Wellington's Victory, or the Battle of Vittoria op. 91, for Piano and Two Cannons, Hess 97 (100 Kb)

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Piece Overview
Instrumentation Class: 18 - Smaller Pieces for Piano
Hess #: 097
Midi Author: Mark S. Zimmer
Running Time: 13:52

Detailed Information
Wellington's Victory, or the Battle of Vittoria op. 91, for Piano and Cannons, Hess 97 (1816). This is certainly the strangest of Beethoven's arrangements for piano, since it also calls for two cannon to be fired throughout the first (Battle) portion of the piece. In this midi, the English forces are on the right channel; the French are on the left. As the battle progresses, the English march toward and take the center, forcing the French further left and eventually completely off the soundstage. The piece was wildly popular in its time as anti-Napoleonic feeling increased in Europe. This "symphony" (as Beethoven referred to it in letters) is easily the most clearly descriptive piece Beethoven ever wrote. The transcription ends, as does the orchestral version, with a fugato treatment of "God Save the King." Published 1816 by Steiner in Vienna.

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