WoO 121 – Abschiedsgesang an Wiens Bürger – : Keine Klage soll erschallen… for voice, choir and piano
Entschlossen und Feurig
WoO 121 – Abschiedsgesang an Wiens Bürger – : Keine Klage soll erschallen… for voice, choir and piano, dedicated to Major Köwesdy, November 1796, published in Vienna, Artaria, November 1796. GA. no. 230 (series 23/16) – Boett. IV/1 – B. 231 – KH. (Wo0)121 – L. IV, p. 352/C/2 – N. p. 177 – P. 68 – T. 45.
The original manuscript has been lost. According to Thayer-Riemann, Napoleon’s victories in Italy in 1796 had stirred a certain degree of alarm even among the citizens of Vienna, who feared the possibility of invasion. This sense of unease led to the initial formation of special civic militias intended for national defence. Among these was a battalion of 1,400 light infantrymen, formed under the name Corpo dei liberi volontari viennesi, and placed under the command of Major Köwesdy, with its headquarters in Stockerau.
Lieutenant Friedelberg (who later died young from wounds sustained in combat) wrote a “Canto d’addio” addressed to the citizens of Vienna, marking the departure of the division of the Flags of the Viennese Free Volunteers. Beethoven promptly set the text to music. It is a patriotic song of a popular character which, according to Thayer-Riemann, does not appear to have achieved any remarkable popularity. Nevertheless, the music was later adapted by other publishers to new words for a Trinklied: “Lasst das Herz uns froh erheben”.
Closely related to this Canto d’addio is the Kriegslied der Österreicher, which Beethoven would go on to set to music just a few months later.
The text (Josef von Friedelberg):
Keine Klage soll erschallen,
Wenn von hier die Fahne zieht,
Tränen keinem Äug’ entfallen,
Das im Scheiden nach ihr sieht.
Es ist stolz auf diese Zierde
Und Gefühl der Bürgerwürde,
Was auf aller Wangen glüht.
Trotzend stehn vor Donnerschlünden
Kann wohl auch der Bösewicht.
Milden Sinn mit Mut verbinden,
Menschheit ehren kann er nicht.
Nie das Glück der Tugend trüben,
Brüderlich den Landmann lieben,
Das ist deutscher Helden Pflicht!
Bessre Menschen, bessre Bürger,
Als wir nun von hinnen gehn,
Keine sittenlosen Würger
Sollt ihr in uns wiedersehn.
Unser Wien empfängt uns wieder,
Ruhmbekränzet, stark und bieder;
Auf! Laßt hoch die Fahne wehn!
[By Biamonti Giovanni – Catalogo cronologico e tematico delle opere di Beethoven comprese quelle inedite e gli abbozzi non utilizzati, Torino, ILTE 1968]
Official title: WoO 121 Farewell Song to Vienna’s Citizens Song (G major) after a poem by Josef Friedeiberg for voice and piano Dedication: Obristwachtmeister Karl von Kövesdy NGA XII/1 No. 15 AGA 230 = Series 23/16
Creation and publication: Composed in the autumn of 1796, immediately before the printing of the original edition of Artaria in Vienna, which bears the date 15 November 1796. On August 11, 1796 (after Austria suffered devastating losses against French troops in Italy), Emperor Francis II called on all those who were otherwise exempt from military service to take up arms. Special benefits were promised to volunteers. The Viennese citizens then offered to set up a volunteer corps at their own expense, for which on August 14 so many “daß sie in kurzer Zeit schon einige Kompagnien formierten” were offered. Il 4 settembre l’Imperatore approvò con un decreto la denominazione di „Korps der Wiener Freiwilligen “. On October 20 in Stockerau the consecration of the banner took place in the presence of the Emperor and Empress and the next day the corps began the march towards Italy. Beethoven’s composition may have been written on this solemn procession. For Alfred Orel, Beethoven had a specific connection with the volunteer corps: he was its director “als Volontär”. “Es muß dahingestellt bleiben, ob es sich bei dieser Funktion Beethovens als Kapellmeister nur um eine Art Titel, eine bloße Ehrenstelle gehandelt hat, oder ob wir uns Beethoven derart uniformiert vorzustellen haben”. Lyrics: Josef Friedeiberg (1781? —1800), second lieutenant of the Korps der Wiener Freiwilligen und dem k.k. Infanterieregiment de Ligne; the poem has survived only thanks to Beethoven’s composition. – In the edition published by Kühnel im Jahr 1806, the song has new lyrics as “Trinklied” Dedication: “Es wurde ein 1,400 Mann starkes leichtes Fuselierbatallion unter dem Nahmen: Corps der Wiener Freywilligen gebildet […]. In Stockerau war der Sammelplatz, Major Kowosdy [!], Commandant desselben.” (From the Österreichische National-Encyklopädie, Wien 1837, vol. 6, p. 137.) According to Alfred Orel, it is Karl von Kövesdy, born in Tirtmon, who had already appeared in 1774 as a midshipman in the 2nd Infantry Regiment. After a military career, Kövesdy died on 30 June 1800 in Alessandria in Piedmont. First execution unknown.
The sketches will be covered in an article specially created for the Beethovenian Music Research Center www.lvbeethoven.org
