In his op. 112 Beethoven sets the two poems by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Meeresstille (“Calm Sea”) and Glückliche Fahrt (“Prosperous Voyage”). Several sketches reveal that Beethoven had already begun to take an interest in the poems by the end of 1814. The composer conducted the première at a benefit concert for the Viennese Citizens’ Hospital Fund in 1815.

As the publication of this work was long in coming, the dedicatee Goethe received a copy of the score only in May 1822. A few month...