Ludwig van Beethoven- 7th Symphony LIVE REACTION & REVIEW

[@davidcardoso3525]

One of the greatest second movements ever penned.

[@daniellastuart3145]

I 1000% agree with you

[@joyousmonkey6085]

@@daniellastuart3145 And me.

[@somthingbrutal]

yup, i first heard it as a choral version used in the opening scene of Zardoz it blew my mind

[@joyousmonkey6085]

@@somthingbrutal And me. Again. I think it was on UK TV in the late 80s or very early 90s. A mad film, but it exposed me to this wondrous symphony.

[@fazzol]

Deep Purple's "Exposition" [1968] begins with the theme from the second movement.

[@mrwidget42]

I have performed in symphony orchestras for nearly 50 years now. The styles of music played have ranged from the earliest baroque to the most modern bizarre. Throughout all those _moments_ one constant at the top of my most anticipated performances, has been the second allegretto movement of this seventh symphony. It has never failed to lighten my heart.

[@soozb15]

I'm really happy you've listened to this. It's my favourite Beethoven symphony. It still blows my mind that a man who was suffering from devastating hearing loss, who was unhappy in love and had so many painful health issues could compose such beautiful, joyous music. We are so lucky.

[@JustJP]

Lucky we are indeed :) Ty sooz!

[@rudolfbrowne8754]

Beethoven's music is just overflowing with great tunes.

[@joebloggs396]

Beethoven also excelled in the String Quartet and Piano Sonata These can have a more intimate sound at times. His late works are normally thought the most advanced Such as String Quartet 12 op127 Or Piano Sonata 30 Op109 though earlier works are great too.

[@auroramadariaga4081]

So many positive things to say about your reaction! You say you don't know anything about classical music, well you don't need it! You are engaging with the music in an insightful and curious way, your comments and reactions show a genuine fascination (not like many reactions channels that seem to be acting for the camera instead of really listening to the music.) Also, I had a look at your channel and I'm happy to see you're willing to listen to a wide variety of music from different periods and genres. That's so good! Also, yes, Ludwig my beloved🥺❤ "Pecuniary" is just a fancy word for saying "financial." Beethoven was the first composer who made it as a freelance musician, mostly because due to his hearing loss, he couldn't achieve his goal of becoming a music director (what today would be an orchestra conductor and composer.) So gradually he was forced to perform less and less, and since he didn't have a stable source of employment, he depended on the selling of his music as his main source of income. Because of this, his music became more and more cerebral with the years. Without the expression of live performance, the only channel of expression left to him was written composition, this is why the music of his late period is considered even today to be at times too complex to perform, or strange to wrap your head around. He heard it all in his mind's ear, and wrote it onto the paper as he pictured it, trapped in a bubble of silence due to this hearing loss. His symptoms began sometime at the end of the 18th century (1797-8-ish) when he was around 27-28 years old, and worsened gradually for the next 20 years. So by this time, 1811-12, he was 41-42 and had already lost more than 50% of his hearing. For all these reasons and added his own anxious nature, he always had the looming fear of becoming destitute, and even though history shows us he was in fact a good business man who charged a lot more than his peers for his original music, he always believed it wasn't enough. So whenever a premiere concert like this would be put together (with the sponsorship of a noble who'd help cover the costs of musicians, copyists for the sheets of music, the venue, etc,) Beethoven would take maximum advantage and set the price of the tickets quite high, cause concerts like this didn't occur often for him. So the fact that his supporters arranged a second concert for his 7th symphony, meant a relief in his financial needs, for a time at least. Thank you so much for being open-minded to give classical music a fair chance and for reacting to it in a real way, not exaggerated or fake for the camera and the likes. I hope you continue to add more pieces by Beethoven to your channel. I'd suggest the 3rd symphony if you haven't listened to it yet. Greetings from Germany☺

[@edwardmeradith2419]

The second movement is one of my favorites ❤

[@HJG0630]

When it was first performed, the audience demanded an encore of the second movement!

