Instrumentations for Some of the Beethoven We’d Like to Play Sometime
Also including pieces that are already in our repertoire.
In other words, this is our Beethoven “master list.”
Want to add something to this list? Just tell me.
The number under Timp is the number of drums needed.
The names of all Beethoven works appear here in green, which means they’re definitely NOT still under copyright protection (see note to main instrumentation page).
Percussion abbreviations: B=Orchestral (Tubular) Bells; BD=Bass Drum; BDC=Bass Drum with Cymbal Attached; C=Cymbal(s); Cl=Claves; FC=Finger Cymbal; FD=Field Drum; G=Gong; G(l)=Low Gong; G(h)=High Gong; Gl=Glockenspiel; Gu=Guiro; M=Marimba; PSD=Piccolo Snare Drum; R=Ratchet; RS=Rosewood Sticks; SB=Sleighbells; SC=Suspended Cymbal; SD=Snare (Side) Drum; SS=Slapstick; Sw=Switches; Ta=Tambourine; TD=Tenor Drum; Tr=Triangle; To=Tom-Tom; TT=Tam-Tam; TT(l)=Low Tam-Tam; TT(h)=High Tam-Tam; V=Vibes; WB=Wood Blocks; WC=Wind Chimes; WM=Wind Machine; X=Xylophone.
“Other” abbreviations: Ch=SATB chorus; KCh=Children’s chorus; O=Organ; [[ ]]=non-SATB chorus; [ ]=Vocal soloists: S=Soprano; M=Mezzo; A=Alto; C=Contralto; T=Tenor; Bar=Baritone; B=Bass; Vln or other instrument=Solo instrument.
Full string sections are always assumed unless otherwise noted.

Beethoven Time Picc Flute Oboe EH Clar BCl Bsn Contra Horn Tpt Tbn Tuba Timp Perc Harp Other
Symphony 1 25   2 2   2   2   2 2     2      
Symphony 2 32   2 2   2   2   2 2     2      
Symphony 3 48   2 2   2   2   3 2     2      
Symphony 4 34   1 2   2   2   2 2     2      
Symphony 5 30 1 2 2   2   2 1 2 2 3   2      
Symphony 6 39 1 2 2   2   2   2 2 2   2      
Symphony 7 41   2 2   2   2   2 2     2      
Symphony 8 23   2 2   2   2   2 2     2      
Symphony 9 67 1 2 2   2   2 1 4 2 3   2 3/C,Tr,BD   Ch,[SATB]
  Time Picc Flute Oboe EH Clar BCl Bsn Contra Horn Tpt Tbn Tuba Timp Perc Harp Other
Leonore Ov #3 14   2 2   2   2   4 2 3   2      
Fidelio Ov 6   2 2   2   2   4 2 2   2      
Egmont Ov 9 (1) 2 2   2   2   4 2     2      
King Stephen Ov 8   2 2   2   2 1 4 2     2      
Ruins of Athens Ov 6   2 2   2   2   4 2     2      
Prometheus Ov 8   2 2   2   2   2 2     2      
Consecr/House Ov 12   2 2   2   2   4 2 3   2      
Violin Cto 42   1 2   2   2   2 2     2      
  Time Picc Flute Oboe EH Clar BCl Bsn Contra Horn Tpt Tbn Tuba Timp Perc Harp Other
Piano Cto 1 34   1 2   2   2   2 2     2      
Piano Cto 2 30   1 2       2   2              
Piano Cto 3 33   2 2   2   2   2 2     2      
Piano Cto 4 33   1 2   2   2   2 2     2      
Piano Cto 5 37   2 2   2   2   2 2     2      
Triple Cto 35   2 2   2   2   2 2     2      
Missa Solemnis 81   2 2   2   2 1 4 2 3   2     O,Ch,[SATB]
Mass in C 43   2 2   2   2   2 2     2     O,Ch,[SATB]
Christ/Mt of Olives 36   2 2   2   2   2 2 3   2     Ch,[STB]

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