Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 in C, Op. 21, was dedicated to Baron Gottfried van Swieten, an early patron of the composer. The piece was premiered in 1800 and published one year later. The work is clearly indebted to Beethoven's predecessors, particularly Haydn and Mozart, but nonetheless has characteristics that mark it uniquely as Beethoven's work, notably the frequent use of sforzandi and the prominent, independent use of wind instruments. The premiere, in which there where works by Handel and Mozart, served to announce Beethoven's talent to Vienna. The symphony is scored for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in C (usually taken over by instruments in Bb), 2 bassoons, 2 horns in C and F, 2 trumpets in C, timpani and strings. The musical form is in accordance with the established composing tradition. Musical content, instrumentation as well as tempi are unusual, if not revolutionary in its use for a symphonic work of Beethoven's time.
