THE BEETHOVEN FIFTH SYMPHONY

THE BEETHOVEN FIFTH SYMPHONY

Introduction

The fifth Beethoven symphony was performed at New York theatre where the context of the performance is discussed in this essay which tackles various features of the performance. The performance composes of five themes with several features which are described below. This symphony’s first performance was conducted by Beethoven and the composition is repeated on various occasions due to its classical nature.

Beethoven’s Symphony number five was one of the composer’s masterpieces which he composed between 1804 and 1808. Whereas most of Beethoven’s works originated from the classical era, his late works have romantic characteristics of the symphony works ever written. The OSU orchestra that performed the symphony piece consisted of woodwinds, strings, and brass; there was no presence in a human voice. These are the instruments used throughout the performance of this masterpiece work of classical symphony. This combination of instruments and full performance requires a hundred musicians. The conductor Dr. Thomas Dickey, the, and the violinists. The right side entails violas, cellos and double basses. And behind the strings are woodwind instruments that include flutes, oboes, piccolos, clarinets, and bassoons. Behind the woodwind instruments were the bass players which include horns, trumpets, and trombones. The remainder of the orchestra team were the percussions only sine there are voices present in this presentation.

The first movement which is Allegro con brio starts with the strings and it starts loudly and gradually crescendos as more instruments are introduced with a sense of a steamroller effect. This is the driving force that is maintained throughout the remaining movements and the melody id shifted around, which is often heard between the strings, bassoon, flute, and clarinet. In the later movement, audiences hear the original introduction return which renders a sense of repletion and chorusing in the performance. The timpani is applied to emphasize on the accents that the winds plus strings are performing at the background of the melody.

In the 2nd theme it starts with very different notes and unlike the first theme, it initiates gently. It is first introduced with a lower string and then eventually the upper strings are introduced gently. The tome of the performance is joyous and more jubilant. This theme utilizes flutes, upper strings, and piccolo to instill the difference that exists in the first movement plus the second instead of depending on lower strings, timpani, and brass.  When the second theme is almost ending, the horns and woodwinds provide a rapid descent, which initiates the audience ears and mind for the coming repletion of explosive jumps back to the initial themes sombreness. This composition has a transition that exists between the second and first theme. This transition is used to prepare the audience for the preceding tones since the ideas, flavors, and expressions of the two themes are dissimilar. This transition assists in bringing the two themes even if switching of the tones is illogical.

The third theme of the Beethoven shift to the development which initiates in a horn motif in the context of fortissimo that is preceded with low strings and eventually high chords which out of woodwind and brass. There is a sudden horn call which is accompanied by the whole orchestra plus several changes dominant keys plus the tonic. The motif which was used for opening is repeated one more time before recapitulation occurs. The first three themes are repeated to remind the audience of the ideas which have been expressed in the initiation part of the sonata-allegro. The following recapitulation is preceded by a short coda. At the beginning of the coda, there are presence of repeated, short and forceful chords that have a long pause to provide the phrase a dramatic effect. The horn call is played again through lower strings plus bassoons together with the melody of violin in the tonic key. The playing of violins results in a new theme that seems to dominate and is closely related to the second theme that exists in the recapitulation plus explosion. The four notes of the opening motif are played rapidly and loud by the whole orchestra and terminate in forceful fortissimo.

The final movement which is also the fourth theme is considered to be the winding up of Beethoven fifth symphony. The final movement is rendered in c major plus sonata form. The Beethoven in this movement initiates the four themes and the general tone is bright and cheerful which leaves the audience with feelings of optimism. The entire orchestra plays the first theme in a march-like a mode together with brass plus trumpets. According to this theme, the tone of the orchestra is c major, the second theme is forceful and is performed in a fortissimo accompanied by horns. The third theme is performed in upper strings in a light context together with violins and the theme is rendered in G major which is the dominating key. The fourth and the last theme is rendered through the woodwinds plus strings which is repeated immediately by the whole orchestra in forte accompanied by a repetition of chords which ascends from crescendo to fortissimo.

Conclusion

This essay describes into details the performance of the Beethoven fifth symphony; it describes the performance which is appealing and magnificent to the audience. It describes the five themes that exist in the performance with details accompanying each of them.