Wellington’s Victory
Beethoven - 1813
Beethoven wrote Wellington's Victory in 1813, his opus
91. With the sounds of thundering cannon and firing
muskets, it also has quotes from "God Save the King" and
"Rule, Brittania."
Originally written for the panharmonican, it is in two parts:
The Battle, and Victory Symphony.
The panharmonican is a sort of mechanical brass band,
the instruments being blown through a bellows, and the
notes controlled by a revolving brass cylinder with pins.
Sometimes, in a more fanciful performance, the
concertmaster (Wellington) takes pot-shots at the first violist
(Napoleon).
It was a huge success in its day,
but is not regarded as one of his greater works.
For more info
http://mmd.foxtail.com/Archives/Digests/199808/1998.08.18.07.html