Music
Beethoven’s First Symphonies
In 1799, at the age of 28, Beethoven composed his first symphony, Symphony no. 1 in C Major, opus 21. (while composers often number their own pieces, the numbering of Beethoven’s opuses, or ‘works’ in Latin, became part of official titles after he died.) A symphony is a lengthy composition intended to be played by a group of musicians. Usually, symphonies are made up of four movements, or sections. The first movement is an allegro, or a piece of music that is played at a relatively fast tempo. The second movement is slower. The third — normally a minuet — brings up the musical place again, while the fourth movement returns to the allegro tempo of the first movement.
Beethoven’s first symphony debuted at the Imperial Court Theater in Vienna. He dedicated it to one of his patrons, Baron van Swieten (1733-1803), who also helped to support Haydn and Mozart. The piece was reminiscent of Haydn and Mozart’s earlier works. However, the prominence of wind instruments, an explosive third movement, and the broad range of emotions that the symphony evokes set Beethoven apart from his fellow composers. He had created a unique, complex sound, and audiences loved it.
People begged him to write another symphony, so he followed up the success of his first work with Symphony no. 2 in D Major, op. 36. This piece premiered in 1802. Like his first symphony, it features a special third movement, but one that is even less like the traditional minuet. It is an audacious, lively composition that can properly be called a scherzo. Overall symphony no. 2 is an uplifting and joyous work that carries the listener away on a journey created in Beethoven’s mind. Music primarily involves our sense of hearing, but for Beethoven, it was an extension of his internal thoughts. In fact, the great composer often could no longer hear his own music. He was becoming increasingly deaf.
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