Plenty of composers wrote more symphonies than Beethoven, but few did more to change the way the symphony sounded. Beethoven's First Symphony reflects the fact that he learned from Mozart and Haydn. At the time he composed his Third, it was the longest symphony ever written, and Beethoven's Ninth was the first symphony to use voices. Beethoven's 5th Symphony may be the most famous piece of music ever written.

Since the Second World War, it has sometimes been referred to as the “Victory Symphony”. “V” is the Roman character for the number five; the phrase “V for Victory” became well known as a campaign of the Allies of World War II. That Beethoven’s Victory Symphony happened to be his Fifth (or vice versa) is a coincidence. Some thirty years after this piece was written, the rhythm of the opening phrase – “dit-dit-dit-dah” – was used for the letter “V” in Morse Code, though this is probably also coincidental.

Ludwig van Beethoven was a uniquely talented composer and musician. But by the time Beethoven was 30, his increasing deafness put an end to his career as a pianist. That did not stop him from continuing to compose some of the most beautiful music the world has ever known. As a composer, Beethoven was a revolutionary. He took the Classical forms and pushed them into the next period of musical history -- the Romantic era.

We will be listening and studying the following pieces:

Chapter 33 - LG 23 Beethoven: Piano Sonata in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2 (Moonlight), I https://ilg.wwnorton.com/enjmusic13/beethovenmoonlight_i/focus https://ilg.wwnorton.com/enjmusic13/beethovenmoonlight_i/interact

Chapter 34 - LG 24 Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 https://ilg.wwnorton.com/enjmusic13/beethovenfifthmvt1/focus

Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, II https://ilg.wwnorton.com/enjmusic13/beethovenfifthmvt2/focus https://ilg.wwnorton.com/enjmusic13/beethovenfifthmvt2/interact

Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, III & IV https://ilg.wwnorton.com/enjmusic13/beethovenfifthmvts3and4/focus https://ilg.wwnorton.com/enjmusic13/beethovenfifthmvts3and4/interact

Chapter 35 - LG 25 Mozart: Don Giovanni, Act I, scene 5 https://ilg.wwnorton.com/enjmusic13/mozartdongiovanni/focus

Mozart: Don Giovanni, Act I, scene 9 Duet "Là ci darem la mano" https://ilg.wwnorton.com/enjmusic13/mozartdongiovduettilacidarem/focus

Chapter 36 - LG 26 Mozart: Dies irae, from Requiem https://ilg.wwnorton.com/enjmusic13/mozartrequiem/focus https://ilg.wwnorton.com/enjmusic13/mozartrequiem/interact