Lucky number seven. Beethoven’s Septet, from around 1800 (for clarinet, bassoon, horn, violin, viola, cello, and double bass), was hugely influential for many composers at the time. Although the exact instrumentation often deviates from Beethoven’s model, it remains influential today. Some of the pieces in this playlist weren’t officially titled as “septets” per se, but they all feature seven players one way or another.