Der Mann von Wort, Op 99 of 1816, is based on a text by Friedrich August Kleinschmid (1749-1838); as German nationalism post-Napoleon was in its initial fervent stages, Beethoven, who was prone to the occasional outburst of patriotic sentiment in song, set this poem about German honour, masculine pride, and Teutonic worthiness to stirring strains (“a little military piece”, or “Feldstück”, he called it). Musical nationalism tends to the absence of subtleties and ambiguities, so one should not look for Beethoven’s most radical strains here, but the energy is undeniable.

from notes by Susan Youens © 2008