Beethoven, Ludwig van

Estimate

2,000 - 3,000 USD

bidding is closed

Description

Wellington-Sieg, oder: die Schlacht bey Vittoria. Vienna: Steiner und Comp. [After 15 March 1816]
Paper, Ink, Fabric

Small 4to (10 1/2 x 8 1/2 in.; 262 x 215 mm). Plate mark 2367, original decorative wrappers, title-page stained, uncut and disbound, occasional notations in pencil throughout; housed in a blue cloth clamshell case with red leather label, gilt.

Provenance

Parke-Bernet (2 June 1943, lot 47)

Literature

Kinsky-Halm (2014), volume 1, p.582

Catalogue Note

The rare full score of Beethoven’s Battle Symphony with the composer’s revised wording for the title.

Conceived in 1813 when German inventor Johann Maelzel approached the composer with a proposal to embark on a large-scale work commemorating the Duke of Wellington's victory over Joseph Bonaparte at the Battle of Vitoria in Spain on 21 June 1813. The symphony was initially meant to showcase Maelzel's massive mechanical orchestra, which featured an array of automated instruments. Beethoven eventually abandoned this idea, turning the piece into a full symphony for conventional orchestra. The full score was published in 1816 simultaneously with the individual parts for the first time. Music text in lithography.