[@Audra1964]

The beginning of the 2nd movement is my ringtone. Sometimes I hesitate to answer because I don’t want to stop the music. 😊 So enjoyable to watch a newbie enjoy Beethoven, written so many years ago.

[@kennethmardis2132]

Beethovens music is sublime

[@daniellastuart3145]

Beethoven- 7th Symphony was written in 1812 the high point of the Napoleonic wars you can feel the tension in the music

[@losthor1zon]

Beethoven had an interesting arc when it came to Napoleon. He at first hailed him as a liberator and dedicated the Third Symphony (now the "Eroica") to him in his manuscript. But then Napoleon crowned himself emperor. Beethoven was so angry, when he went to scratch out the dedication, he tore a gash in the paper! Time passed and the nations were uniting against Napoleon, and it's actually this part of Napoleon's campaign that Beethoven is celebrating in the seventh symphony: his defeat.

[@daniellastuart3145]

@losthor1zon yes you right on that

[@MattJMcDade]

I envy you. I've lost count of how many times I've listened to this symphony over the years, and am jealous that you're coming at it for the first time! Thanks for the video!

[@JustJP]

Thanks Matt!

[@MichaelBeckman]

Yes - you are correct how the volume (called dynamics) and the use of changing dynamics from soft to loud - back to soft can bring so much beauty and emotion to a classical piece.

[@porflepopnecker4376]

Back when I was in college I decided to finally give classical music a serious try, so I asked for a sample of it for Christmas. My big brother gave me this album--which he chose at random--and it blew my mind. It remains my favorite Beethoven symphony and probably my favorite classical piece overall, with the possible exception of Edward Grieg's sublime Symphonic Dances. Very glad to see you reacting to this.

[@lancevance60]

You can clap between movements on your youtube channel! 😂 They're even getting less particular about that in concert halls these days... sometimes a really brilliant performance just deserves a bit of spontaneous applause.

[@An_Cat_Dubh]

The 7th and the 9th are personal favorites of mine.

[@SphericalHang]

I liked the flute player nearly as much as the Producer did.

[@JohnWhipp]

She is Clara Andrada (de la Calle). I'm no expert but I get the impression she is quite well recognised in the classical music world.

[@John_Locke_108]

Back when was in grade school I listened to classical music at night. There was a radio station that played only classical music, 100.5 out of Hartford, and I'd fall asleep peacefully. One of those childhood memories that I truly cherish.

[@losthor1zon]

In the S.F. Bay Area, we used to listen to KKHI, a commercial all-classical station. Sadly, that station shut down years ago.

[@mrwidget42]

I grew up in the bay area, too. I used to specially listen to the show hosted by Scott Beach. Much later, when I was playing in tbe Livermore Symphony, it was a special treat to play Copland's _Lincoln Portrait_, with narration by Scott Beach. He also used to invite every tuba player in the region to come play !n annual concert in the old S.F. War Memorial Opera House, called _Tubafest_. Apparently tuba was his particular thing.

[@losthor1zon]

@@mrwidget42 - I only saw Scott Beach live once, when he presented an event at the Renaissance Faire in full costume. It was fun.

[@iacobustres8032]

A wonderful reaction (thank you) to one of the great compositions of all time and a beloved personal favorite. Such a fantastic job filming this performance too. I might be wrong, but the brass seems to consist of period instruments that I have never seen in such great detail. And all of the musicians were marvelous. I couldn't help but to notice with joy the golden flute player who only looked at her music half the time she was on the screen but her eyes displayed an intensity and body movement (I thought she was going to jump out of her seat during the fourth movement) displayed a genuine love for this music that would have made Ludwig proud. The conductor also displayed an equal passion that was a hallmark of Beethoven's conducting style. Good thing there was a safety bar behind him. And the timpani player displayed perfect technique. How he could play this piece with such intensity and precision while sitting down eludes me. I will come back to this performance many times in the future. Thank you again for adding something very special to our day.

