The secrets of the world’s most famous symphony - Hanako Sawada

Discover what makes Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony Number Five a musical masterpiece, and uncover the story behind its inception.

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Eight ferocious notes open one of the most explosive pieces of music ever composed. Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony Number Five premiered in 1808, and quickly won acclaim. Its central motif and raw emotionality have continued to resound through the ages. So what exactly makes Beethoven’s Fifth so captivating? Hanako Sawada uncovers the story behind this musical masterpiece.

Lesson by Hanako Sawada, directed by Yael Reisfeld.

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Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Milo Vermeulen, Ryan Weiler, Jesse Lira, Ezekiel Raui, Zongpu Kou, Cameron Chakraverty, Petr Vacek, Rhys Patterson, Dennis, Olivia Fu, Katrina Adams, Regina Post, Mary Collins, Kari Teffeau, clumsybunnie, Adam Leos, Jeremy Laurin, Cindy Lai, Liz, Bhargav Pandravada, Rajath Durgada Manjunath, Dan Nguyen, Chin Beng Tan, Alejandro Gomez, Tom Boman, Karen Warner, Isorn Sookwanish, Iryna Panasiuk, Diane Gallin, Aaron Torres, Vasundhar, Eric Braun, Denka Wee, Sonja Worzewski, Amy, Michael Clement, Ghaith Tarawneh, Nathan Milford, Tomas Beckett, Alice Ice, Eric Berman, Kurt Paolo Sevillano, Ron Kakar, Megulo Abebe, TAO7CADENCE, isolwi, Vedasheersh, Michael Chang, Waqar Sheikh and Irene Y.

[carlpeng]

Beethoven squatting like a gangsta on a tree branch is an image that I can no longer unsee. And I will not complain about it.

[ludoviajante]

Holy Moly... Can we talk about how the animation in this episode ALSO converted a lot of emotion?
This video is a masterpiece! I wish this channel was more widespread in Brazil.

[HarperBizzare]

The beginning of Beethoven's Fifth is the music that plays in my head in the last 5 minutes of an exam.

[KeysOnFire]

"Beethoven's fifth takes its listeners through a dark world, then guides them into the light" such a beautiful and accurate phrase.
Great video. Thanks!

[V]

I could practically hear the notes just by looking at the thumbnail! That's how famous symphony no. 5 really is.

[luqcrusher]

1:12
The trap music. The stance. The hairdo. The eyeshadow. The goth death stare. The dead tree. The crows flying out in the background.

Thank you Ted Ed for this masterpiece.

[darknessincarnate]

1:10 That's exactly how I imagined him, "The first Rock star"

[limyizheng]

Imagine being in the theatre during that time period and hearing this for the first time. The first time it was ever performed. It must have been magnificent

[meganj]

The animation though! You guys never fail to impress

[amalreadyy]

"V" in morse code, that's interesting because it also means five in roman numeration. 5th Symphony

[Arushi]

Listening to this symphony is an experience.

[akshayarohatgi]

1:12 The power. The pose. The presence. A man ahead of his time

[romance]

The way TedEd resepcts and cultivates education especially with regards to narration and animation is masterful. Beautiful episode

[TheWchurchillpm]

True story:
Beethoven - Germany’s greatest musical genius - once met Goethe - Germany’s greatest literary genius. They went for a walk in a park, where they were about to cross paths with members of the aristocratic class. Goethe, the old man raised in the ways of tradition, stepped aside to let them pass. Beethoven, the young man and product of the Enlightenment, continued walking so the aristocrats had to stop for him.

[sleepytraveler]

1:13 Beethoven bout to drop the hottest mixtape of the 19th century 😭👌🏼💯🔥🔥

[junmy]

This video did Beethoven's fifth symphony justice, like the art and bgm and the narrator's voice really carried the suspenseful atmosphere throughout the video. Wow just wow.

[eldestaroma]

Just as the Beethoven's piece, Ted ed's animation is a masterpiece. I jst cant imagine how you can create such a marvelous visuals to perfectly accompany with this script. Absolutely loved it....

[leomagnani]

1:08 i almost got an heart attack, what a wonderful production!

[layebataher]

The transition at 1:10 is so epic I've never seen Beethoven in so much swag

[owlinatowl]

4:13
I don't know why, but the moment he closed his eyes, I almost cried. This shows how hauntingly beautiful the animation is!