Beethoven’s merry-go-round music?
In the summer of 1810, Beethoven prepared three marches for military band catalogued as WoO 18, 19, and 20. Willy Hess says that at least two of these “were played on the carousel of [Austrian Empress consort] Maria Ludovica on August 15. 1810.”
Apparently Archduke Rudolph requested the scores of the carousel marches, for that is the only way to interpret Beethoven’s letter of August 1810: “The music for horses which you have asked for will be brought to Your Imperial Highness at the fastest gallop.” (Letters No. 274)
Willy Hess believed the three marches for military band WoO 18, 19, and 20 were intended to be played in the sequence 18, 20, and 19, a symmetry suggested by keys of F, C, and F, and “the main theme of the third march already appears in the closing pattern of the first march.”
Beethoven’s carousel marches go by various names: They are sometimes called Zapfenstreiche (military tattoos). Willy Hess clarifies: “The words ‘March’ and Zapfenstreiche differ from each other only in the fact that the latter contains a trio as well as a main section.”
Various arrangements exist of the carousel marches. WoO 18 is known as the “March for the Bohemian Militia” in one arrangement, and the “Yorkshire March” in another. WoO 18 and 19 are sometimes grouped together and called March No. 1 and March No. 2.
There seems to be some confusion about the trios associated with the WoO 18, 19, and 20 marches. An 1822 letter indicates that Beethoven intended to compose new trios for them, but for one of these marches, the only existing trio can be dated to 1810.
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March in F Major for Military Band (WoO 18), 1809–10
This is a much larger ensemble than what Beethoven probably intended, but it’s all kids so it’s all good.
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March in F Major for Military Band (WoO 19), 1810
There is apparently no live recording of this march. “Pferdemussik” means “Horse Music.”
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March in C Major for Military Band (WoO 20), c. 1810?
Why no drum in this ensemble? It’s definitely missed.
Willy Hess wrote of the three marches WoO 18, 19, and 20: “It remains only to hope that these unduly neglected works of the great symphonist will take their rightful place in concert programs.”
Or not.
In addition to WoO 18, 19, and 20, three other compositions for military band seem to date from 1810. These are a Polonaise in D major (WoO 21), an Ecossaise in D major (WoO 22), and an Eccossaise in G major (WoO 23), which only exists for piano. Very little is known about them.
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Polonaise in D Major for Military Band (WoO 21), 1810
There does not seem to be a live recording of this piece. This is a studio recording.
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Ecossaise in D Major for Military Band (WoO 22), 1810
“Advanced Band” and “Grizzlies” are the only hints indicating where this video is from and who is performing.
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Ecossaise in G Major for Military Band (WoO 23), c. 1810
This one exists only in a piano reduction attributed to Carl Czerny.