[@JustJP]

Really happy you enjoyed it! Thank you

[@vinsgraphics]

Beethoven’s hearing loss had begun around 1800, and by 1819 he was completely deaf. Here in 1811-12 he would have had hearing loss but not total. Either way, it’s an incredible disadvantage to overcome, particularly for a composer, especially for Beethoven. His genius compensated for it. The brain is a complicated thing. My son has one ear, he was born without a left ear, no canal, nothing. Yet he can hear a candy wrapper from across the house and come running. He can identify any note by ear, can play anything on piano (no training) and transcribes music by ear, note by note, multiple tracks. His goal is to become a piano tuner. He’s on the spectrum, and it’s thought that perhaps Beethoven was too. I can only wish for an ounce of that talent, and I’d be happy.

[@JustJP]

Your son sounds like a great kid- thank you vins

[@rbu83145]

Such a thrill to watch your reaction to this piece. My musical journey began with classical music at 16, starting with Andre Segovia playing Bach on classical guitar, then Beethoven's 5th and 7th respectively. I became a classical music fanatic, this excluded me from most other music. I am now appreciating, in equal measure, prog, rock and heavy metal. Your musical journey is almost the opposite; trust you will continue this musical discovery.

[@pjkorab]

Since you were wondering about the horns, the strings tied around them etc..: The orchestra chose to use natural horns and trumpets for this performance - that is the type of brass instruments that were around in Beethoven's time. The ones we know today use valves (except the trombone, that has a slide) to reach every note required, but a natural horn or trumpet can only play the natural harmonics of its base tone - some other notes can be achieved through different hand positions in the bell, but it's still not the full range of notes that a modern instrument gives you. This is why before the invention of chromatic pistons/valves the brass players would change their instruments' pitch depending on the needs of a piece by switching out parts of the tube (called crooks) for longer or shorter ones. Also since every wind instrument has that one fundamental tone and series of natural harmonics (and the ability to achieve other notes with keys/valves/etc is just a technological upgrade), this is still true for modern instruments. Sticking with the horns, by far the most common modern type is the horn in F; the trombones are usually in B-flat, and trumpets either in B-flat or C. But in the days of Beethoven a single horn could be in any key, as long as its owner had a crook of a correct length and enough time to switch it out ^^ In this symphony for example: the horns are in A for the first movement, then switch to E for the second, then to D for the third, and back to A for the finale. Oh I almost forgot: I'm guessing the fancy string is just a callback to the way these were made historically, before we invented fancier ways to grip them. Back in the 18th century you either wrapped your trumpet in something, or you got either blisters or frostbite ;]

[@JustJP]

Thats some great information PJ, thank you for that write-up

[@JamesHowe]

For the longest time, Beethoven's 5th Symphony was my favorite. However, I hadn't really taken the time to explore his other works. Several months ago I purchased an old box set of all 9 symphonies and I have found that the 7th is possibly my favorite of the group. I just really love the energy in this piece.

[@losthor1zon]

Each one is so different, too!

[@JamesHowe]

@@losthor1zon it’s also interesting how different conductors approach each piece. I’ve listened to several versions of the 7th and am amazed at how some conductors really rip through it and others take it a bit slower. I prefer the faster paced versions.

[@losthor1zon]

@@JamesHowe - I find myself getting irritated if a piece is played (to my ear) too fast, which usually means so fast I can't make out the melody. But too slow isn't great either!

[@Alix777.]

I like the 3rd and the 7th the most

[@greghackenberg1209]

Studied it in a University appreciation class. Thanks to the late Dr Preston. My favorite and his.

[@johnelrick8945]

Firstly, bear in mind he was deaf when he wrote this. That second movement is very special, in it's debut in Paris, the audience encored it multiple times. It was, in subsequent concerts, inserted into other of his symphonies, to bolster them. It was, in a sense, one of his greatest "hits".

[@DavidImiri]

Oh yes - no one does it like Mr. B! He's the maestro. It's hard to hold the view when listening to the 9th, but honestly I usually feel this is my favorite of his many amazing works. Such a masterpiece. Just breathtaking. Such mastery of melody, such nuance, such building development, such luscious layering, such punch! And the somber majesty of the 2nd movement, there's nothing like it. Thanks for listening to this, and shouting me out - glad you enjoyed it as much as you did. Subsequent listening and familiarity will reward.

