Symphony No. 5 By Ludwig Van Beethoven

Ludwig Van Beethoven was born in 1770 in Bonn, Germany. He was a son of a court musician. His talent for the piano had been seen from a very young age. He gave his first public performance when he was eight years old. Beethoven's father wanted to promote him as the next Mozart. Beethoven was employed as a court musician. During this time, he studied under both Haydn and Mozart. In 1792, Beethoven relocated to Vienna, which was by his thought the capital of Classical Music of Europe. He used his abilities at the piano to gain favor with the nobility. He even tried to claim his own noble roots by accidentally changing the Van (a meaningless title) to Von (a title of nobility). His compositions during this period consisted mainly of works for his main instrument, the piano. Beethoven is a transition figure in the history of western music. He is known as the father of the Romantic era. Later the Tempest Sonata (1801-2), the 3rd Symphony(1803), his only opera, Fidelio(1803-5), and the 5th Piano (1809) came on the earth. In about a decade Beethoven wrote many breathtaking works in every genre. In 1809, his musical output began to drop, possibly in connection to his declining health and mental state. In 1815 the Immortal Beloved affair occurred which left Beethoven in deep depression and contemplating suicide. Although there has been much debate over the identity of this Immortal Beloved character, it is now assumed that the lucky woman was Josephine, Countess Deym. Also, his brother died leaving Beethoven's only nephew, Karl, in the guardianship of his mother. Beethoven loved Karl dearly, and the pain of his failed attempts to teach Karl music must have been devastating for Beethoven. It's often speculated that Karl was probably a strong contributor to Beethoven's late style. The late period saw the compositions of Beethoven's largest works: The Mass (1818-23), the 9th Symphony (1818-23), the Hammerklavier Sonata (1818).

The Symphony No. 5 of Ludwig van Beethoven, was written between 1804 and 1808. It is one of the best-known compositions in classical music and one of the most frequently played symphonies. First performed in Vienna's Theater an der Wien in 1808. Hoffmann described the symphony as 'one of the most important works of the time'. As is typical of symphonies in the classical period, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony is in four movements. Symphony No. 5 was given a name beside the numbering, though not by Beethoven himself. It became popular under 'Schicksals-Sinfonie' (Fate Symphony). The Fifth Symphony took a long development process since Beethoven worked out the musical ideas for the work. The first drafts of melodies and other musical ideas date from 1804 following the completion of the Third Symphony. Beethoven repeatedly interrupted his work on the Fifth to prepare other compositions. The final preparation of the Fifth Symphony, which took place in 1807–1808, was carried out in parallel with the Sixth Symphony, which premiered at the same concert. The symphony was written at his lodgings in Vienna. The final movement quotes from a revolutionary song by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle. A typical performance usually takes around 30-40 minutes.

The first movement of Beethoven’s 5th symphony starts with four world-famous notes. This sets up the beginning of the great work. Although I have heard the Symphony a lot of times, I feel like for the first time the notes leave the listener questioned what is coming. The first movement is in C minor (Allegro con brio). After the repetition of the four notes which sound almost like scary “TADA-DA-DAAA”, Beethoven switches from dark to a brighter tune. Beethoven makes the continuation lighter. Next comes a period that might sound like a game between the upper strings and the winds. After this the tune changes. Now I get a new difference, somewhere even mad, feeling. This part is more positive and straightforward. Repetition of these 2 parts makes the point of the mad first part and positive second even clear. The famous notes are now repeated a step lower. They give me a feeling of excitement about what is coming. On the other hand, I also get a feeling of a dark, scary atmosphere. And after I feel like I am feeling the piano. Now a whole orchestra is playing it. I feel brightness. Suddenly there is a stop in the music. It is now very different than what I have already heard. The music sounds really gentle. It is played first by the lower strings and then by the upper strings. I get a feeling of happiness. Suddenly, there is a horn call. First by itself, then accompanied by the orchestra. The opening is repeated. There are short, forceful, repeated chords with long pauses to give the feeling of a dramatic air. The horn call is again repeated. A short descending pattern in the violins leads to a completely new tune that seems to be leading up. Once again, the fast, loud, opening with the great four notes is repeated by the full orchestra. The most significant characteristic is the rhythm of the opening- three short notes followed by a longer one. It is in duple meter.

The Second Movement is in A flat major (Andante con moto). It starts low. The work continues with a dialogue between the winds and strings. The ending comes at a faster tempo. The tempo slows down to the original one. A clear rhythm is present, which is played by the entire orchestra. The second movement was slower and calmer. The music changes dynamics, tempo, and harmony. The meter is triple. Also, I heard a repetition of chords.

The Third Movement continues in C minor (Scherzo. Allegro). It is in the triple meter. This movement is much faster. The beginning seems unsure, but it sharply builds to a loud horn which is later repeated by the full orchestra. The short-short-short- the long rhythm of the first movement is repeated. Quick melody. Later it comes a part where I got a feeling of a few false starts when never actually happened. Finally, the entire orchestra builds a strong melody. Then the original minor repeats. There is a powerful horn segment. The short-short-short-LONG returns for the end. Finally, there is a short transition to the last movement.

The fourth and final movement is the epic conclusion of Beethoven’s 5th symphony. The last movement is in C major (Allegro). The listener gets a feeling of positiveness, brightness. The first part is played by the entire orchestra, although some of the sounds are very strongly noticeable. Horns build the continuation. Later, it is lighter, upper strings, the violins. This part is exposed by the famous four notes. The after part is mainly presented by the strings and winds, later followed by the full orchestra. Repeated. Next, the short-short-short-LONG is played one more time by the strings. Then, the first part is repeated at a higher speed.

The four movements sounded differently, although they surely are parts of one great symphony. The First Movement, in my opinion, the strongest one, is a breathtaking and remarkable piece of music. This was the first time I heard the most famous four notes properly, went through them, heard through them. The familiarity of the Fifth Symphony shows its endless potential for renewal. I love the process of analyzing one of the most significant and appreciable pieces of art in the whole history of humanity.