L.V. Beethoven "Symphony No. 5": history, video, interesting facts, content, listen

Ludwig van Beethoven "Symphony No. 5"

Beethoven's symphonic works vividly reflect the human way of overcoming, where fate is in the hands of man. Beethoven's Fifth Symphony is no exception. The emotional strain and the triumphal triumph of the lyrical hero over the fateful beginning is a real appeal, sent by the creator through time, and has come down to our days.

After reading our page, you can understand the true meaning, as well as learn a lot of interesting facts, the history of creation and the content of the Symphony No. 5 by Ludwig van Beethoven.

History of creation

The times in which the work was created were far from the most favorable for the composer. One after another, the troubles overtook the creator by surprise, first the news of deafness, then military actions in Austria. The idea of ​​such a grandiose work captured the mind of Beethoven.

But since the author’s desire to overcome all obstacles on his own path could quickly be replaced by the most gloomy and depressive thoughts, the work was constantly postponed. Depending on his mood, Ludwig grabbed one or another work, and the fifth symphony was hard at all. Beethoven has repeatedly changed the final, making it in a positive, then in a negative way. But in the end, three years later, the essay still saw the light. It should be noted that the composer wrote two symphonies at the same time, and presented them at the same time; therefore, some troubles subsequently arose concerning the numbering of such major works.

To date, the work is actively performed on the leading stages of the world, but the initial premiere at the Theater An der Wien was extremely unfortunate. You can select several factors that negatively influenced the perception of the audience:

• The concert was delayed, as Beethoven decided to present two symphonies at once. So that the fifth symphony was not the last one in the list, Ludwig had to insert a few more numbers. As a result, the public is tired of complex, truly innovative works.
• It was very cold in the concert hall, as the room was not heated.
• The orchestra played poorly, possibly due to the lack of favorable conditions. During the game, some orchestra players made serious mistakes, because of which they had to start the work all over again. This factor additionally increased the time of the prolonged evening of music.

Interestingly, the initial failure could not affect the popularity of the work. Every year the symphony became more and more widespread in the circles of musical art. Among many subsequent masters of composition, the composition was recognized as a masterpiece and standard of the classical symphony.

Interesting Facts

• Initially symphony №5 It was designated number 6, as the premiere of these two most popular works was scheduled on the same day.
• The work is dedicated to two patrons of the time glorified in those days, namely, Prince Lobkowitz and the Russian ambassador to Austria, Count Razumovsky, whom Beethoven valued as he was, appreciated for his extraordinary human qualities.
• Upon learning of the impending deafness, Beethoven wanted to commit suicide. The only thing that kept him from performing these actions is creativity. In this difficult period, the composer came up with the idea of ​​creating this very heroic intonation of the work.
• Fragments of the symphony are actively cited in the works of the equally famous composer Alfred Schnittke. These include the First Symphony and the Gogol Suite, composed for orchestra.
• Initially, the work was called the Great Symphony in C Minor, but then it was reduced to the symphony number order.
• The tonal plan of the work from gloomy to minor in the first part to light and pure in C major in the finale is a conceptual reflection of Beethoven's ideological ideas “from darkness to light” or “through obstacles to victory”.

• Ludwig van Beethoven worked on the work for almost three years.
• During the creation of this symphonic work, the composer in his own diary often talked about the purpose of man in this world. He wondered if a man could change his own life, making it beyond the control of the fatal forces. The genius himself answered the posed question: "Man is infinitely strong and strong-willed nature, so why would she not be able to grab fate by the throat?" Such thoughts could be traced throughout the composition of the 5th symphony.
• Most of the dramaturgic concepts of overcoming in the work of a musical figure find their own origins in the teachings of the great philosophers and contemporaries of Ludwig.
• As you know, Wagner was not strong in composing symphonies (after a massive failure with composing the First Symphony, where the orchestration was so inexperienced and immature that it caused general ridicule, the composer switched to operatic work, where he found his own place, becoming a reformer), but the symphonic Beethoven's work, and especially the fifth symphonic work, he valued above all others.

Content of Symphony №5

Beethoven does not apply to composers who describe their own works in detail, giving them a clear and definite programmatic intent. But the symphony number 5 was an exception to the rule. In a letter to Schindler, he not only explained the program design, but also indicated specific musical themes, signifying rock and the lyrical hero trying to fight fate.

