Twelve Minuets for orchestra WoO 7

The Twelve Minuets (WoO 7) and Twelve German Dances (WoO 8) were written for a ball held by the Viennese Artists' Pension Society on 22 November 1795. Beethoven had written them free of charge 'out of love for his fellow artists', since the ball (a masked ball) was a benefit event intended by the Society 'to enhance the financial basis of its fund for its valued members, widows and orphans'. Two years later, on 26 November 1797, the dances and minuets were repeated at the same event on account of their great popularity. Already three weeks after the ball in 1795 they appeared in a piano reduction, it being well known that they 'had been received with applause' (to quote the publisher's advertisement). Beethoven revised the minuets in 1797, fine-tuning the sound and its impact. As for WoO 8, it is difficult to prove whether they were revised owing to the nature of the sources. However, we can assume that Beethoven brought his new knowledge and experience to bear on their composition. (J.R.)