Ludwig van Beethoven · 1770–1827
Piece for Panharmonikon – Wellingtons Sieg, oder die Schlacht bei Vittoria
Performed by Wellington’s Victory, or the Battle of Vittoria · 7:04
Enthused, Beethoven (according to Moscheles, upon Maelzel's suggestion) wrote the composition The Battle of Vittoria in 1813, commemorating the victory of the Duke of Wellington over the French forces, for this new instrument. Beethoven stated that he had already conceived the idea of a battle, which was not practicable on the Panharmonikon. However, Moscheles is probably more accurate, since the front page of the Panharmonikon score states, in Beethoven's hand, that it was "written for Hr. Maelzel by Ludwig van Beethoven."