[@marcusanthonyPOV]

Not just my favorite symphony but one of my favorite things period.

[@davidchaplain6748]

This is one of my favorites. Very well played. I like the conductor's energy throughout. Also, one more plug for "Symphony Fantastique" by Hector Berlioz for the upcoming Halloween Season. I always love the classical reactions, JP. It has been one of my favorite genres forever.

[@JustJP]

Remind me like... 2 months before October and I'll try lol!

[@frugalseverin2282]

If you haven't already seen it you must watchthe 1984 film "Amadeus" which is 1 persons supposition of Mozart's final years in Vienna. It won 8 Academy awards including Best Picture. You get to appreciate his music, his operas in the writing as well as performing. There is a film about Beethoven as well, the 1994 "Immortal Beloved" starring the brilliant actor Gary Oldman.

[@LizOBrienRochford-gs2kj]

Btw- that was an oboe. The very long and wide reed instrument is the bassoon.

[@olivierm4088]

Very good choice of performance. I use to be very touchy when it comes to Beethoven, but this orchestra is great!

[@rsm3t]

My favorite Beethoven symphony! Thanks, JP

[@JustJP]

Happily! Glad you enjoyed it rsm

[@Bayerwaldler]

I first heard it live at the Utah symphony orchestra around 1984 together with my buddy from the bicycle racing club who also happened to love Beethoven. Great memories!

[@bobhutchins-yn3ex]

Thanks! I get the impression that you may understand why this has long been my favorite piece of classical music. There's nothing like it.

[@losthor1zon]

As far as I know, Beethoven (or any composer) would write a score - the sheets that show all the instruments together, each instrument on its own separate musical staff on the page, i.e., what the conductor would use - and the publisher would take each instrument's part and transcribe it separately for the various musicians.

[@egapnala65]

The only symphony which needs a mosh pit. Beethoven 6 and 7 had me bowled over at the age of 6 and I never looked back.

[@johnnelson3665]

Very few rockers love classical music. Glad you see the light.

[@michaellofting4579]

Love that are using natural horns and trumpets, the ones without valves that Beethoven would have using in the day.😊

[@HeidiDenoble]

For a real treat check out Beethoven's violin concerto in D and his Chorale Fantasy for Piano and orchestra.

[@aldo34]

Personal favourite, marvellous stuff

[@Wayner71]

My favorite Beethoven piece. Please cover the Sibelius 7th Symphony at some stage. Cheers.

[@Devoid_Freud]

My wife and I used to play this on the stereo in the car in order to settle our infant daughter down. That's one memory. The other is just that the second movement of this is one of my favourites, and I loved what you said about the entwining and competing melodic lines: I never know which one to hear as the main melody. I love that too. That's my favourite movement from Beethoven's symphonies, and my favourite movement of all is the third movement of the 15th String Quartet.

[@stevemd6488]

Isn't it sad that some music, ie rock and roll, gets dismissed as old fashioned/dad rock etc, yet in order to be an accomplished musician of the highest caliber you have to be able to play centuries old pieces like this.

[@pentagrammaton6793]

Haha, well said!

[@maraboo72]

1. The 2. movement is the soundtrack to Colin Firth's King's Speech. 2. This orchestra recorded an award winning version of Beethoven's violin concert with Patricia Kopachinskaja on violin with a spcial part that she discovered in Beethoven's notifications on the concert. If interested look for it on youtube: "Beethoven: Violinkonzert ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Patricia Kopatchinskaja ∙ Philippe Herreweghe" 3. When it comes to Beethoven's symphonies Wilhelm Furtwängler is a conductor to know. Though his recordngs are older and therefore newer recordings may be of a superior sound quality there are things that sound quality can not cover. I am not the only one who thinks that Furtwängler found the right way to bring tempo, dynamic differences, articulation , phrasing and so on to a level that set measures. That does not mean that there are no other great versions but as far as I know there are very few who deny that, if anyone at all. The 2. movement is a great exemple for that. Though this orchestra did a good job Furtwängler imho worked out the differences more precisely and touches me much more. 10 minutes to look for on youtube: "Beethoven "Symphony No 7" Furtwängler 1943 (2. Mov.)". Setting the focus on these technical parts may in some cases lead to a mechanical interpretation but for me Furtwängler just because of that precision created an emotional depth not every conductor reaches. Imho a great exemple of technique being the medium not the purpose. The same for another Beethoven interpreter: Friedrich Gulda for piano sonatas. His Moonlight, Pathetique or Waldstein are of an incredible technical brilliance and at the same time emotionally moving or rhythmically exciting - whatever is demanded at a special part.

