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
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)
References
Lecompte Michel, Guide illustré de la musique symphonique de Beethoven, Fayard, 1995, 335p.
ISBN2-213-03091-X