The Ruins of Athens

The incidental music is scored for these instruments: ;Woodwinds: :1 piccolo :2 flutes :2 oboes :2 clarinets in B, A and C :2 bassoons :1 contrabassoon ;Brass: :4 horns :2 trumpets :3 trombones (alto, tenor, and bass) ;Percussion :timpani :triangle :cymbals :bass drum :castanets ;Strings: :violins I, II :violas :cellos :contrabasses ==Action of the play==

The goddess Athena, awakening from a thousand-year sleep (No. 2), overhears two Greek slaves lamenting foreign occupation (Duet, No. 3). She is deeply distressed at the ruined state of her city, a part of the Ottoman Empire (Nos. 4 & 5). Led by the herald Hermes, Athena joins Emperor Franz I at the opening of the theatre in Pest, where they assist at a triumph of the muses Thalia and Melpomene. Between their two busts, Zeus erects another of Franz, and Athena crowns it. The Festspiel ends with a chorus pledging renewed ancient Hungarian loyalty. == Movements ==

The work consists of an overture and eight movements. == Arrangements ==

In 1846 Franz Liszt composed a Capriccio alla turca sur des motifs de Beethoven (Caprice in the Turkish style on motifs of Beethoven), S.388, based on themes from The Ruins of Athens, mostly the Turkish March. In 1852 he also composed a Fantasie über Motiven aus Beethovens Ruinen von Athen (Fantasia on themes from Beethoven's 'Ruins of Athens'), for piano and orchestra (S.122), and also made versions for piano solo (S.389) and two pianos (S.649). == Use in popular culture ==

• French composer Jean-Jacques Perrey based the tune of the Turkish March in his composition "The Elephant Never Forgets", which was famously later used as the opening theme for the Mexican TV comedy El Chavo del Ocho. • In several videos documenting footage of the Warhammer 40,000 video games, the song has had a popular reaction and become a recurring theme among the fans. • The March is often found as a demonstration tune on electronic keyboards and musical toys, possibly because of its strong percussive sound. • The Duet and the Dervish Chorus were the background music for several scenes in an Australian film version of Shakespeare's Timon of Athens. == References ==