Beethoven Symphony No 5 Analysis
Identity
The title of the music analyzed is the Beethoven Symphony No 5. Ludwig Van Beethoven wrote the song between 1804 to 1809’. Beethoven was a Roman artist, born in 1770 and died in 1827 aged 56 years in Vienna, Austria. The song is classical and romantic symphony music.
Song description
The song is a C minor Opus 67”Symphony and one of Beethoven’s best compositions. It consists of four movements which include Allegro con brio, Andante con moto, Scherzo Allegro and Allegro (Lockwood, pg. 1). The symphony starts with three shorts notes and ends with a longer note. The song is played with overlapping instruments that include violins, flutes, French horns, clarinets, contra bosons, strings piccolo, and trombones. It takes the sonata form as two themes are evident which can be heard from changing of keys from D major to C major (Absil, pg.210). It begins with descending form followed by ascension and finally the climax.
Cultural aspects
The Symphony no five has grown to become a critical part of traditional culture. The song was used in the celebrations of the second of a war victory, famously named the symphony of victory which is one of the contributing factors of the song’s popularity. The song has elements of military themes portrayed by its extensive use in the military atmosphere as a victory or heroic tunes and signals. This also suggests that music was a vital part of Beethoven’s culture as a way of celebrating struggle and heroism in the society (Shen, pg. 25). In the 21st century, the song has become a dominant part of the modern culture, being used in new orchestras inaugural concerts.
Evaluation
One of the strengths of the paper is the way heroism is symbolized Beethoven symphony and how one’s character influences success in any forms of struggle (Shen, pg. 25). However, lack of addressing any particular person shows is a weakness, which makes it hard to relate if composer’s music was connected to any political figure at his time. His combination of two themes of romance and heroism also makes it identify is the struggle discussed is real war or fight, or just assumed.
Works cited
Absil, Frans. Musical Analysis: Visiting the Great Composers,4th ed., 2012, www.fransabsil.nl/archpdf/musanbk.pdf.
Lockwood, Lewis. Beethoven: The Music and the Life. , 2005. Internet resource
New York: W.W. Norton, 2005, ©2003.
Shen, Yan. NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF BEETHOVEN’S PIANO CONCERTO NO. 5. Diss. University of Houston, 2015.