Ludwig van Beethoven greatly admired the work of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, arguably Germany’s greatest poet. Beethoven set two of Goethe’s poems to music in a short cantata for chorus and orchestra.

Meeresstille und Glückliche Fahrt is usually translated into English as Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage. However this does not accurately convey the intent. Calm Sea sounds like a positive emotion. The intent of the poem and perhaps a better translation would be “becalmed sea”, the frustration of waiting for any wind to get the journey underway before the advent of steam. The first poem conveys stillness and expectation. The second conveys the excitement of getting underway.

Beethoven composed the work in 1815. The first performance took place in Vienna on 25 December 1815. The work was published in 1822. Mendelssohn composed an overture inspired by the same two poems and with the same name in 1828.

Performers: Corydon Singers, Corydon Orchestra, conductor Matthew Best