Beethvoen: Eroica Symphony

Advantages: Dramatic, emotional music
Disadvantages: The introductory chords will wake you up

...Ludwig van Beethoven was born on 16th December 1770 in Bonn, Germany and died in Vienna on 26th March 1827. The story of Beethovens deafness is well known. By the time he composed the “Eroica”, he was already aware of some signs of hearing difficulties. Beethoven had a distict and individual musical style that encompassed elements of the traditional classical period and was innovative in introducing elements that were to become the Romantic period with emphasis on expressing personal feelings. Beethoven – Symphony No 3: Egmont Overture Performed by Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Composed by George Szell Released 1995 Label Salzburg Festival Servies Symphony No 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 “Eroica” This is one of the best known classical pieces. It’s striking opening making it immediately recognisable. Luigi van Beethoven composed... Read review

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Advantages: A work that changed the way we look at symphonies
Disadvantages: none whatsoever

...liberator of the people and who represented to Beethoven the very qualities he himself appreciated. Napoleon therefore served as one of the inspirations that led to the creation of the Third Symphony and it was to him that the symphony was originally dedicated to. According to Ferdinand Ries, Beethoven was enraged when he heard that Napoleon had crowned himself as Emperor. Beethoven declared how his idol proved to be nothing more than a mere mortal after all, who would become a tyrant and trample the rights of the people under him. In his fury he tore up the page with the dedication on it to shreads and instead dedicated it to Prince Lobkowitz. The other version of the story is that Beethoven furiously scraped over the dedication with a sharp knife, causing the paper to be damaged, and wrote on the first page the dedication "Sinfonia Eroica... Read review

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Advantages: A new way to hear Beethoven
Disadvantages: Surpassed by some later period cycles

...depiction of a trio of birds, a village band and a thunderstorm. The Seventh brought a completely new emphasis on the use of rhythm, something that had never been heard of before at this scale, while the Eighth proved that little is sometimes more with its witty and humor-filled attitude completely off-setting the greater Seventh. And finally there came the Ninth Symphony that not only out-scaled the Eroica, but also introduced human voices in a symphony. The addition of a chorus and soloists in a profoundly instrumental work would be much explored by the Romantics that followed. In essence and deed, Beethoven was one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) influences in the way music evolved through the Classical era to the Romantic. And, of course, his influence also effected many other genres like piano sonatas, chamber music, concertos, etc... Read review

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