Born to a dunkard father and an unhappy mother, the young Beethoven was subjected to a brutal training in music at the hands of his father, who hoped that the boy would prove to be another prodigy like Mozart. Failing in this, the young Beethoven nevertheless embraced music and spent a short time in 1792 with Franz Joseph Haydn in Vienna. Hailed as a genius and a master of improvisation at the piano, Beethoven soon made a name for himself, and by 1794 was known throughout Europe. At the age of 30 Beethoven lost one of his senses on which he depended the most on- his hearing. Despite this significant loss Beethoven went on to make compositional achievements. Such as Symphony No.3 in E-flat major op.55, Fidelio and the Symphony No.5 in C minor op.67.
Symphony No.5 is the most thematically concentrated of Beethoven's works. Variations of the 4 note motif that begins the symphony drive all four movements. Throughout this piece Beethoven uses a large scale difference to show the darker side of C minor and the brighter, more radient effect of C major. In my opinion this piece should be heard by all ears at least one time in your life. But I guarantee that once you listen to it you won't be able to quit humming those famous four notes. |