Young Beethoven's "Ritterballet" was performed on this day. Although initially it was thought to have been composed by Count Waldstein, there is proof that it was Beethoven's composition.
It appears that Beethoven also composed his "Octet for wind instruments" during the same year, although it was published after the composer's death as Opus 103. This proves once more that he was ripe at an early age, contrary to what many musicologists believed.
@Applauded Improvisation@2
While traveling with the Electoral orchestra of Bonn to Mergentheim, Beethoven was much applauded for his playing and improvisations as is reflected by the following account in a letter, written by C.L. Junker on November 20, 1791:
"I had the honor of hearing him extemporize in private and was even invited to propose a theme for him to vary. The greatness of this amiable, light-hearted man, a virtuoso, may in my opinion be safely estimated from his almost inexhaustible wealth of ideas, the altogether characteristic style of expression in his playing, and the great execution which he displays...Even the members of this remarkable orchestra are, without exception, his admirers, and all ears when he plays. Yet he is exceedingly modest and free from all pretension".
