How Beethoven Revolutionized the Symphony

Six ways that Beethoven revolutionized the symphonic genre, and changed music history forever.

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Script by: Kadin Madgwick
Narrated by: Oscar Osicki

[Tylervrooman]

He was one of the first to specifically compose separate bass parts as opposed to just being unison with the cello. *Edit (I play bass and it goes boom and make me happy)

[silvioevan]

This is from Honoré de Balzac's short story Gambara (1837) (a masterpiece, by the way):

"- The new school has left Beethoven far behind, - said the ballad-writer, scornfully.
- Beethoven is not yet understood, - said the Count. - How can he be excelled?
(...)
- Beethoven, - the Count went on, - extended the limits of instrumental music, and no one followed in his track.
(...)
- His work is especially noteworthy for simplicity of construction and for the way the scheme is worked out, - the Count went on. - Most composers make use of the orchestral parts in a vague, incoherent way, combining them for a merely temporary effect; they do not persistently contribute to the whole mass of the movement by their steady and regular progress. Beethoven assigns its part to each tone-quality from the first. Like the various companies which, by their disciplined movements, contribute to winning a battle, the orchestral parts of a symphony by Beethoven obey the plan ordered for the interest of all, and are subordinate to an admirably conceived scheme."

[tj-cogo]

Music would not be the same without Beethoven. He changed an entirely new style by himself, that has been unsurpassed unto this very day. I consider him the best composer to have ever lived.

[bigpapadrew]

i visited beethoven's grave in vienna, among other greats. it moved me to tears. i will never forget it.

[Cesar_SM]

Another feature Beethoven applied and developed very well was the transition between movements without a break (i.e. the 5th Symphony - III and IV, 6th Symphony - III, IV and V). The man knew his stuff for sure.

[n.n.]

I think I will never be able to listen to the 9th without tearing up.

[somatotomy]

And Papa Haydn, Beethoven's teacher, paved the way for Beethoven to make these developments: Sturm und Drang paved the way for the tortured expression we associate with Beethoven, and Haydn's extended development sections certainly paved the way for Beethoven's own focus on thematic development. Haydn even implemented the scherzo before Beethoven popularized it. One of the many reasons Haydn is so worthy of respect, a true master who raised a pupil that changed the world.

[alfonsomunoz]

Beethoven's ninth symphony is the most perfect masterpiece ever composed. It is the pinnacle of artistic achievement.

[joecaner]

Beethoven's 7th and 9th tears my heart into shreds one moment only to make it swell large enough to encompass all that is the very next. There is no music quite like it. It is triumphant.

[johnchessant]

I really love that section in the 9th that runs through all the previous movements' themes, I hadn't really thought of it as a conversation between different parts of the orchestra rather as a tying together of the whole symphony into one neat passage

[OzSteve]

In the 5th piano concerto there is no gap between the last 2 movements, just 2 sustained notes. This is not just to change keys. It's also so clarinetists can switch from Bb to A instruments. Genius.

[jerryemt]

I won't pretend to understand the theories and structures of symphonies before and after Beethoven, but I recognize and appreciate the beauty and power of his 9th. I can't say just how many times I witnessed this wonderful piece of art performed by various symphonies in different cities. I'd love to hear it performed live in Vienna on the 200th anniversary of its premier in May 2024.

[AndrejaAndric]

I think his First Symphony is also pretty great! It sticks to the established customs, nevertheless it sounds much bigger and more dynamic, while being at the same time a subtle parody on the symphonic genre.

[katrinabryce]

Beethoven’s 9th Symphony was used as the benchmark for what the capacity of a CD should be.

[franklehman]

Great video. It is worth noting, however, that Beethoven was hardly the first composer to attach an explicit program to a symphony. Dittersdorf's are probably the best known, but there were tons of "characteristic symphonies" written in the 18th century that were every bit as explicit in their extramusical content as the Pastoral. And well known and appreciated in their time too. Not to diminish LvB's significance, but many of his "revolutions" are often better characterized as "culminations" of trends in instrumental music that had been established for the better part of a half-century beforehand.

[gabrielalexanderkhoury]

Beethoven's titanic music shakes you to the core. Fist time, as a child, I heard the opening of the 9th, I asked my mother "what on earth is that?". I still say so 60 years later. Not just the 9th but also the 3rd and the 5th. Somebody wrote that he is "head and shoulders above the rest. We shall never see the like of him again".

[manouchehr]

No world can describe the immense breathy and great richness of Beethoven music .

[markchapman]

Listening to a classical symphony after having become used to Beethoven's works, it's often a bit disconcerting to think, "The development section has started" then "oh, it's stopped again already!"
OTOH, it's hardly surprising that Beethoven puts the Ode to Joy theme through such changes in the last movement of the 9th when said movement is explicitly theme and variations, a form that he was obsessed with throughout his career. In fact, the preceding slow movement is also a set of variations, and even today there aren't many symphonies like that.

[ES-gebb]

Aside from a loved one, if I could only have one pleasure on a deserted island, it would be to be able to listen to Beethoven’s orchestral works. The most uplifting music, IMO. The wow factor is unparalleled

[gergotorbacksight]

Omg. Beethoven my first love announced me to classical music. I read his biography he is suffered man who pour his mind into his note.
Thank you, Beethoven to help my life become meaningful. And thank you for this channel to share the wisdom of Beethoven.✨✨