Beethoven's Fifth Symphony (The Liszt Transcription)

November 18, 2001 AT NOON Played on the Yamaha Piano

Follow This Link to Program Notes For the October Performance of Beethoven's Third Symphony

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Opus 67

The opening of Beethoven's Fifth is easily the most famous symphonic theme ever written. Seas of ink have been spilled in attempts to describe what makes that simple rhythm - three short notes and a long - so powerful. What really matters is where Beethoven goes after that initial, dramatic gesture. The miracle of the work, to paraphrase Bernstein, is how Beethoven convinces us as the piece progresses of the unerring logic and rightness of his music, that the only thing that could happen at any given moment is exactly what does happen. Beethoven, ever the builder and musical architect, uses the famous opening motive not as a means unto itself, but as a springboard to launch a journey that leads us inexorably from the first note to the very last, always moving forward to the ultimate goal.

Of course, the Fifth Symphony is also representative of Beethoven's heroic style. Many hear in the work Beethoven's struggle with his deafness and his final victory. Certainly, that is a valid interpretation. But putting aside all the programs and theories and prose for a moment, what the Fifth Symphony is undeniably is a masterpiece of concise, concentrated power communicated with an emotional appeal and directness which has never been surpassed.

The first movement, marked Allegro con brio, unfolds as a single-minded development of the basic motive. Even the lyrical second theme is accompanied by the stubborn "three shorts and a long." The development section is an astonishing example of abrupt, dramatic force. Beethoven explores the motive in every way, expanding, fragmenting, and inverting it. At one remarkable moment, he pares the motive down to just two notes, and then goes even further, developing just one note, passing it back and forth between the strings and winds. The recapitulation is interrupted by a plaintive cadenza in the oboe, which serves to momentarily relax the tension before the final push of the extended coda, or "terminal development."

The second movement is a noble set of variations upon one of Beethoven's "hymnic" themes. Really, there are two themes that are varied; the first, which is sung by the low strings at the outset, and a second, which is again based on the famous motive.

The third movement is a scherzo based on a rocket theme. The basic motive is heard in the horns, and now appears in 3/4 time. The trio switches key and mood, as the low strings begin a humorous theme that is taken up in turn by the violas, second, and then first violins. (Berlioz unforgettably described this section as the "gambols of a frolicsome elephant.") When the scherzo theme returns, it is now given added mystery through the use of pizzicato strings. Finally, the basic motive is reduced to its lowest common denominator, tapped out on a single note by the timpani. Then, in a passage, without precedent, Beethoven links the third movement to the finale without pause.

With the finale, the mood changes to present a bright, triumphant statement in C major. The opening theme, martial in character, hammers out the tonic triad, while the second theme in the dominant features yet another variation on the basic motive. A dynamic development ensues, and all is charging full steam ahead when Beethoven, in a brilliant stroke, reintroduces the theme of the scherzo, allowing the excitement to slacken. Momentarily relaxed, he then proceeds to even greater heights, culminating in a final presto. The tonic chord is hurled like a thunderbolt over and over again, until the orchestra finally sounds forth the final unison and the Fifth Symphony is brought to its magnificent conclusion.

What you will hear is the Liszt piano transcription. It was transcribed so that people who could not get to a symphony hall could still here the famous Beethoven Symphonies. The "Fred and Connie Smith Memorial Yamaha Piano" will be played by our music computer.