Meeresstille und glückliche Fahrt (Beethoven)

Meeresstille und Glückliche Fahrt, Op. 112 ("Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage") is a cantata for chorus and orchestra composed by Ludwig van Beethoven. It is based on a pair of poems by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. They met in 1812; Beethoven admired him and the work is dedicated to Goethe. It was first performed in Vienna on 25 December 1815, and first published in 1822. The piece is in a single movement, with a typical performance taking between 7 and 8 minutes. The single movement is in two sections: (1) "Meeresstille" – Sostenuto – D major; and (2) "Glückliche Fahrt" – Allegro vivace – D major.

The cantata evokes the imagery of the pair of poems which later inspired the concert overture of the same name by Mendelssohn. The poems' titles are not synonymous: in the days before steam, a totally calm sea was cause for alarm; it is only when the wind at last rises that the ship can continue on its journey. The first section depicts a ship becalmed, the second its success in resuming its voyage.

Instrumentation
The cantata is scored for the following orchestra.


 * 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

Selective list of recordings

 * Michael Tilson Thomas, London Symphony Orchestra and Ambrosian Singers: Beethoven: Late Choral Music, CBS Records, 1975
 * Claudio Abbado, Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Opera: Beethoven: Symphonie No. 6 'Pastorale', Deutsche Grammophon, 1987
 * Robert Shaw, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus: Beethoven: Mass in C, Elegiac Song & Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, Telarc, 1990
 * John Eliot Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists: Messe in C, Archiv, 1992
 * Matthew Best, Croydon Singers and Croydon Orchestra, Early Cantatas, Hyperion, 1997
 * Richard Hickox, Collegium Music 90: Mass in C, Chandos, 2003
 * Riccardo Muti, Beethoven Lincoln Center, DVD