Probably the best symphony in the world (the Carlsberg of symphonies). I can’t imagine how a piece of music of this stature could have been composed by someone who was completely deaf. Genius knows no bounds.
The Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven was born in the German City of Bonn and baptised ... Read review
Advantages: The music, the chorus, the memorable melody Disadvantages: None
Probably the best symphony in the world (the Carlsberg of symphonies). I can’t imagine how a piece of music of this stature could have been composed by someone who was completely deaf. Genius knows no bounds.
The Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven was born in the German City of Bonn and baptised on the 17th December 1770. Amongst his many works, Beethoven composed nine complete symphonies and what is thought to be a tenth ... ...an invitation from the Philharmonic Society of London to write two symphonies. He never actually completed these commissions however he was inspired to write the ninth symphony which he completed in1824. In May of the same year the symphony was débuted in Vienna. Beethoven was present at this performance but by this time he was completely deaf. He was seated at the front of the concert hall with his back to the audience. He failed to notice their ... more
Probably the best symphony in the world (the Carlsberg of symphonies). I can’t imagine how a piece of music of this stature could have been composed by someone who was completely deaf. Genius knows no bounds.
The Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven was born in the German City of Bonn and baptised on the 17th December 1770. Amongst his many works, Beethoven composed nine complete symphonies and what is thought to be a tenth which is incomplete.
In 1817 Beethoven accepted an invitation from the Philharmonic Society of London to write two symphonies. He never actually completed these commissions however he was inspired to write the ninth symphony which he completed in1824. In May of the same year the symphony was débuted in Vienna. Beethoven was present at this performance but by this time he was completely deaf. He was seated at the front of the concert hall with his back to the audience. He failed to notice their standing ovation and wild applause at the end of the piece until the conductor turned him towards them.
The Symphony
No 9, ‘Choral’ in D minor (opus 125) This symphony followed the innovation he pioneered in his sixth symphony by having five movements.
1st Movement Allegro Ma Non Troppo Un Poco Maestoso Written in Sonata Form it opens with a striking A major chord from which a monumental theme representing what may be seen as the creation of the universe emerges. This movement then continues in the theme of creation with rhythmic waves indicative of the sea and a craggy melody enabling the listener to picture an emerging mountainous landscape.
2nd Movement Molto Vivace A Scherzo, lively and energetic this movement is based on patterns of diferent entries 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 of joy!”. The chorus joins in with an esculent tribute to brotherhood.
Whether or not you agree with the politics behind the extension of the European Union on the 1st of May this year, it is easy to see the reasoning behind the choice of this piece of work as the official anthem for the EU
The Performers
Vienna Singverein / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra with Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Agnes Baltsa, Peter Schreier, José Van Dam
The Conductor Herbert von Karajan
Date of Release 1st march 1987
The Cost From £6.99
Availability Most good music shops and on line from www.amazon.co.uk
Advantages: The pinnicale of human nature...brought to the modern world Disadvantages: Nothing bad! A master peice!
Well once again the greatest masterpeice is once again being done by a briliant orchestra, ever since i heard ludwig van beethoven's 9th symphony Live i've listened to it ever day and it never gets boring.
I have so many version of Ode to joy but this is the best version i've heard, superbly done and it isn't off tempo like other version i've heard.
From young classical lovers like myself to the mature adult fans, all say they love Ode To Joy, ... ...Even to someone who isn't into classical music will love this. LIstening to it is like being at the BBC proms for real.
The chorus vocals are brilliantly done, both male and female voices have emotion and feeling throughout.
An essential to any classical fanatic's collection.
Buy it and Own one of the greatest symbols of the human race. Beethoven's 9th symphony. ...
nickytetlow 21.11.2004
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Reviews which might be of interest for "Beethoven: Symphony 9"
Advantages: Outstanding music on period instruments Disadvantages: Swaping C.D'S in music player.
The 9symphonies by Ludwig Van Beethoven. (1770 - 1827)
Performed by The London Classical Players.
Conducted by Sir Roger Norrington.
With the Schutz choir of London.
Not everybody likes classical music. Even those who do, do not all like the same things.
This boxed set of CD's if different from previous recordings.
Firstly, it is played on period instruments. This is not to everybody?s taste.
These instruments are not like today?s instruments. For instance, the violin has a cleaner but more plaintive tone. The woodwinds
each has a colour and clarity of tone that blends to a harmonious whole. The timpani, those smaller drums, are hit with hard sticks more reminiscent of military drum sounds. The horn section has a different feel to it.
Considering the lapse of some 184 years, it would be strange if the sounds ...
Advantages: A new way to hear Beethoven Disadvantages: Surpassed by some later period cycles
INTRODUCTION
Beethoven's nine symphonies cover one of the major cornerstones of symphonic literature along with the likes of Haydn, Brahms and Sibelius. Beethoven was born in turbulent times when the common people's dissatisfaction toward the ruling monarchs in Europe was reaching new heights which finally culminated in the French Revolution in 1789. Against this came Beethoven, who was born into a family of musicians in Bonn in 1770. His father wanted to coin in on the child prodigy market created by Mozart whose father had exploited his genius in a similar way. But Beethoven was no Mozart. He wasn't born a child progidy and his performing skills were nowhere near as natural as they were with Mozart. Still he made rapid progress as a piano virtuoso and an amateur composer. He was even supposed to take some lessons with Mozart in Wien ...
On the first time, The Nineth Symphony of Beethoven is kwoning like "Choral Symphony" because in the foursth and the last movement it is singing by a Tenor, Baritone, Soprano and Messo Soprano Voices with a Choral Voices that they are singing in another way the "joy song".
This symphony (the last one) of Beethoven was released the May 7th of 1821 when he was a deaf person, so he never could listen his composition years at 3 or 4 years after Beethoven died.
So it was his last composition, been for me the best compousers.
In the first movement of this Symphony "Allegro ma non troppo" begining with the introduction of wind instrument like oboe and the violas and violin continues the music and then continues with this music specially the wind instrument with a hard musical notes that it is characteristic of this 15 minutes music.
In ...
Alan Titus (Baritone); Felicity Palmer (Mezzo soprano); Solveig Kringelborn (Soprano); Thomas Moser (Tenor)
Orchestra / Ensemble(s)
Dresden State Opera Chorus; Staatskapelle Dresden Orchestra
Date of Release
12/06/2006
Label / Distributor
DG / Universal Manufacturing and Logistics
Pieces in Set
1
Running Time
1 hour 9 minutes
Genre(s)
Orchestral
Producer
Werner Mayer
SPAR Code
DDD
EAN
28945342320
Catalogue Number
453
Work 1
Work Title
Symphony No. 9, 'Choral' in D minor, Op. 125
Excerpt(s)
1. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso 2. Molto vivace 3. Adagio e cantabile_Andante moderato 4. Presto_Allegro assai 5. Ode to Joy; Joyful Joyful (Gospel arr of main melody)
Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Genre
Orchestral
Date Written
1822-4
Conductor
Giuseppe Sinopoli
Orchestra / Ensemble
Staatskapelle Dresden Orchestra
Orchestra / Ensemble
Dresden State Opera Chorus
Main Performer
Alan Titus (Baritone), Felicity Palmer (Mezzo soprano), Solveig Kringelborn (Soprano), Thomas Moser (Tenor)
Opera Part(s)
Alan Titus, Felicity Palmer, Solveig Kringelborn, Thomas Moser