The conflict is obvious and its start is still in the first bars. The composer himself, wrote that this is exactly how “fate knocks on the door”. He compared it with an unsolicited guest who destroys and cuts the wedge into the familiar world of dreams and dreams. The motive of fate permeates the composition from the first such and helps to make the cycle more unified and consistent. Since the work is written in a classical style, it has a structure of four parts:

• Part I is written in the form of a sonata allegro with a slow introduction.
• Part II is a double variation.
• The third part is a dramatic scherzo, which reflects the genre-everyday orientation.
• Part IV is a final, written in the form of a sonata allegro with a code.

The genre of the work is an instrumental drama. Due to the presence of the program, it is customary to consider the content of the work from the point of view of drama. In this case, each part of the symphony represents a certain stage and performs a significant dramatic function:

• In the first part, a direct action (lyrical hero) is exhibited, and a counterattack (fate) is the start of the drama and the escalation of the conflict. The predominance and dominance of fate over the hero.
• The second part performs the function of discharge of the injected opposition, and also gives rise to the formation of the appearance of the triumphant finale.
• In the third part, the conflict is heating up and developing until the acute stage is reached. There is a fracture of the situation in favor of the lyrical hero. It is characterized by a dynamic increase.
• The final clearly forms a positive key and implements the concept of “Through struggle for victory”.

Thus, the composition presented in this work is the standard of not only symphonic, but also dramatic art.

Using the music of Symphony No. 5 in movies

It is impossible to deny that the atmosphere of triumph and overcoming, conveyed in music, as well as the feeling of tension in the motive of fate can be excellent tools for emotional coloring of certain moments in the cinema. Perhaps that is why many modern directors use the work in their own works.

• Ocean's Twelve (2004)
• "Awkward" (2014)
• "Special Edition Collector" (2014)
• "Live inside" (2014)
• "Storm of the White House" (2013)
• And yet Laurence (2012)
• "The Other Side of Paradise" (2009)
• "Come what may" (2009)
• Christmas with losers (2004)
• Kebab (2004)
• Peter Pan (2003)
• Fantasy 2000 (1999)
• Celebrity (1998)
• How I spent my holidays (1992)

Unusual modern arrangements of Symphony No. 5

Currently the work is relevant. Every educated person can recognize the symphony by the first bars. Of course, many modern musicians do not miss the opportunity to arrange or process this symphonic work. At the moment, there are three most common genres that can be synthesized with classical music.

• Rock processing The “Fifth Symphony” further emphasizes the conflict tensions of the first movement. The use of electronic instruments not only adds a different color to the paint, but also makes the motive of fate sharper, sharp and ambiguous. The theme of the lyrical hero sounds bole concentrated and abruptly. It is noteworthy that high-quality processing does not spoil the work at all, but makes it more modern and relevant for the younger generation.

Rock processing (listen)

• Jazz processing is distinguished by jazz stylistics excerpt. But it is precisely in this treatment that the drama is lost, and the virtuosity of performance replaces it. The intensity of the work is extinguished, rhythm is added due to the active drum part. A group of copper-brass and electric guitars plays an important role in this processing. The interpretation of the work is fairly free, but it has a place to be in the modern world of music.

Jazz processing (listen)

• The “Salsa” genre is one of the most unusual arrangements of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. A striking combination of musical themes and incendiary rhythms and timbres of Latin American music, oddly enough, opens up new facets and shades of the work. The idea of ​​combining seemingly incompatible musical styles belongs to the Norwegian composer and arranger Sverre Indris Yoner, who is quite famous in the musical world.

Salsa (listen)

Modern arrangements of classical works adapt complex musical material for perception in the society of the twenty-first century. It is useful to listen to such arrangements in order to increase and broaden the musical horizons. Some options open up fundamentally new facets in the composer’s work, but you shouldn’t forget about the classical version.

Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is not only the pinnacle of Beethoven’s symphonic works, but also a clear indicator of the individual characteristics of the composer’s style. It is impossible to understand the true meaning of the music of a composer without having become acquainted with such a grandiose composition. Music is a temporary art, it lives only during the performance. Symphony №5 it is argued that even temporary art can be eternal.