Beethoven: Symphony Nos 5 & 6

I studied Beethoven as an Open University course leading to a Degree in Music which I achieved in 2002. My admiration of Beethoven is immense. The sixth symphony has to be one of all time favourites: an homage to the countryside.

The Composer

Beethoven has to be the most dynamic and original of all composers. His work influenced and inspired so many orchestral works that followed.

He was born in Bonn ...
...in his twenties that he first became aware of his hearing problems. When he was told that the condition could not be cured, he understandibly fell into a deep depression.

Thankfully he came through and began to explore new approaches to compositional techniques.

The Music

Both the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies are large scale performances lastly for approximately 4o minutes each. They were both performed ... more

I studied Beethoven as an Open University course leading to a Degree in Music which I achieved in 2002. My admiration of Beethoven is immense. The sixth symphony has to be one of all time favourites: an homage to the countryside.

The Composer

Beethoven has to be the most dynamic and original of all composers. His work influenced and inspired so many orchestral works that followed.

He was born in Bonn in Western Germany in 1770. It was while he was in his twenties that he first became aware of his hearing problems. When he was told that the condition could not be cured, he understandibly fell into a deep depression.

Thankfully he came through and began to explore new approaches to compositional techniques.

The Music

Both the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies are large scale performances lastly for approximately 4o minutes each. They were 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
Scene by the brook
3rd Movement: Allegro
Merry gathering of country folk
4th Movement: Allegro
Thunderstorm
5th Movement: Allegretto
Shepherd's song: Happy and thankfulfeelings after the storm

Beethoven himself called this the "Pastoral Symphony". The symphony was representitive of Beethoven's love of the country. He intended the music to evoke feelings rather than to imitate nature although there are some overt imitations contained within the piece. There are clear bird calls within the second movement and a dramatic thunder storm in the fourth. In his sixth symphony, Beethoven moves away from tradition adding an extra movemnet to the convential four movements of a symphony.

The Conductor

Herbert Von Karajan was born in Salzberg in 1908. He was the principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra from 1955 to his death in 1989.

The performers

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Violins i, Violins ii, Viola, Cellos, Double Basses, Flutes, Oboes, Clarinets, Bassoons, Horns, Trumpets, Trombones, Timpani

Released

October 18th 1999

Cost

Approximately £4.99 

...less