[@daniellastuart3145]

Now Justin you started the Beethoven and you classical music journey, next come Beethoven 9th Handel Fireworks and JS Bach plus a lot of other great music

[@JohnWhipp]

Thank you for the name check, and I'm glad you enjoyed this choice. Its a great symphony, and that second movement is sublime!

[@JustJP]

Absolutely! Thank you John :)

[@Misha.K23040]

Also, try some Beethoven piano music! For example Piano Sonata 31

[@joebloggs396]

Or 30

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

His best symphony. The 9th and the 5th have the higher signatures, this one is all out perfect.

[@LizOBrienRochford-gs2kj]

I’ve listened to most if not all of your YES reactions. I’ve loved them 50+ years, but i’ve loved Von 60-70 years. Both are top tier. Both used dynamics and counterpoint at will; both played with the joy of true music in their hearts, heads and souls. Thank god for the masters at play. Without these (and more) keepers of the major/minor keys humanity would drown in a sea of banality.

[@jopay142]

In 1970, the French singer, Johnny Hallyday, made a stunning, troubling and foreboding poem on the tune of the 2nd movement, of Beethoven's 7th symphony. It is entitled "Poème sur la 7e". One of the most troubling performance that I ever heard. You can find it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKWsp6KVeriEiJY That being said, the 7th symphony has a special place in my heart, as does the 9th. Beethoven is one of the true master composers. Awesome!

[@steveconnor746]

The 3rd movement makes me think of horses galloping. They were more commonplace than today and maybe that's what inspired him to write this piece. I first heard the 2nd movement when it was used for the film, Zardoz.

[@bobholtzmann]

Zardoz is a weird film -- it reminds me of Barbarella. It does have a cool plot twist on where the name Zardoz comes from.

[@steveconnor746]

@@bobholtzmann Very weird.

[@markspooner1224]

That was a very moving ending when they are ageing with the accompanying 2nd movement.

[@JimReem]

that movie made me like the 2nd movement a while lot more, didn't think anyone else ever saw it though, lol

[@bobholtzmann]

@@JimReem I already had the album in a box set of the Nine Symphonies when Zardoz was released. It was also amusing to me when I knew Symphony No. 6 was used in the movie Soylent Green.

[@Rowenband]

haha, just wanted to listen to someone reacting to this symphony… and who appears ?!! JP, my favorite prog reactor. hahaha The second movement always brings tears to my eyes.

[@JustJP]

:D

[@thirdcoast5755]

You might want to try Brahms 4. Wakeman did a takeoff on one of the movements on the Yes “Fragile” album. Also, if you like the second movement of Beethoven 7, you might like the first movement of Brahms 4.

[@joebloggs396]

Chung with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France has a great performance on KZbin with great sound.

[@JC2023HD]

I agree with you. The first movement is beautiful!!

[@TZ61]

Something about the second movement of a Beethoven symphony...like a lot of folks my age my early introduction to classical music was through Bugs Bunny cartoons, (another true Seinfeldism) and later had a friend from whom I gained an increased knowledge, and love of the music, and the 7th has really grown in appreciation. As the kids say, how about a little love for the camera work which greatly helps us novices. Great upload.

[@MinorCirrus]

The second movement of the 7th is very well-known and rightfully so. The first half is a masterclass of arrangement, adding more and more instruments to the same canon, thereby creating a crescendo just by adding more people to the fray. If it weren't for Echoes, it would be my favourite piece of music ever.

