Essay on "Beethoven's 9th Symphony"
Essay 4 pages (1152 words) Sources: 1
[EXCERPT] . . . .
BeethovenLudwig von Beethoven's Ninth Symphony was his last, completed and performed in 1824 in Vienna. Incorporating a Friedrich Schiller poem "An die Freude," ("To Joy"), Beethoven set a theme for one of the most magnificent classical choral compositions. The integration of choral elements into a symphony was wholly unique: the first time a composer had ever undertaken a task so ambitious. The Philharmonic Society of London commissioned the symphony in 1817, and Beethoven took six years to compose it. The symphony undulates, proceeding through moments of restive peace and near-quietude to shockingly loud crescendos. However, what makes Beethoven's Ninth Symphony so remarkable is that its composer was deaf when he wrote and performed it. The composition and premiere of the masterpiece proved an enormous struggle for the hearing-impaired musician.
One of the reasons Beethoven wrestled with the circumstances surrounding the Ninth Symphony was that the composer initially hoped to hold the premiere performance in Berlin, to purposefully shift his intended audience from Vienna. Yet Beethoven was encouraged, even pressured, to stage the premiere in Vienna "to prove that he still had box office appeal" in the Austrian capital since over ten years had passed since he composed his Eighth Symphony (Huscher 2007). Indeed, Beethoven had been reclusive and in a state of semi-retirement for years.
In spite of the optimism surrounding it, staging the premiere in Vienna turned out to be disappointing for the composer. For one, Beethoven could barely conduct his own symphony. His hearing loss was by 1824 so complete as to render his conducting practically useless. Bee
download full paper ⤓
Moreover, the orchestra members were not well rehearsed for the May 7 performance at the Karntnertortheater. Part of the reason for the lack of practice was that Beethoven's Ninth Symphony was long, complex, and incorporated many musical elements that were absent from most if not all other symphonic works until that time. The most notable difference between Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and any other prior symphony by any composer was that the fourth movement depended on vocals. Vocals were not normally included in symphonic arrangements and so gathering the right group of musicians together to perform on May 7, 1824 must have been daunting. Another reason Beethoven's Ninth Symphony must have been difficult to rehearse was because of its length and structural complexity. Beethoven apparently created a complex rhythmic structure that included peculiar metronome measures. The scherzo… READ MORE
Quoted Instructions for "Beethoven's 9th Symphony" Assignment:
This paper needs to specifically talk about what Beethoven went through to get the 9th symphony done and preformed. It also, must state why it was such a struggle, etc...
How to Reference "Beethoven's 9th Symphony" Essay in a Bibliography
“Beethoven's 9th Symphony.” A1-TermPaper.com, 2008, https://www.a1-termpaper.com/topics/essay/beethoven-ludwig-von-ninth/4867878. Accessed 28 Sep 2024.
Related Essays:
Music of Ludwig Van Beethoven Research Paper
Beethoven
The Music of Ludwig Van Beethoven
Ludwig Van Beethoven was a German composer born on December 17th, 1770. However, there is a debate about whether he was born on… read more
Research Paper 3 pages (991 words) Sources: 3 Topic: Music / Musicians / Instruments
Daniel Barenboim Essay
Daniel Barenboim: Music Is Life
Daniel Barenboim presents music as away for human beings to explain the world around them. For Daniel, music can be used as a catalyst for… read more
Essay 8 pages (2264 words) Sources: 2 Style: MLA Topic: Music / Musicians / Instruments
Rhythm, Dynamics, Melody, Harmony and Texture Essay
rhythm, dynamics, melody, harmony and texture, and timbre into a composition to add interest and character. Remember to discuss what each of these elements does.
There are many elements to… read more
Essay 19 pages (5737 words) Sources: 0 Topic: Music / Musicians / Instruments
Sat, Sep 28, 2024
If you don't see the paper you need, we will write it for you!
We can write a new, 100% unique paper!