Composer Reacts - Beethoven's 7th Symphony, 2nd Movement

This wonderful recording was made by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, under the direction of Iván Fischer. I recommend checking out the original video, without my interruptions!
• Beethoven - Symphony N...
The audio has some glitches - apologies! My ancient computer couldn't keep up. I'll try to have better audio next time.

[@IvorPresents]

A gem. The seventh has overtaken top slot, in my favorite of his symphonies. Was fortunate to have just seen it performed live by the Chicago Symphony, what a treat. Perhaps Brahm's first, 4th movement next. Always in the mood for a Brandenburg, :)

[@laolao2918]

Interesting to note how many musical savants regard Beethoven's 7th (not 3rd, 5th or 9th) as his and everyone's greatest piece of music ever.

[@IvorPresents]

@@laolao2918 Almost as interesting is the neglect for his First, second, fourth and eighth symphonies. They all share the pen of the master.

[@bowman05]

I’ve heard this movement hundreds of times and every time and am deeply moved by it. It’s an astounding work and your analysis is better than any I’ve ever heard. Pointing out the allusions to Beethoven’s Pastoral symphony, something I never caught, is suddenly clear. The subtle changes of rythymn, and new counter melodies beautifully explained. At first I thought this interpretation was a bit slower than what I preferred, but Fisher and the orchestra committed to it and pulled it off. Thank you for enhancing my enjoyment and understanding of this wonderful music.

[@themusicallie]

Thank you!! Your comment made my day!

[@bowman05]

I enjoy and admire good work. You should post much more.

[@themusicallie]

I've honestly been meaning to post regularly for a while. Life just gets in the way sometimes. But thank you so much for your encouragement!! It means a lot. Hopefully, I'll find the time to make more videos soon.

[@robmorgan1214]

Great video! Beethoven is amazing and the 7th symphony is one of my favorite pieces. Your commentary really helped me understand why this is such a powerful composition!

[@themusicallie]

Thank you so much!!

[@robmorgan1214]

@@themusicallie You remind me of the charismatic voice: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioCxgaePj8qCibM :)

[@muntaserbarsoom6097]

Thank you for making this video and thank you for all the information you presented in it , i shall be waiting for more videos ...

[@MrOpinion]

This series is great and I hope you keep making it. I was listening to the song, I searched for an expert's reaction, and I found it. There will be more like me I'm sure.

[@themusicallie]

Thank you!! Your words are so kind. It really means a lot to me! Yes, I'll keep making them! I already have a few more ideas sketched out. Do you have any requests?

[@MrOpinion]

I’d be curious to know more about the classical influences in West Side Story’s music. I know there’s a lot of Beethoven in there. Also maybe Rach 3? I’m duly impressed by it but I’m not entirely sure why

[@themusicallie]

Oh, good choice!! The composer of West Side Story, Leonard Bernstein, is an icon! In the 20th century, classical music took a turn and classically trained composers started writing music with influences from other genres, like jazz. Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin are some of the best composers that were influenced by jazz. They had extensive classical training but also wrote popular show-tunes! (Check out Rhapsody in Blue, one of my favorites, by Gershwin. You've probably heard it before!) On top of that, Bernstein was one of the best conductors of the 20th century. You should definitely check out some of his KZbin videos! They've uploaded lots of really cool lectures and recordings by him. As a conductor, Bernstein would have been intimately familiar with the classical catalogue, and could very easily insert references to other composers. It looks like he did do that in West Side Story! Good ear! I didn't notice that myself, but apparently he wrote in a reference to Beethoven's "Emperor" Piano concerto, the second movement, as well as Tchaikovsky’s "Swan Lake" theme, in the melody of "Somewhere". If you hear Rachmaninoff as well, I'm sure it's in there! If you're going to be impressed by anyone, Bernstein is definitely top-tier. My favorite piece of his is probably the Candide Overture. I need to check out West Side Story again! What song in particular would you recommend?

[@geraldmcboingboing7401]

@@themusicallie Thank you so much for your analysis of the piece of music. I’ve loved it for over 50 year and the funny thing is that I just upped your number of subscribers to 50.

[@themusicallie]

Woo hoo! Thank you so much!!

[@tudorm6838]

My favorite conductors for Beethoven symphonies are Herbert von Karajan and Leonard Berstein (and an older Romanian conductor, George Gerorgescu).

[@dansmodacct]

Your video is excellent! I also love this symphony, and this movement in particular. 🎶

[@themusicallie]

Thanks so much!!

