Der glorreiche Augenblick

Der glorreiche Augenblick, Op. 136 (The glorious moment) is a cantata by Ludwig van Beethoven.

Composition
Der glorreiche Augenblick was written for the start of the Congress of Vienna after the end of the Napoleonic Wars. 

The cantata is written for two sopranos, tenor and bass soloists, chorus and orchestra. It uses words by . The Cantata was made in 1814, but not made public until 1837. This is why it has a big opus number. The cantata was first played on November 29th 1814, where it was said that all of the Congress of Vienna came to hear it, such Austrian chancellor Klemens von Metternich, Emperor Alexander I of Russia and King Frederick William III of Prussia.

Structure
The work has six movements:
Chorus "Europa steht!"
Recitative "O seht sie nah' und näher treten!"
Aria with chorus "O Himmel, welch' Entzücken!"
Recitative "Das Auge schaut"
Recitative and quartet "Der den Bund im Sturme fest  gehalten"
Chorus: "Es treten hervor"

Instrumentation
The work is written for SATB choir, Children’s choir (last movement only), 4 soloists (soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor and bass), piccolo (last movement only), 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in A, B♭ and C, 2 bassoons, 4 horns in many keys, 2 trumpets in various keys, 3 trombones (alto, tenor and bass),triangle, bass drum and cymbals (last movement only), timpani, violins, violas, cellos, and double basses.

The soloists are characters: the soprano is the city of Vienna, the mezzo-soprano is the Prophetess, the tenor is the Genius and the bass is the Leader of the People.

References

Other websites


Category:Cantatas by Ludwig van Beethoven
Category:Choral compositions