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	English
Meeresstille	Calm Sea
Tiefe 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 Fahrt	Prosperous Journey
Die 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

Other websites

• [[scores:{{{id}}}|Meeresstille und Glückliche Fahrt, Op. 112]]: Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project