Beethoven's Fifth Symphony
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 is one of his most, if not his
most, famous piece. He composed this symphony during his “heroic period” where
he composed symphonies 3-8. It took Beethoven somewhere near 4 years to write
this composition. He began writing it in the spring of 1804, but did most of
the work in 1807 and 1808.The progress was interrupted by other works of his
like large scale operas. The total composition is about 34 minutes long and has
a total of 4 movements. The most recognizable part throughout the piece is the
short-short-short-long theme that is presented at the very beginning of the
first movement. This theme dominates the rest of the song while appearing in
the other movements as well. Beethoven himself quoted this theme as being “fate
knocking at the door”.
Another reason for the great fame and popularity of this Symphony is that it distills so much of Beethoven's musical style. One feature is its "organicism," the fact that all four movements seem to grow from seeds sown in the opening measures. While Beethoven used the distinctive rhythmic figure of three shorts and a long in other works from this time it clearly helps to unify the entire Symphony(Gibbs). After the most familiar of openings, the piece modulates to the relative major key and the horns announce the second theme with a fanfare using the "fate rhythm." The softer, lyrical second theme, first presented by the violins, is inconspicuously accompanied in the lower strings by the rhythm. The movement features Beethoven's characteristic building of intensity, suspense, a thrilling coda, and also mysteries. Why, for example, does the oboe have a brief unaccompanied solo cadenza near the beginning of the recapitulation. Beethoven's innovation is not simply that this brief passage may "mean" something, but that listeners are prompted in the first place to ask themselves what it means(Kruger).
The second movement is a rather
unusual variation form in which two themes alternate, the first sweet and
lyrical, the second more forceful. Beethoven combines the third and fourth
movements, which are played without pause. The trio section features
extraordinarily difficult string writing, in fugal style, that defeated
musicians in early performances(Gibbs). Instead of an exact return of the opening
scherzo section, Beethoven recasts the thematic material in a completely new
orchestration dynamic. The tension builds with a long pedal point that swells
in an enormous crescendo directly into the fourth movement Allegro, where three
trombones, contrabassoon, and a piccolo join in of the first time in the piece(Gibbs).
This finale, like the first movement, is in sonata form and uses the fate
rhythm in the second theme. The coda to the Symphony may strike listeners today
as almost too triumphantly affirmative as the music gets faster, louder, and
ever more insistent. Indeed, it is difficult to divest this best known of symphonies
from all the baggage it has accumulated through nearly two centuries and to
listen with fresh ears to the shocking power of the work and to the marvels
that Beethoven introduced into the world of orchestral music(Dubins).
Another very famous part in the Fifth Symphonies rise to fame happened during World War II. The famous short-short-short-long theme of the symphony is actually Morse code for "V" for victory. This theme would be played at the begging of the British Broadcasting Corporations broadcasts as a sign of hope for the allied forces(Hamburger). Morse code wasn't even invented yet during Beethoven's life time. So it is not like Beethoven created this theme for that particular purpose, it is just a very rare coincidence. The Fifth Symphony was also being used by the French to help boost morale. Maurice van Moppes wrote lyrics to the opening of the symphony and titled it "La chanson de V" or "The Song of V". This was broadcasted to try and up the spirits of the French resistance troops. This especially was the case on June 1,1944 when the broadcasted this song to let them know to prepare for attack and that allied forces were on their way(Hamburger). I find it kind of ironic though how the allies were using a German composers work as a solitude for their troops even though they were fighting the war against Germany.
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most, famous piece. He composed this symphony during his “heroic period” where
he composed symphonies 3-8. It took Beethoven somewhere near 4 years to write
this composition. He began writing it in the spring of 1804, but did most of
the work in 1807 and 1808.The progress was interrupted by other works of his
like large scale operas. The total composition is about 34 minutes long and has
a total of 4 movements. The most recognizable part throughout the piece is the
short-short-short-long theme that is presented at the very beginning of the
first movement. This theme dominates the rest of the song while appearing in
the other movements as well. Beethoven himself quoted this theme as being “fate
knocking at the door”.
Another reason for the great fame and popularity of this Symphony is that it distills so much of Beethoven's musical style. One feature is its "organicism," the fact that all four movements seem to grow from seeds sown in the opening measures. While Beethoven used the distinctive rhythmic figure of three shorts and a long in other works from this time it clearly helps to unify the entire Symphony(Gibbs). After the most familiar of openings, the piece modulates to the relative major key and the horns announce the second theme with a fanfare using the "fate rhythm." The softer, lyrical second theme, first presented by the violins, is inconspicuously accompanied in the lower strings by the rhythm. The movement features Beethoven's characteristic building of intensity, suspense, a thrilling coda, and also mysteries. Why, for example, does the oboe have a brief unaccompanied solo cadenza near the beginning of the recapitulation. Beethoven's innovation is not simply that this brief passage may "mean" something, but that listeners are prompted in the first place to ask themselves what it means(Kruger).
The second movement is a rather
unusual variation form in which two themes alternate, the first sweet and
lyrical, the second more forceful. Beethoven combines the third and fourth
movements, which are played without pause. The trio section features
extraordinarily difficult string writing, in fugal style, that defeated
musicians in early performances(Gibbs). Instead of an exact return of the opening
scherzo section, Beethoven recasts the thematic material in a completely new
orchestration dynamic. The tension builds with a long pedal point that swells
in an enormous crescendo directly into the fourth movement Allegro, where three
trombones, contrabassoon, and a piccolo join in of the first time in the piece(Gibbs).
This finale, like the first movement, is in sonata form and uses the fate
rhythm in the second theme. The coda to the Symphony may strike listeners today
as almost too triumphantly affirmative as the music gets faster, louder, and
ever more insistent. Indeed, it is difficult to divest this best known of symphonies
from all the baggage it has accumulated through nearly two centuries and to
listen with fresh ears to the shocking power of the work and to the marvels
that Beethoven introduced into the world of orchestral music(Dubins).
Another very famous part in the Fifth Symphonies rise to fame happened during World War II. The famous short-short-short-long theme of the symphony is actually Morse code for "V" for victory. This theme would be played at the begging of the British Broadcasting Corporations broadcasts as a sign of hope for the allied forces(Hamburger). Morse code wasn't even invented yet during Beethoven's life time. So it is not like Beethoven created this theme for that particular purpose, it is just a very rare coincidence. The Fifth Symphony was also being used by the French to help boost morale. Maurice van Moppes wrote lyrics to the opening of the symphony and titled it "La chanson de V" or "The Song of V". This was broadcasted to try and up the spirits of the French resistance troops. This especially was the case on June 1,1944 when the broadcasted this song to let them know to prepare for attack and that allied forces were on their way(Hamburger). I find it kind of ironic though how the allies were using a German composers work as a solitude for their troops even though they were fighting the war against Germany.
ThisThTwasnt ThTw