Meeresstille und glückliche Fahrt (Beethoven)

Meeresstille und Glückliche Fahrt, Op. 112 ("Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage") is a cantata for chorus and orchestra created by Ludwig van Beethoven. It is made from two poems by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Beethoven and Goethe met in 1812. Beethoven liked Goethe and dedicated the work to him. It was first played in Vienna on 25 December 1815, and first made public in 1822. The work is in one part, taking between 7 and 8 minutes. The one part is in two sections: (1) "Meeresstille" – Sostenuto – D major; and (2) "Glückliche Fahrt" – Allegro vivace – D major.
Text
 German  EnglishMeeresstilleCalm SeaTiefe Stille herrscht im Wasser,
Ohne Regung ruht das Meer,
Und bekümmert sieht der Schiffer
Glatte Fläche ringsumher.
Keine Luft von keiner Seite!
Todesstille fürchterlich!
In der ungeheuern Weite
Reget keine Welle sich.Deep stillness rules the water
Without motion lies the sea,
And worried the sailor observes
Smooth surfaces all around.
No air from any side!
Deathly, terrible stillness!
In the immense distances
not a single wave stirs.Glückliche FahrtProsperous JourneyDie Nebel zerreißen,
Der Himmel ist helle,
Und Äolus löset
Das ängstliche Band.
Es säuseln die Winde,
Es rührt sich der Schiffer.
Geschwinde! Geschwinde!
Es teilt sich die Welle,
Es naht sich die Ferne;
Schon seh ich das Land!The fog is torn,
The sky is bright,
And Aeolus releases
The fearful bindings.
The winds whisper,
The sailor begins to move.
Swiftly! Swiftly!
The waves divide,
The distance nears;
Already I see land!

Instrumentation
The cantata is written for an orchestra with:

Woodwinds: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in A, 2 bassoons
Brass: 4 horns in D, 2 trumpets in D
Percussion: timpani
Strings: violins I & II, violas, cellos, double basses
SATB choir

References

Other websites

Category:Cantatas by Ludwig van Beethoven
Category:Musical settings of poems by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Category:Compositions with dedications
Category:Compositions in D major
Category:1810s compositions