[@michaelharrison2405]

I bought this DVD set because it was attractively priced, having heard many of the symphonies on KZbin. The orchestra is excellent and the interpretation is, broadly speaking, in the Central European tradition.

[@Cherubini47]

I listen then I subscribed, though I have listen to Beethoven's 7th. for more than a thousand times.❤

[@pankesurfer8963]

I love this piece (I avoid calling it a song since nobody is singing) and I do love your reaction and insights. This was great. Talking about Beethoven and musical motifs his 5th Symphony, 1st Movement comes to mind. As I hear that one it is made mainly of one single four-note-motif that is used, reused, variated, reshaped and passed around the orchestra in the most astonishing manner. I would love to see your take on that.

[@themusicallie]

Thank you so much! Yes, that is a perfect example of a motif! I'll definitely add that one to the list!

[@daveloutorres9651]

Love how it begins and ends on the same exact chord, book-ending the experience. I have listened to Beethoven's music for years and there is always something new to realize about the same piece. Imagine walking 360 degrees around a great sculpture and seeing it from many different angles and admiring how it all clicks. Also imagine dividing those 360 degrees into thousands of little intervals - yea, it's like that for me.

[@themusicallie]

Another gem I hadn't noticed! This makes me curious to look at the score - could it be some kind of palindrome? Beethoven's music is full of surprises. You can tell that his works were a labor of love. He's one of my all-time favorite composers.

[@daveloutorres9651]

@@themusicallie kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIPKiYh8o8t-f7s 54 second mark

[@daveloutorres9651]

@@themusicallie kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppXCloShqrSfkKs 10:10 mark

[@daveloutorres9651]

@@themusicallie kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnK0d31njtV5l6s 5:39 mark So much fun to get a glimpse of how Beethoven composed. These phrases are so similar in different movements.

[@combatINFOcenter]

Great start! Subscribed!

[@themusicallie]

Thank you!!

[@godzillafanforever1]

An interesting note is that early 20th century composers, despite having their music performed and recorded, are not always accurate to their vision. The limitations of viynl records, specifically time constraints, resulted in accelerated pieces.

[@MrSanTang]

Please more, more, more of your comments and reactions on classical music.

[@carlrosa1130]

This video you uploaded just made me a subscriber. I would absolutely love to interview you via video to video. I would buy you lunch for the opportunity.

[@balticstain7150]

You should listen to a band called accept who do a fantastic version of beethoven 40 ..

[@beyond_meridian_sports]

I love that song

[@mayflowertucci]

It is intended to be a funeral march, btw…

[@dansmodacct]

@@mayflowertucci oh really? It’s definitely a bitter sweet movement

[@laolao2918]

Callie is a star!

[@themusicallie]

Thanks so much!!

[@Slizardo11]

It's my favourite piece of music; so Beautiful and Emotional. Btw, it was played at JFK'S funeral in 63.

[@themusicallie]

Oh that's interesting! Thank you for sharing!

[@katrinat.3032]

Really ? I thought the funeral march from Eroica was played at JFK’s funeral

[@AlexTorres-mm6th]

What the hell are you doing stopping the music every 10 seconds, damn it! how stressful

[@tudorm6838]

You should not stop to comment at 17:50. If that is unexpected for a first listen experience, this could be the most expected part of the symphony for others :)

[@lorenzoangiolini71]

Is unthinkable stop this piece so many time. The comment should be done when the moviment Is over . Sorry for my terrify english.

[@Drteslacoiler]

What is your name and last name?

[@dannygjk]

So you are saying what is written on paper cannot be read? There is no standard?

[@fatitankeris6327]

There are enough nuances for the standard to not satisfy the composer when the piece is played for first time.

[@dannygjk]

@@fatitankeris6327 That is a different point.

[@swynne926]

essentially there are no recordings of the piece when it was written. all we have are the notes on paper

[@mayflowertucci]

Прекрасное далёко, Не будь ко мне жестоко!..

[@guillaumehuet-yw3tm]

speed x1.15

[@abrahampresence8297]

You comment to much. Let people listen more to the music PLEASE!!!!

[@williambranch4283]

Have you seen Copying Beethoven?

[@comdutch]

Let's all start with calling the composer by his real family name: 'Van Beethoven' instead of just 'Beethoven' like we also respectfully do in case of 'Van Buren' and 'Van Halen' ...... how hard can this be ??