Regency Beethoven, 1811-1820

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

The following Beethoven works were published or premiered during the Regency, 1811-1820. This list is by no means all-inclusive. My purpose is let non-musicians know what major classical works were around during the period in question, so they can have a sense of what fashionable, early nineteenth century ears had to contend with. Beethoven also wrote military marches and incidental music for plays (dramatic soundtracks, if you will), and he was very much a popular performer and composer. In one regard, he was to the music of his day what the Beatles were to middle twentieth century rock and roll: revolutionary, but not so revolutionary as to be revolting and out of touch with what attracts, captures, and moves an audience.

1813
Symphony No. 7 in A major, Opus 92 (composed 1811-1812)
Wellington's Victory, Opus 92 (A descriptive piece, or what the Romantics would later call a "tone poem," that celebrates Wellington's victory over the French at the Battle of Vitoria in Spain)

1814
Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Opus 90
Symphony No. 8 in F major, Opus 93 (composed 1811-12)

1815
Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, Opus 112 (for chorus and orchestra)

1816
An die ferne Geliebte, Opus 98 (song cycle)

1819
Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat major, Opus 106 ("Hammerklavier")

The remainder of Beethoven's major works--The Ninth Symphony, Missa Solemnis, and the Diabelli Variations--are not included here because they were published or premiered after 1820 and were, therefore, largely unknown to the general public.