Beethoven Symphony No. 9
Beethoven’s Symphony No.9, Op.125, D minor “Choral” was completed in 1842 and premiered on Friday, May 7, 1824. Beethoven was already completely deaf at that time. His symphony No.9 is his final symphony and one of his greatest masterpieces. This symphony is seventy-four minutes long and consists of four movements.
The first movement, Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso, is in sonata form with a stormy mood. The opening theme which sounds like an orchestra tuning, is played softly over the tremolos played by the strings. However, the theme is later presented with much more power and developed further.
The second movement, Allegro vivace, a scherzo, is also in D minor. It is rather unusual as a scherzo is usually the third movement and not the second movement of a symphony. It firsts starts with a fugue which is somewhat similar to a pattern found in Hammerklavier piano sonata, written several years earlier. The trio, which is in D major is relatively softer and calmer until the scherzo is brought back again with much force and strength.
The third movement, Adagio molto e cantabile is a slow and melodious movement. It is in B-flat major and filled with much expression. This set of variations, consisting of sweet, song-like melodies is like a short break from the previous two energetic movements.
The famous final movement, Allegro Assai is sometimes viewed as a symphony in itself. Its chorale is based on the poem "An die Freude" by Friedrich von Schiller (1785). It starts energetically with little snippets of the earlier themes but they are quickly cut off by the cellos and the basses. The cellos and basses then take over and introduce the main theme which goes through several variations played by the orchestra only. The introduction is then repeated before the baritone singer starts singing the first stanza and is soon joined by the other three soloists and the rest of the choir. A variation known as the Turkish March variation follows soon after
The first movement, Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso, is in sonata form with a stormy mood. The opening theme which sounds like an orchestra tuning, is played softly over the tremolos played by the strings. However, the theme is later presented with much more power and developed further.
The second movement, Allegro vivace, a scherzo, is also in D minor. It is rather unusual as a scherzo is usually the third movement and not the second movement of a symphony. It firsts starts with a fugue which is somewhat similar to a pattern found in Hammerklavier piano sonata, written several years earlier. The trio, which is in D major is relatively softer and calmer until the scherzo is brought back again with much force and strength.
The third movement, Adagio molto e cantabile is a slow and melodious movement. It is in B-flat major and filled with much expression. This set of variations, consisting of sweet, song-like melodies is like a short break from the previous two energetic movements.
The famous final movement, Allegro Assai is sometimes viewed as a symphony in itself. Its chorale is based on the poem "An die Freude" by Friedrich von Schiller (1785). It starts energetically with little snippets of the earlier themes but they are quickly cut off by the cellos and the basses. The cellos and basses then take over and introduce the main theme which goes through several variations played by the orchestra only. The introduction is then repeated before the baritone singer starts singing the first stanza and is soon joined by the other three soloists and the rest of the choir. A variation known as the Turkish March variation follows soon after