Symphony No. 4 (Beethoven)

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Categories: Symphonies by Ludwig van Beethoven | Romantic symphonies

Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 4 in B Flat Major, Op. 60, was written in 1806.

1 Background
2 Instrumentation
3 Form
4 Reception
5 Performance
6 Notes
7 External links

Background

The work was dedicated to Count Franz von Oppersdorff, a relative of Beethoven's patron, Prince Lichnowsky. The Count met Beethoven when he traveled to Lichnowsky's summer home where Beethoven was staying. Von Oppersdorff 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. The dedication was made to "the Silesian nobleman Count Franz von Oppersdorf".^[1]

Instrumentation

The symphony is scored for flute, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in B flat, 2 bassoons, 2 horns in B flat and E flat, 2 trumpets in B flat and E flat, timpani and strings.

Form

There are four movements:

Adagio -- Allegro vivace
Adagio
Allegro -- vivace
Allegro ma non troppo

The work takes about 33 minutes to perform.

Reception

Although all nine of Beethoven's symphonies are widely performed, the Fourth is less often performed than some of the others. Robert Schumann described Symphony No. 4 as a "slender Greek maiden between two Norse gods", referring to the 3rd and 5th Symphonies, both with towering reputations.

Performance

The sound files are from a performance by the Skidmore College Orchestra.

First movement

1st movement: Allegro vivace Image:Ludwig van Beethoven - symphony no. 4 in b flat major, op. 60 - i. adagio - allegro vivace.ogg

Performed by the Skidmore College Orchestra. Music courtesy of Musopen

Problems listening to the file? See media help.

Second movement

2nd movement: Adagio Image:Ludwig van Beethoven - symphony no. 4 in b flat major, op. 60 - ii. adagio.ogg

Performed by the Skidmore College Orchestra. Music courtesy of Musopen

Problems listening to the file? See media help.

Third movement

3rd movement: Allegro molto e vivace Image:Ludwig van Beethoven - symphony no. 4 in b flat major, op. 60 - iii. allegro vivace.ogg

Performed by the Skidmore College Orchestra. Music courtesy of Musopen

Problems listening to the file? See media help.

Fourth movement

4th movement:Allegro ma non troppo Image:Ludwig van Beethoven - symphony no. 4 in b flat major, op. 60 - iv. allegro ma non troppo.ogg

Performed by the Skidmore College Orchestra. Music courtesy of Musopen

Problems listening to the file? See media help.

Notes

^ Paul Netl (1976) Beethoven Handbook. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., p. 262

External links

Analysis of the Beethoven Symphony No. 4 on the All About Ludwig van Beethoven Page
Full Score of Beethoven's Fourth Symphony.

v • d • e Ludwig van Beethoven
Biography · Life and work · Musical style and innovations · Beethoven and his contemporaries · List of works · Beethoven Category · Historical Sites

v • d • e Symphonies by Ludwig van Beethoven
No. 1 in C major · No. 2 in D major · No. 3 in E flat major (Eroica) · No. 4 in B flat major · No. 5 in C minor · No. 6 in F major (Pastoral) · No. 7 in A major · No. 8 in F major · No. 9 in D minor (Choral) Hypothetical: No. 10 in E flat major