[@brucer2152]

Having a little bit of the ol' Ludwig Van....[best Alex voice from Clockwork orange]

[@maraboo72]

A must watch movie.

[@pentagrammaton6793]

Dammit Justin, enough with these up and coming new artists!! 😆

[@Lightmane]

hah hah

[@JustJP]

Trying to expose myself to these indie artists :)

[@jaybird4093]

Another great symphony from Beethoven. Movement 2 is an all-time classic. Have you considered going back in time to Mozart? I personally like Symphony No. 40 (g minor). Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (not a symphony, but similar to one) is another all-time classic must-hear.

[@ruramikael]

They are playing on natural horn and trumpets (without valves), that it is why the horns have to use hand-stopping in order to adjust the tone. Beethoven is still the best symphonist.

[@mrwidget42]

Well, maybe. Even though the allegreto remains my favorite single piece, I think Schubert can give tbem a pretty good run for the money. Every time I got involved with chamber music workshops (I play doublebass) I get many requests to bring out The Trout. These workshops are typically a weekend to a full week of masterclasses or one-day workup, each of which is performed on stage that night for the others. Often groups are formed ad-hoc to play specially requested works. Quite often The Trout comes up for this special treatment. But then since bass players are pretty seldom found in chamber groups that stands to reason. But then the same might be said around every Dvorak chamber work, too.

[@ruramikael]

@@mrwidget42 Schubert is a greaat composer too, I was only discussing symphonies, and I doubt that Beethoven will be surpassed.

[@mrwidget42]

Well, let me just say, the last time I played the Schubert "great C major" (9th) it was such a cardio workout that I think I lost 8 pounds in the one night's concert.

[@ruramikael]

@@mrwidget42 Yes, it is a great symphony, and if Schubert had lived another 20 years, he might have equalled Beethoven.

[@bobholtzmann]

Enjoyed this as well - wonderful to see the musicians so enthusiastically engaged in the music. Interesting that you would mention the "conversation" going on between orchestra sections -- I was always aware of a similar "conversation" going on between two string sections in the middle of the 2nd Movement. I have a stereo record that plays the back and forth between L & R speakers. It could be personally related to Beethoven's advancing deafness, and his lack of ability to overhear conversations. There is more fast and loud parts in #7 than in any of the others, including the fast and slow parts of the 3rd Movement, which has the scherzos and trios alternating ABABA (Genesis would later put a C in there). If there are any other Beethoven Symphonies you would like to try out, I would recommend the Eroica Symphony No. 3. This one has a direct link to the Napoleonic wars.

[@robertjewell9727]

Probably my favorite Beethoven work along with the 6th. Ian Anderson did a guest host spot at our local FM rock station WDIZ and concluded the hour with the final movement of this symphony because it rocked, haha. The live performance here I'd actually give a B to because it was very enthusiastic, but the conductor was a bit wonky with his timing although I think I'm in love with the flautist who got it perfect.

[@franckb8279]

Perhaps my favorite symphony from Beethoven. So powerful, so majestuous, so beautiful. My favorite classucal musicians: Mozart - Beethoven - Rachmaninov - Dvorak - Tchaïkovsky - Mendelssohn - Bach - Rossini - Verdi - Schubert - Chopin - Ravel - Debussy - Fauré Nyman

[@arijitmoitra1018]

You should listen to the third movement of his 15th string quartet. TS Eliot and Aldous Huxley considered it to be one of the greatest music.

[@joebloggs396]

Or the whole quartet.

[@boq780_2.0]

My favourite Beethoven Symphony is the 4th. I would recommend it conducted by Herbert Von Karajan. I have a box set of the symphonies conducted by him and would definitely suggest it as a purchase for anyone interested in listening to the whole cycle.

[@thomasvieth578]

Curious that you chose this German orchestra, because I pick them a lot on KZbin as well. I am also in love with the second movement. And pecuniary difficulties means that he was broke

[@JJ8KK]

One Opera I can recommend (& I generally don't like opera) is *Gilbert & Sullivan's "The Mikado."* It's the only opera I can say I thoroughly like. The music is quite beautiful & the singing is very enjoyable (the excessive vibrato is reasonably restrained). Best of all, the story & the Acts within it are very amusing. Composed in 1885, just before the turn of the century. My prediction: you'll love it...

