Written between 1811 and 1812 while Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was improving his health in the Bohemian spa town of Teplitz, the Symphony No. 7 is considered among the composer's best works (including by the composer himself) with the second movement, 'Allegretto," so popular that the premiere audience demanded it be played again. The movement is frequently performed separately even today. Often tied thematically to Beethoven's musical confrontations with Napoleon Bonaparte, this symphony was written in the context of the European wars of liberation from years of Napoleonic domination. The work premiered on December 8th, 1813, at a charity concert for soldiers wounded in the Battle of Hanau with Beethoven conducting. At the premiere, the composer addressed the participants with, "We are moved by nothing but pure patriotism and the joyful sacrifice of our powers for those who have sacrificed so much for us." The orchestra included some of the best musicians of their day: violinist Louis Spohr and composers Johann Nepomuk Hummel, Giacomo Meyerbeer, and Antonio Salieri. Instrumentation: 2.2.2.2: 2.2.0.0: Timp: Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set).