News of the death of Emperor Joseph the Second had just reached Bonn. A ceremonial celebration was planned by a special group of people, which also included Count Waldstein and other friends of Beethoven. It was for this occasion that Beethoven composed his "Cantata on the Death of Joseph the Second". For various reasons the cantata could not be performed and was forgotten until its first performance, in Vienna, in November 1884.
This same year he wrote one more cantata, which was entitled "Cantata on the Elevation of Leopold II to the Imperial Dignity", as well as many other compositions, including some beautiful songs. In all these early compositions, his great musical talents are already clearly reflected in an astonishingly ripe form.