[@losthor1zon]

You asked about the wrappings on the brass instruments. Years ago I played (or tried to play) trumpet in school. One thing I noticed about the brass instruments is that the surfaces tended to discolor and corrode where they were handled most. I believe these are for protecting the finish. It looks like the musicians are grabbing the wraps rather than the bare brass, which makes sense - these are probably very expensive instruments.

[@JustJP]

Ahh excellent; thank you for the info losthor!

[@revo1336]

Don’t miss the piano sonatas

[@bjwnashe5589]

Yes! You will also enjoy Shostakovich Symphony No. 5, NY Philharmonic conducted by Leonard Bernstein. Check it out. Music these days does not compare to these composers’ work.

[@sicko_the_ew]

I've heard that modern music (of all kinds) has been "flattened out" by "The Loudness Wars". You'd have to look it up yourself to get to know the details, BUT THE BASIC PREMISE IS THAT "LOUDNESS" SELLS, SO PRODUCERS HAVE BEEN GRADUALLY DOING AWAY WITH THE QUITE BITS in musical product (which is what most of it is, so I suppose that's unjustly snooty-tending, calling it that). Classical music relies a lot on its Dynamic Range, which is partly a matter of the quiet bits softly sweetly almost vanishing from your ears' grasp so that your ears have to reach out and grab the song before it fades away to a ghost with the hands and claws and FANGS OF YOUR EARS!!! and the loud bits waking you up when you fall asleep. (There's a Surprise Symphony out there that you might one day come across, whose composer supposedly constructed so as to first lull the audience into a light snooze - something he didn't appreciate some of his concertgoers doing too often for his liking AND THEN WAKING THE BUGGERS UP.) It's probably an urban legend that this is what was behind it. Maybe not, though. That aspect of dynamics has all but vanished from modern recorded music, though.

[@Dracorex13]

A personal favorite when it comes to dynamics is the Pines of Rome, the last movement is just a giant crescendo.

[@GymQuirk]

ISTR reading somewhere that at this symphony’s premiere, the audience was so moved by the second movement that they demanded a repeat performance before they would let the orchestra move on to the third.

[@majkus]

The technical term for the echo/call-and-response repeating of phrases is 'antiphonal'; it's often found in liturgical choral music. Now you can sound all smart and stuff!

[@JustJP]

Thank you majkus! I've learned a new word today

[@sicko_the_ew]

Pecuniary comes from Latin. It had something to do with a pecus originally. Pecus = Cow, so that's not obviously helpful yet. (Pê Koose) OK, so it means "to do with money". Early Romans were cattle herders (like Zulus once were), and their currency was cattle (as it was for Zulus once). Then they caught onto this money idea, where money could be used to represent a cow or a fraction of a cow in trade. So from pecus, they got pecunia. Matters involving pecunia are pecuniary, and don't have anything to do with pecus any more. (Interestingly, early Romans had extended families ruled - pretty much literally ruled - by the Paterfamilias. Pater is father. Familias is what you guessed right. The father of the family. Early Zulus - and quite a few modern ones too - have families run by a kind of "paterfamilias", too, although he doesn't have a specific title. Same kind of society, anyway. What the eldest male member of the family says, goes. If you work, you hand over "your" income to the paterfamilias to become part of the family's property, for instance. And if you offend too badly against the family - bring shame on it, for instance - you could even be put to death by your paterfamilias - probably your grandfather - whom your father also had to obey.) Actually if you look at early Irish history (and we're not talking about somewhere in the mists of time, here, even if it's very long ago) you'll find out that they were cattle herders whose legends were also about cattle raids, and who probably also had a literally pecuniary monetary system once upon a time. So the short version? Beethoven was skint, broke, _platsak_ (flat pocket), but the audience liked his new tune, so they gave him some money.

