Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 Pastoral | Jordi Savall & Le Concert des Nations

Beethoven‘s famous "Pastoral Symphony“ played on period instruments. Symphony No. 6 is performed here by Le Concert des Nations under the baton of Jordi Savall at the Philharmonie de Paris in 2021. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) composed the symphony in 1807 and 1808. It has five movements, not the usual four, and Beethoven gave them descriptive headings along with the usual tempo indications:

(00:00) I. Allegro ma non troppo: 'Awakening of Cheerful Feelings upon Arrival in the Country'
(11:01) II. Andante molto mosso: 'Scene by the Brook'
(22:43) III. Allegro: 'Merry Gathering of the Country Folk'
(27:33) IV. Allegro: ‘Storm Movement'
(31:30) V. Allegretto: 'Shepherd's Song. Glad and Thankful Feelings After the Storm'

The Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68, known as the “Pastoral Symphony," begins with "Awakening of cheerful feelings upon arrival in the country," to be taken at an "Allegro ma non troppo" speed (fast but not exceedingly so). But there are actually many tempos, moods, feelings and effects in the first movement of Beethoven's Sixth. One thing is missing, though: that forward thrust so typical for Beethoven; the struggle and the passion in striving for a goal. Instead, the main theme is repeated, and in parts of the first movement, time seems to slow down and even stand still. The Symphony No. 6 isn't a graphic musical depiction of nature, though. As Ludwig van Beethoven personally wrote above the first movement: "More an expression of feeling than tone-painting."

Use your imagination while listening to the second movement of Beethoven's Sixth, and you can hear ripples on a creek and birds tweeting. To make it clear, Beethoven added a description, "Scene by the Brook," to go with the tempo heading "Andante molto mosso" (as though walking, much movement). Beethoven only rarely explained his music, but in this case, he added: "It's left to the listener to figure out the situations. Anyone who has any idea of life in the countryside can discern the composer's intent even without titles or headings." For the musicians, Beethoven goes into greater detail, writing in the score that the calls of the nightingale, the quail and the cuckoo are rendered by the flute, the oboe and two clarinets.

The triple-movement episode begins with a "Merry gathering of country folk," with "Allegro" (fast) the specified tempo. Altogether, the Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 anticipates what later went by the name of "program music:" music that describes a situation or tells a story. In the "merry gathering" we hear an oom-pah-pah village band that doesn't quite play together but, for that, is all the more boisterous. "My decree," wrote Ludwig van Beethoven: "Stay in the countryside. My unfortunate hearing problem doesn't plague me here. It's as though, in the country, every tree was speaking to me. Holy, holy! Who can express it all? Sweet quietude of the forest!"

That sweet quietude comes to an abrupt end in the fourth movement of the Symphony No. 6 in F major, op. 68. It's titled "Thunder storm," and the composer specified it to be taken at a fast clip, "Allegro." It's the shortest but most dramatic movement in Ludwig van Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony. Thunder, screeching wind and a downpour are all clearly audible, while images come to mind from Walt Disney's 1940 animated film "Fantasia," where the Greek god Jupiter gleefully hurtles bolts of lightning and makes terrified villagers flee for shelter.

After the merry gathering of the country folk and the storm comes the finale of Beethoven's Sixth, titled "Shepherd's song. Cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm," with the Italian tempo mark "Allegretto" (moderately fast).

Le Concert des Nations was founded in 1989 by the Spanish-Catalan soprano Montserrat Figueras and her husband, the Spanish-Catalan gambist, conductor, and musicologist Jordi Savall. The orchestra is known throughout the world for its expertise in historically informed performances. Since the 1970s, Jordi Savall has been considered one of the world's leading viola da gamba performers and early music specialists. He is relentless in his quest for the perfect, authentic sound – one that literally rings historically true.

© 2021 Karl More Productions

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[moogfooger]

After listening to this performance I realized why I don't like listening to modern instruments. They have no character and the players need to artificially create it with over playing and gestures that distract from the music. The natural poise and individual character of the different sections of this orchestra need no artificial external influence as they are beautiful in their tonality and balance. The basses, horns and tympani in particular have an incredible directness and power that cannot be achieved by modern style instrumentation. Balance this with a conductor who fully understands this quality and you have this music that is an embodyment of Beethovens intentions. The closest we have come to what was in his mind when composing this masterpiece. Thank you Maestro Savall for an enlightening and mind manifesting experience of the sound of the early 19th Century. This shows me how much we have lost!

[JBorda]

Masterpiece from my favorite composer. The sweetness, the humor, the drama and the joy. Simply amazing

[bobsteiner]

Some of the comments suggest the performance is too fast, especially the first movement. But note that Beethoven asked for Allegro or Allegretto in all the movements but one. I think that Savall's tempos are what the composer would have preferred. Some modern orchestras slow things down, giving the music a romantic gloss, which is fine if listeners enjoy it. But this version is more authentic with regard to both instruments and tempi.

[JuanPabloValdiviaMeyan]

Maravilloso regalo 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿! Muchísimas gracias DW! Los sigo incondicionalmente porque nos ofrecen información y cultura de alta calidad, al mismo tiempo... Y, en esta ocasión, nos deleitan con la que, en mi humilde opinión, es la más maravillosa Sinfonía del Maestro Beethoven. La conducción de Jordi Savall es magnífica y ni qué decir de la Orquesta... Excepcional 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿. Nuevamente, muchas, muchas gracias!

[nickaverinos]

My word, the climax to the final movement never fails to get me. Goosebumps. My favorite Beethoven symphony by far. And great sound quality to boot. Props to the wonderful musicians and to Maestro Savall. And Viva Beethoven!

[garamiglm]

My God...Beautiful. Beautiful.. Thank you so much!

[echristinebirzgalis]

difference with period instruments. So rich, the value of sound, resonates!

[marilynwoolford-chandler]

Just finished listening to the whole performance. Spring here is springing very fast. Perhaps because I am a bit sleep deprived, due to a mix of “daylight saving” and personal reasons I was reluctant to bound around the way this performance did. A very interesting assortment of wind instruments and the leader / first violinist most respectfully followed the every wish of the conductor. A very interesting performance. The few glimpses of the audience showed masks 😷 and I wondered was I seeing glass or plastic screens between the brass and others.

[BillHong.]

From an aural standpoint, I also enjoy performances such as these where the 1st and 2nd violins are split to opposite sides of the orchestra, which brings out the conversational nature of the composer's writing between these sections.

[alexyoung]

I was in Junior high School, the first time I heard this beautiful and poetic symphony. I especially love the 2nd movement and the song of the cookoo.

[TrinityDivineMozart]

The horn was such a wonderful instrument. 😇🎼

[lopezsantos]

Many thanks DW, you always overpass the spectations, this is "music made for minds"

[filosoforvgsapereaude]

Maravillosa sinfonia del genio Beethoven

[jakeplonk]

The principal horn is dressed like he’d just finished his shift as database administrator before turning up to the concert.

[letydavila]

Wonderfull, beautiful,
BRAVO TO ALL OF YOU .BRAVOOOO

[linchcc]

All the Musicians are working hard to express the best music.

[JuanCarlosBartolotta]

QUE BUENA VERSION....los intrumentos se escuchan transparentes, jordi savall un genio

[TheGreggoryDavid]

Jordi Savall is a modern master! On a funny note…
I guess the 2nd chair French Horn missed the all black memo.

[andreysimeonov]

Wow! This interpretation represents very beautiful natural pictures from Mars.

[NathaniaGarcia]

very enjoyable; thank you for sharing!