Beethoven: Symphonies 4 & 5

Advantages: Contrasting: dramatic and relaxing, darkness to light
Disadvantages: Frustrating if you live in a city

...both performed for the first time in 1808 for Beethoven's benefit concert in Vienna. Symphony no 5 in C minor 1st Movement: Allegro con brio 2nd Movement: Andante con moto 3rd Movement: Allegro 4th Movement: Allegro The period when these symphonies were composed is known as Beethoven's heroic period. The fifth sympony is probably the most characteristic of this phase: Darkness defeated by light. It opens with a dramatic four-note motif that is repeated threatenly through the first movement. (The motif was used by the allies during WW2 as a Victory symbol) The second movement is slower and more lyrical. The tempo of the short third movement speeds up to lead into the triumphal finale. Symphony no 6 in F major 1st Movement: Allegro ma non troppo Awakening of cheefulfeelings upon arrival in the country 2nd Movement: Andant molto mosso... Read review

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Advantages: Everything you could ever want from a classical CD
Disadvantages: none

...Beethoven 5. Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra in A Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 6. Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in E minor Composed by Sir Edward Elgar 7. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov 8. Concierto de Aranjuez Composed by Joaquín Rodrigo 9. Swan Lake Composed by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky 10. Symphony No. 9, "From the New World" in E minor Composed by Antonín Dvorák 11. Variations on an Original Theme, 'Enigma' Composed by Sir Edward Elgar 12. Sonata for Piano No. 14, 'Moonlight' in C sharp minor Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven 13. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in C minor Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov 14. Adagio for Strings Composed by Samuel Barber 15. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 21, "Elvira M in C Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 16... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Every tune's a winner
Disadvantages: Nothing new

...Beethoven- Symphony no.5 (1st movement) (the one that goes da da da DUN, da da da DUN, you know the one I mean…) Gershwin- Rhapsody in Blue Ravel- Bolero Grieg- Peer Gynt (In the Hall of the Mountain King) If you don't know these pieces, then this would be an ideal CD for you if you feel you ought to know what the most commonly known classical pieces are. It could be treated as a mini-course on accepted masterpieces, and the booklet, (minimal, 2 CD-sized sides per CD), gives you a pert selection of related anecdotes to astound your friends with. (For example, Rutter's pick is "A Gaelic Blessing". The notes tell you that choirboys refer to this piece as "garlic dressing". Radio 3 would not share this blasphemy with you I'm sure! If you already know all these pieces (and are something of a music buff), don't instantly dismiss this CD. I'm a music... Read review

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Advantages: Outstanding music on period instruments
Disadvantages: Swaping C.D'S in music player.

...EMI as follows:- CD 1 66’06" Symphony No 1 Symphony No 6 "The Pastoral" CD 2 58’40" Symphony No 2 Symphony No 8 CD 3 48’43" Overture: Creatures of Prometheus Symphony No 3 "Erocia" CD 4 64’36" Symphony No 4 Symphony No 5 CD 5 52’50" Overture; "Coriolan ", Overture: "Egmont", Symphony No 7 CD 6 62’23" Symphony No 9 "The Choral" This new set from Virgin Classics Catalogue No 5619432 is as follows:- CD 1 Symphony No 1 Symphony No 3 "Eeroica" Creatures of Prometheus CD 2 Symphony No 2 Symphony No 8 Coriolan Overture Egmont Overture CD 3 Symphony No 4 Symphony No 7 CD 4 Symphony No 5 Symphony No 6 "Pastoral" CD 5 Symphony No 9 “The Choral" Amazon price £13.99 This will not be to everybody’s liking though I do believe that it gives a new perspective on some... Read review

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Advantages: The music, the chorus, the memorable melody
Disadvantages: None

...as in a fugue, as more and more instruments join with their particular qualities a joyfull interaction and socialisation occurs, indicating the coming of life on the newly created world. 3rd Movement Adagio Molto E Cantabile This slow movement is lyrical and tranquil as order develops from the chaos of creation. The 4th Movement Presto and the 5th Movement Allegro Assai, combine to make the finale. This part of the symphony is based on the poem by Schiller (An Die Freude) Ode To Joy. Beethoven combines choral with orchestral music, hence the colloquial name for this symphony (Beethoven’s Choral Symphony).The theme of joy is first herd from the orchestra and the cello’s and double basses alone, they are then joined by the entire orchestra, a bass voice proclaims “O friends, not such sounds as these; let us strike up more pleasing ones, full... Read review

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Advantages: Contrasting: dramatic and relaxing, darkness to light
Disadvantages: Frustrating if you live in a city

...both performed for the first time in 1808 for Beethoven's benefit concert in Vienna. Symphony no 5 in C minor 1st Movement: Allegro con brio 2nd Movement: Andante con moto 3rd Movement: Allegro 4th Movement: Allegro The period when these symphonies were composed is known as Beethoven's heroic period. The fifth sympony is probably the most characteristic of this phase: Darkness defeated by light. It opens with a dramatic four-note motif that is repeated threatenly through the first movement. (The motif was used by the allies during WW2 as a Victory symbol) The second movement is slower and more lyrical. The tempo of the short third movement speeds up to lead into the triumphal finale. Symphony no 6 in F major 1st Movement: Allegro ma non troppo Awakening of cheefulfeelings upon arrival in the country 2nd Movement: Andant molto mosso... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful