Egmont (Beethoven)

Egmont is the incidental music written by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1810 for Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's 1788 tragedy of the same name. It is scored for soprano, male narrator, and full symphony orchestra.

The play and Beethoven's music tell the story of Count Egmont, a 16th-century nobleman in the Habsburg Netherlands who becomes a hero through his resistance to the oppressive rule of the Spanish Duke of Alba. Egmont's unwavering commitment to freedom and justice, despite knowing it will lead to his execution, inspired Beethoven.

The music consists of an overture followed by nine individual pieces to be performed at various points during the play. The overture is perhaps the most famous part of the composition, and is often performed separately in concert settings. The individual numbers include songs for the character of Klärchen, Egmont's lover, as well as entr'actes and other instrumental pieces.

The entire score depicts Egmont's struggle, sacrifice, and ultimate triumph of the human spirit over tyranny. Beethoven identified with Egmont's fight for freedom and saw parallels between the political climate of his own time (Napoleonic Europe) and the historical events portrayed in Goethe's play.

The music ends with a Siegessymphonie (Victory Symphony) which represents Egmont's apotheosis and the eventual liberation of the Netherlands. This triumphant finale became a symbol of hope and resistance.