Composers in the time of *War and Peace*

Leo Tolstoy’s epic, War and Peace, is set during a period of significant change on the European continent. During this time, the musical patronage system was also transitioning. “While the Napoleonic Wars (c. 1792–1815) and the broader European revolutions disrupted or dismantled many traditional aristocratic institutions, a handful of European courts managed to maintain strong systems of musical patronage well into the 19th century. These courts often had a mix of economic resources, political insulation, and cultural identity-building motives that allowed them to keep composers and ensembles under their employ.

Here are the royal courts that held onto the aristocratic support model longest — and why: the full link (from chat).

The stories of Napoleons voracious conquests are felt in Beethoven’s rhythms.

Here is the full playlist of music heard in the Vienna court in 1810.