After movement one, two and three, this is our last article on Beethoven’s First Symphony. Continuing with the last movement, which was written in the spirit of Haydn’s symphonic finale. Joyful, playful, energetic! Let’s hear it!
The introduction of the 4th movement is in adagio. It is characterized by Antony Hopkins as a music, where hesitant beginners are clutching unfamiliar instruments, making progress one note at a time. Let us listen to this introduction!
Fear not friends, this is just a joke, something Haydn (a musical comedian himself) would appreciate in full! Now, comes the first theme, very playful and in allegro molto e vivace.
A modulating bridge and theme 2 continues the spirited tempo and fanfare. Legs are moving, hearts are beating faster.
We arrive now to the development section. This part starts with quiet, rising and falling semitones. Then, suddenly a powerful burst of the instruments reminds us that this is still a musical comedy.
The recapitulation will bring back theme 1 and theme 2, slightly longer than the original. Then, we have the cadence material, which will lead us to the coda. The coda starts with a quiet section, which is in fact a new version in the introduction. A sudden energy is released, music is building up with rising C major scales, leading to the conclusion.
Conclusion. This is a brilliant first symphony, a first, most composer are not able to achieve even as a last! Very energetic, full of fun and joy, still rooted in the classical style of Haydn and Mozart. Superb job B., but not yet a game changer! That one is coming soon!
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