Symphony No. 8 (Beethoven)

Beethoven's Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op 93 was built between 1811 and 1812 and appeared immediately after the 7th Symphony.

Formation

A directly after the seventh symphony Taken in attack Piano Concerto project had given Beethoven; Material from this discontinued Piano Concerto flowed into the 8th Symphony.

Beethoven worked inter alia, during his spa stay in Teplitz - where he wrote his famous, possibly never sent letter to the "Immortal Beloved" - on the symphony.

Beethoven's secretary and later biographer Anton Felix Schindler claimed in his biography of Beethoven in 1860, invented by Johann Nepomuk Mälzel metronome was inspiration for the steady beat of the second set. Accordingly, the second sentence from a cannon would have arisen, had composed the Beethoven Mälzel farewell before his impending trip to England. Some circumstances ( for example, that Mälzel travel until 1813 took place, and the metronome was built in its known form only in 1815 ), however, cast doubt on Schindler's representation. Musicologists as Stanley Howell keep the canon itself was a fake Schindler.

Orchestra

Two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, timpani, strings in five parts ( I and II violins, violas, cellos, double basses )

Set names

About the Music

The 8th symphony is marked by a special joy and zest for life. Behind this serene superficiality reveals va the " Allegretto Scherzando " in play with conventions of that time peculiar musical twists. So opens an unstable six-four chord whose root is weakened tremendously by instrumentation, this sentence. For this reason also lacks the usual slow 2nd movement. Instead occurs an Allegretto Tempo di Menuetto scherzando and that are used in the classical symphony alternatively as 3rd set.

The pace of the term " Minuet " the third movement suggested comfort is increased up to the irony.

Effect

The premiere took place on February 27, 1814 in an event organized by Beethoven " Academy " in the large ball room to Vienna.

Beethoven himself called them the "little F major " ( in regard to the other F major Symphony, the 6th, the Pastorale ). He apparently has the length, but not meant his appreciation. At the premiere she did not find the appeal as the 7th Symphony. According to Beethoven's pupil Carl Czerny 's report commented, Beethoven 's Symphony No. 8 annoying " because it is much better."

The general musical newspaper wrote about the performance of the symphony, during the 7th symphony, a trio and " Wellington's Victory " rang out:

"The biggest audience's attention seemed directed to the latest product of the B.schen Muse to be, and everything was strained tester expectancy; but this was, after one listen to, not accompanied by that enthusiasm which a work is excellent, which is generally like: short, she did - as the Italians say - no splash. Ref is the Meynung, the cause lies not in a weaker or less artful editing; ( because here, as in all B.schen works of this genre, breathes that peculiar spirit, thus increasing its originality always claimed :) but, partly in the not Genung deliberate calculation, this symphony the to let follow in A Major, partly in the supersaturation of been so much enjoyed the beautiful and admirable, which, of course, a bracing the result be-ing needs. If this symphony given in the future alone, so we doubt not to the favorable results. "

As the musicologist Harry Goldschmidt put it, is the Symphony " vielverkannt because far too superficially understood. "