[@bobholtzmann]

I think the Wikipedia comment was politely saying that he was invited to voluntarily conduct another performance (another fund raiser for the war veterans, perhaps), but Beethoven was flat broke, and couldn't afford to do it. He also probably wanted to go to Vienna where the money was.

[@diogenesagogo]

This is one of my all time favourite "conversational" pieces. it conjures a very specific set of visual images for me. Not as epic as Beethoven, not as major a work in any way, but it actually affects me more, feels more personal. I just love it kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnW3epSbZZunbLs

[@thirdcoast5755]

You really called the Jaws thing. John Williams admitted as much, according to Google.

[@JustJP]

🦈🦈

[@hatsbo1]

Nice choice JP, Bravo! This is arguably Beethoven's best, others would say 3 or 9. Just got back from touring England, home of such great composers such as Edward Elgar, Benjamin Britten and Ralph Vaughan Williams. Check them out!

[@joebloggs396]

I would say 6, I think 1 is underrated. For Elgar his symphony 1.

[@classicalricky]

you should listen to the beethoven eroica w/ leonard bernstein & the vienna phil

[@Alix777.]

Furtwängler and no one else

[@jfergs.3302]

A sublime piece by one of the absolute masters. But for another side of LVB, (and as annadalassena has said) maybe also try his Grosse Fugue. Anna adds 'people didn't know what to make of it', but I believe it was largely hated at the time. For the period It was comparatively 'out there', you could almost say the punk of it's day. It wasn't really appreciated for some time, but revered now. Of it Stravinski said, and I paraphrase, a miracle of music, that was contemprary to him, and that would remain so forever. High praise indeed.

[@joebloggs396]

Op130 with that as it's finale

[@jfergs.3302]

@@joebloggs396 As originally written, aye.

[@brucer2152]

You ever watch the show "Mozart in the Jungle"?

[@JustJP]

Can't say I've ever heard of it

[@thirdcoast5755]

I love all the Beethoven odd numbered symphonies and blow hot and cold over the even numbered ones. I may be in the minority on that, judging by some of the other comments.

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

You are totally right. The 6th being the exception to the rule. But that is probably because he wrote it before the 5th and that is why it is really a hidden odd number.

[@joebloggs396]

@@Quotenwagnerianer He wrote those symphonies simultaneously, but I prefer 6.

[@ultimateconstruction]

@@thirdcoast5755 His 2nd is a Masterpiece.

[@dennispower5362]

Try Beethoven's 12 live say no more ☮️🇦🇺🇺🇸

[@Misha.K23040]

Yes, Beethoven wrote it all himself and by this point he was DEAF! Incredible. My suggestion for Beethoven is the 4th piano concerto. But for any piece you do, please try to find Leonard Bernstein's recordings! His interpretations are legendary and you should give it a try

[@thefowlyetti2]

there's no beat, hence why people don't nod their head to orchestral music. There's not really specific timing as the players look to the conductor for that, and depends what mood hes in. You have to just let the music flow through you.

[@soozb15]

No beat?! There definitely is. But it changes during the piece as different themes come in. And the speed of that beat is determined by the conductor.

[@TmRnBn]

!!! Just want to say that these orchestras are full of dancers using micro movements of their fingers, of breath, of musicality. Orders of magnitude more talented than the background dancers of Madonna, Beyonce, MJ or whoever from the tik-tok dance-troupes of the day.

[@dopaminecloud]

You really don't get to talk down the art of dance, even if it is to elevate the efforts of others. I'm sure these musicians would loathe to see such sentiment as they would understand hard work.

[@barriehull7076]

Google: Pecuniary means concerning or involving money. He was skint, brassic. What is brassic in cockney slang? cockney /ˈkɒkni/ noun 1. a native of East London, traditionally one born within hearing of Bow Bells. "Charlie was a cockney by birth, but he'd spent a lot of time abroad" Brassic is a shortened version of the Cockney rhyming slang phrase 'boracic lint' or 'skint' - with Urban Dictionary describing it thus: 'broke, penniless, without means, on the bones of yer arse'.22 Aug 2019