Symphony No. 4 (Beethoven)

The Symphony No. 4 in B Flat Major by Ludwig van Beethoven, Opus 60 was written in 1806. It was dedicated to Count Franz von Oppersdorf.

Contents

1 Introduction 2 Composition and dedication 3 Movements 4 Brief description of each movements 5 Musical jokes 6 External links

Introduction

Some people state that the odd numbered symphonies of Beethoven are majestic, while the even numbered symphonies of Beethoven are peaceful. This is especially the case with Symphony No. 4 in B Flat Major, as it contrasts heavily with heroic Symphony No. 3 in E Flat Major and tragic Symphony No. 5 in C Minor. Robert Schumann stated that this piece was "a slender Greek maiden between two Norse gods." This is explainable, as when he wrote this symphony in 1806, it was the most tranquil moment of his life.

Composition and dedication

Count Franz von Oppersdorf was the relative of Beethoven's patron, Prince Lichnowsky. When the count traveled to Prince's summer home, he managed to meet Beethoven, who was having a summer vacation. The count listened to Beethoven's Symphony No. 2 in D Major, and liked it so much that he offered a great amount of money for Beethoven to compose a new symphony for him. Beethoven went to work, using the cheerful mood of the Second Symphony. The dedication was made to Prince Lobkowitz, another patron of Beethoven, after the private performance in March 1807. The count did not appreciate this action, and would never again do business with Beethoven.

Movements

There are four movements in this piece:

1. Adagio – Allegro vivace
2. Adagio
3. Allegro molto e vivace – Trio. Un poco meno allegro
4. Allegro ma non troppo

Brief description of each movements

First Movement: Follows sonata form. The adagio portion, serving as an introduction, gives the mysterious and quiet atmosphere. However, once the allegro vivace part begins, the mood quickly transforms to active and cheerfulness. The movement is very rhythmical, and at the shortened recapitulation the movement ends with a florid coda.

Second Movement: Follows sonata form. Calm, beautiful melody gives the lyrical atmosphere to the entire movement, which engulfs us in elegant and sublime emotion. The melody appears in first violin section, while the second theme appears in the clarinet section.

Third Movement: Follows scherzo form. The movement humorously and freely developes. Overall, an energetic movement.

Fourth Movement: Follows sonata form. With a fast tempo, this movement brings the gaudiness and cheerful atmosphere to a high degree. Vividness and extreme happiness continues until the coda.

Musical jokes

Once looked closely, one can find many musical jokes aimed mostly at other musical insiders in the Fourth Symphony.

First Movement: Although the movement would be very fast, the slow introduction was inserted. Normally, the slow introduction would introduce a slow movement, not a sudden change in tempo. Beethoven has attempted a similar thing in Symphony No. 2, but the tempo change was never this dynamic.

Second Movement: While the strings, especially the first violin, are given the florid melody, the background beats sometimes crescend to the point where it is almost not possible to hear the string melody. After the background beats decrescend, the string melody continues just like before, as if it was oblivious to the background beats' "offense".

Third Movement: Beethoven calls the third movement as a minuet, but it really is a scherzo. It is too lively and too syncopated to be a minuet.

Fourth Movement: Fourth movement, on the other hand, is fairly conventional. The only "joke" is the existence of sudden tempo changes, which necessitate serious concentration from the conductor.

External links

• Analysis of the Beethoven Symphony No. 4 (http://www.all-about-beethoven.com/symphony4.html) on the All About Ludwig van Beethoven (http://www.all-about-beethoven.com) Pageja:交響曲第4番 (ベートーヴェン)