TITLE: Five Short Pieces for Wind Ensemble (c.1809)

COMPOSER: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Beethoven was born in Bonn,Germany. His family life was stressful, for his father would drink to excess and expect the young Ludwig to perform like the famous prodigy, Mozart. Beethoven held positions in the court theater and the Electoral chapel as harpsichordist, where he studied music with the court organist. In 1787, during a visit to Vienna , his work was heard and adored by Mozart, however, his mother's illness forced him to return to Bonn. By the time he had returned to Vienna in 1792, Mozart had passed away. He then went to study composition with Haydn and Albrechtsberger. His debut Vienna performance, where he played his Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat, resulted in popularity and respect. He began composing symphonies in 1800 and string quartets in 1801.

In the year 1802, Beethoven struggled with his life, writing the Heiligenstadt Testament, a suicide letter to his brothers. Yet Beethoven's largest output occurred over the next ten years, including seven more symphonies, his piano concertos no. 4 and no. 5, the opera Fidelio, his famous violin concerto, the three Rasumovsky String Quartets, and these five short pieces for the wind band.

MOVEMENTS: Five

1. March No.1 in F 1' 10"
2. March No. 2 in F 1' 25"
3. March: Zapfenstreich (Tattoo) 3' 45"
4. Polonaise 1' 25"
5. Ecossaise 1' 00"

PERFORMANCE TIME: 9' 30"

INSTRUMENTATION: 15 Instruments

• 1 Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 1 Eb Clarinet, 2 Clarinets, 2 Bassoons, 1 Contra Bassoon, 2 Horns, 2 Trumpets, 2 Percussion

EDITIONS: Available for Purchase

• G. Schirmer Music Inc., 866 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022

COMPOSITION SKETCH AND MUSICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Beethoven composed the military marches for the evening tattoo. The tattoo, practiced by the Bohemian army in 1809, were military signals sounded on bugles and drums for recalling soldiers to their quarters at night. The works were rejected by various publishers, however, March No. 1 in F found a place among a collection of Prussian infantry marches.

Beethoven used the same instrumentation for the Polonaise, which is a festive dance in triple meter. Most likely, the Polonaise was played as part of a tattoo. A zapfenstreich is a much more elaborate performance, and is performed often with a concert band. Beethoven's Zapfenstreich uses the small instrumentation of the Polonaise, but upholds the elaborate performance of the zapfenstreich. The use of percussion in these works is reminiscent of Turkish music which Beethoven also used in the finale of his Ninth Symphony. Five Short Pieces for Wind Ensemble is not intended to be played as a suite, and the movements certainly may be performed alone or in combinations, as determined by the conductor.

SELECTED RECORDINGS:

RELATED WEBSITES:

Beethoven's Biography - http://www.ida.his.se/ida/~a94johal/beethoven/beet.html

Beethoven's Illustrated Biography - http://austria-tourism.at/personen/beethoven/index.html

Beethoven Midi Files - http://www.unheardbeethoven.org/