The waves divide,The distance nears;Already I see land! |
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Instrumentation
The cantata is scored for the following orchestra.
2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in A, 2 bassoons
4 horns in D, 2 trumpets in D
timpani
violins I & II, violas, cellos, double basses
Selective list of recordings
- Michael Tilson Thomas, London Symphony Orchestra and Ambrosian Singers: Beethoven: Late Choral Music, CBS Records, 1975
- Claudio Abbado, Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Opera: Beethoven: Symphonie No. 6 'Pastorale', Deutsche Grammophon, 1987
- Robert Shaw, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus: Beethoven: Mass in C, Elegiac Song & Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, Telarc, 1990
- John Eliot Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists: Messe in C, Archiv, 1992
- Matthew Best, Croydon Singers and Croydon Orchestra, Early Cantatas, Hyperion, 1997
- Richard Hickox, Collegium Music 90: Mass in C, Chandos, 2003
- Riccardo Muti, Beethoven Lincoln Center, DVD
References
- Web site: Marston . Nicholas . Meeresstille und Glückliche Fahrt, Op 112 . Hyperion Records. 13 August 2019 . 1997.
