Beethoven 7

For this concert the orchestra is reduced to an ensemble of nine wind instrumentalists who embark upon an arrangement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 “für Harmonie” (S.A. Steiner, 1816). In Beethoven’s time, orchestral works were regularly rearranged for “Harmonie”, an ensemble consisting of two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns and a contrabassoon. European princes and counts had their own harmony ensembles and arrangements allowed for wider distribution of the originally symphonic work. So there were both prestigious and commercial benefits to the practice. But who wrote the arrangement? What inspired Beethoven? What quests have the musicians undertaken to find historical instruments? What is the difference between a historical clarinet and the modern instrument? Olav Grondelaers expresses his curiosity out loud and leaves no consideration unturned. Questions, answers and short audio samples lead to new insights. After this the concert begins and the past unfolds, note by note: business as never before

• 23-24