logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2021
46m 2s

Beethoven Symphony No. 1

JOSHUA WEILERSTEIN
About this episode

Today begins a pretty massive project for Sticky Notes - a complete Beethoven cycle over the next few weeks! We start of course with Beethoven's 1st symphony. Some people tend to think of Beethoven's 1st as a cautious foray into the symphonic world, but I couldn't disagree more. It is a bold, confident leap into the genre, a genre that Beethoven would end up changing for good. All of the elements that make Beethoven's symphonies so fantastic are already present in this symphony, so let's begin the journey!

Up next
Jul 10
Sibelius Tapiola
Ancient, mysterious, brooding savage dreams; Within them dwells the Forest's mighty God, And wood-sprites in the gloom weave magic secrets. These lines are affixed to the first page of Sibelius' tone poem Tapiola, a piece that is mysterious in many ways and stands as Sibelius' la ... Show More
47m 3s
Jun 25
Arthur Honneger, Symphony No. 3, "Liturgique"
In the aftermath of World War II, the Swiss composer Arthur Honegger, who had been living in occupied Paris throughout the war, wrote a new symphony entitled "Liturgical." He wrote an extended commentary on the piece, which included these lines: "My intention in this work was to ... Show More
53m 4s
Jun 11
Dvorak Piano Quintet, Op. 81
In 1872, at the age of 31, Dvořák wrote a Piano Quintet designated as Opus 5. Dvořák was not a prodigy like some other famous composers; instead, his development as a composer was slow and steady. Later in his life, he would look back at some of these early pieces with a mix of n ... Show More
49m 31s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2015
Symphony No. 1: A Great (But Not Groundbreaking) Start
Ludwig van Beethoven wrote symphonies that introduced new musical ideas, inspired generations of composers and expanded the idea of what a symphony could be. But he started modestly. His First Symphony, written in 1800, pays tribute to his predecessors. 
13m 31s
Sep 2020
THE 5TH — MOVEMENT II, From Struggle to Victory
In the first movement of his famous symphony, Beethoven sets up a battle between hope and despair. The dark side of that spectrum is represented by the anguished opening notes of the first movement: DUN DUN DUNNN. Over the course of the next three movements, Beethoven keeps tryin ... Show More
27m 4s
Jan 2020
Beethoven 250 Part 1 Marches
The first of a monthly series marking Beethoven's 250th birthday. Music includes the Turkish March form the Ruins of Athens and the Funeral March form the Eroica Symphony. 
21m 33s
Oct 2015
Symphony No. 2: Desperation and Determination
Ludwig van Beethoven's Second Symphony came at a pivot point in his life. Musically, the composer moved toward the more epic, revolutionary style that would define his later symphonies. Personally, Beethoven sank into despair as his hearing loss worsened. 
14m 48s
Oct 2015
Symphony No. 3: Dedicated To ‘The Memory Of A Great Man’
With the "Eroica," Ludwig van Beethoven expanded the idea of what a symphony could be. The man who helped inspire the symphony? Napoleon Bonaparte. 
17m 57s
Feb 2013
Beethoven's Fifth Symphony
<p>More than just 'da da da dum! </p><p>Beethoven's 5th Symphony accompanied Sir Robin Knox-Johnston on the regular Bombay to Basra route he sailed during his early days in the Merchant Navy. </p><p>Archaeologist and crime novelist, Dana Cameron, spent many a long day in a dark, ... Show More
27m 34s
Sep 2020
THE 5TH — MOVEMENT IV, What Beethoven Would Have Wanted
When we listen closely to the Fifth, we hear a testament to self-expression and determination. Which means that we get to decide how to honor this symphony today, whether that means taking a break from Beethoven to commission new works from underrepresented composers, bringing ne ... Show More
30m 23s
Dec 2015
Symphony No. 9: A Joyous Epic
Its power and sheer ambition influenced and intimidated scores of composers who followed Beethoven. 
14m 53s
Sep 2020
THE 5TH — MOVEMENT I, A Battle Brewing
You know Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. You’ve heard it in films, advertisements, parodied in Saturday morning cartoons and disco-ized in Saturday Night Fever. The Fifth Symphony is a given, so much so that it blends into the background. You know this piece, but how well? Of all the ... Show More
27m 48s
Nov 2015
Symphony No. 7: Rhythm And Restlessness
Ludwig van Beethoven's Seventh Symphony pulses with rhythmic invention. The reliance on the beat gives the piece an immediacy that rivals the music in any of Beethoven's symphonies. 
14m 9s
Listen to millions of songs and podcasts on Anghami