Ludwig van Beethoven, Skizzenblatt zur Kantate "Europens Befreiungsstunde" Unv 17, Autograph

Censor stops work

The sketch leaf shown here was for a long time considered to belong to the Cantata "Der glorreiche Augenblick" ("The glorious moment") op. 136, which Beethoven composed for the Congress of Vienna in the autumn (September to November) of 1814. However, the lines of text, in particular underneath the sketches on the first page, show that they are sketches for the unfinished Cantata "Europens Befreiungsstunde" ("Europe's hour of freedom"), which Beethoven was working on in the first months of that year. Yet Beethoven stopped working on this composition and did not complete it after the censors had refused the text. The authorities did not give any reason, although it is probable that pronounced hatred of the French was not meant to be publicly shown for reasons of diplomacy. This is understandable, as the recitative sketched on the front of this leaf bears the text: "Nach Frankreichs unheilvollem Sturz, des Gottvergessenen erhob sich auf den bl[utigen Trümmern; in der abgerissenen Ecke] / Von Todes graun genährt[,] ein düster schreckenbild gigantisch hoch empor[,] die Geier[-] / augen weithin nach raube drehend[,] Mit starker Hand schwingend die eherne Sklaven geißel [!] Wer ist mir gleich erscholl mit Macht des Frevlers Stimme[;] mein fester Siz / ist Frankreich[,] Italia meiner stirne schmuck[,] meiner Füße Schemel Hispania Und Deutschland du bist mein[!] ver/tilgen will ich albion vom grund[,] zum knechte soll mir moskwa dienen[.]"

(Following France's fateful fall, he who was forgotten by God rose on top of the bl[oody ruins; in the torn off corner], nourished by the fear of death, a terrible sight incredibly high, seeking loot with his vulture eyes, and with a strong hand swinging the mighty slave whip. Who is my equal boomed the criminal's powerful voice. My firm seat is France, Italy the jewel on my forehead, Spain the stool at my feet and Germany you are mine. I wish to utterly destroy Albion, and Moscow shall be my servant.) (J.R.)