Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)

The coversheet to Beethoven's 5th Symphony. One can see the dedication to Prince Lobkowitz and Count Rasumovsky.

Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 is a symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven. It is the fifth of his nine symphonies. It was written between 1804 and 1808. This symphony is one of the most popular and well-known works of classical music.

There are four movements: an opening sonata allegro, a slower andante, and a fast scherzo which leads straight in to the finale.

The symphony was first performed in Vienna's Theater an der Wien in 1808. His Sixth Symphony was also performed for the first time at the same concert. The Fifth Symphony soon became recognized as one of the most important musical works.

Instrumentation

The fifth symphony is made for piccolo (4th movement only), two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets in B♭ (movements 1-3) and C (movement 4), two bassoons, contrabassoon (4th movement only) two horns in E♭ (movements 1 & 3) and C (movements 2 & 4), two trumpets in C, three trombones, timpani and strings. It takes 30 to 35 minutes to play.

The music

The symphony begins with a four-note "short-short-short-long" motif which is heard twice (slightly lower the second time): (listen (help·info))

The opening of the symphony is so famous that it has often been quoted. Other composers have used it in their compositions, e.g. Sergei Rachmaninoff in his song Fate. It has often been used in popular culture, from disco to rock and roll, and in film and television. During World War II, the BBC used the four-note motif to introduce its radio news broadcasts because "short-short-short-long" spells the letter "V" in Morse code. The "V" meant "Victory". It was played very quietly on a drum.

The third movement of the symphony uses this rhythm sometimes as an accompaniment.

When Beethoven wrote this symphony he was in his mid-thirties. He was becoming more and more deaf. He found this terribly hard to bear. He thought that he, of all people, should have perfect hearing. He felt very depressed, but he decided not to commit suicide, but to stay alive and write down all the music he had in his head. He wrote about this in a letter called the Heiligenstadt Testament.

Form

I. Allegro con brio

The first movement opens with the four-note motif mentioned above. It is in sonata form. The second theme in the exposition is in the relative key of E-flat major as expected. It is more lyrical, and is accompanied by the cellos and basses playing four note motif. The development section goes through multiple keys. The recapitulation returns to C minor, and features an oboe solo. The second theme is restated in C major. The key returns to C minor for the coda.

II. Andante con moto

The second movement is in A-flat major. It is a lyrical work in double variation form; two themes are played and varied in alternation. Following the variations there is a long coda.

III. Scherzo: Allegro

The third movement is a scherzo, back in C minor. It opens with a theme played by the cellos and double basses. The woodwinds and violins answer by a contrasting theme. This sequence is played twice. The horns play the main theme of the movement; it is based on the four-note motif from the first movement. The trio section is in C major. It is written in a contrapuntal texture. When the scherzo returns for the final time, it is performed very quietly by pizzicato strings and staccato woodwinds. There is a transition to the fourth movement without any pause in between

Some performances of this movement will repeat the scherzo and trio a second time before playing the modified scherzo. In particular, ensembles playing on period instruments do this practice.

IV. Allegro-Presto

The fourth movement is in C major. It is one of the first times that a piccolo, contrabassoon, and trombones are used in a symphony. It is written in a modified version of sonata form. After the development section, there is a reprise of the scherzo. After the recapitulation, there is a long coda where the themes are restated in compressed form. The tempo increases to presto. And the symphony ends on several loud C-major chords.