L.V. Beethoven "Symphony No. 9": history, video, interesting facts, listen

Ludwig van Beethoven "Symphony No. 9"

The Ninth Symphony is Beethoven's ideological testament, a fiery appeal to all of humanity. The idea of ​​creating such a grand-scale work was laid throughout the composer’s life. Music gives an exhaustive answer to the questions of the universe, it has an amazing property of being outside historical time. The uniqueness of the implementation of the finale, its original solution is achieved by including the cantona "Ode to Joy". Learn interesting facts, get acquainted with the history of the composition, listen to music in the best interpretations, as well as read the musical review of the work on our page.

History of creation

In 1785, Schiller's work “Ode to Joy” appeared, calling for people to unite and rally. It was a reflection of the revolutionary times when people wanted to create a new society and make life better. The writing carried not only general cultural, but also social significance. In consequence, this particular work attracted the attention of one of the most successful composers of our time - Ludwig van Beethoven. From the time he read the ode for the first time, the creator set himself the task of creating a truly grandiose work. The first sketches are dated 1809 year. Eight years later, the composer decided to write a scherzo for a symphony.

Work on the creation was slow, Ludwig constantly put it aside. The process of writing accelerated the incoming order from the London Symphony Society. Then the composer was beloved in England, and even planned to gradually move to the country of foggy Albion. But the financial situation did not allow him to carry out his own intentions. He stayed in Germany. Back in July 1823, Beethoven wanted to create two separate works - the Ninth Symphony and the work for the choir "Ode to Joy". But in the process of composing, the composer realized that it was necessary to combine musical material. The synthesis of instrumental and choral music in symphonic practice is an extraordinary rarity for Beethoven’s modernity. Fortunately, the risk was justified. The premiere, held on May 7, 1824 in one of the fashionable theaters in Vienna, was a resounding success. The hall cheered, the roar of applause was never-ending. It is a pity that the author has not heard anything. A few minutes after the last chords resounded, Beethoven did not turn to the hall. According to legend, one of the chorus girls approached him and showed him to turn to the audience. The author saw what impression the symphony made on people. Grateful audience threw hats into the air, some wept with happiness. Beethoven’s dream has come true, the music has managed to unite people, rally them. Isn't this the best gratitude for the creator?

Interesting Facts

• Despite the fact that the symphony once again confirmed the genius of the author and was recognized by the public, it did not bring much material resources. The great Beethoven barely made ends meet. Sometimes he did not even go out, since his shoes were worn long ago.
• L.N. Tolstoy did not understand the creativity of the Viennese classic. In his essay, the writer, arguing on the theme "What is art?", Called 9 symphony a bad work, not related to art.
• After Beethoven, many composers were afraid to undertake composing symphonies with number 9. Since there was a superstition that after writing a symphony with number 9, the composer would soon die. After Beethoven’s death, famous composers, namely Franz Schubert, Antonín Dvořák, Anton Bruckner, suffered a “curse”. It is believed that this connection between the symphony number and the end of the path was followed by the famous composer Gustav Mahler, who also suddenly left the world after the ninth symphony, which was given the subtitle "Song of the Earth". Schoenberg believed that those who write the 9th symphony are too close to the limits of the other world. Superstition still exists, and many composers are afraid of it.
• The conductor was conducted by the conductor and conductor I. Umlacf, known in those days. Beethoven stood nearby and showed the pace. The orchestrants did not learn the new work very well, but even a careless attitude to the innovative work did not affect the audience, they were delighted with the premiere.
• Part IV, namely “Ode to Joy” is used as the “Anthem of the European Union”.

• The total time of writing from concept to implementation was approximately 15 years.
• The writing is dedicated to the King of Prussia Friedrich Wilhelm. The royal person did not appear at the premiere and the most expensive seats in the concert hall remained empty, so the composer’s performance did not pay off, and the fee was negligible.
• When developing a CD, Phillips specially increased its size so that audio recordings of a symphonic cycle were placed on the media. The duration of the symphony is 74 minutes.
• By tradition, in Japan on New Year's Eve Beethoven's symphony is performed.

Content

The Ninth Symphony (d-moll) is the crown of the Enlightenment. Classicity is manifested primarily in the traditionally verified cyclic form, consisting of four parts:

1. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso (d-moll)
2. Molto vivace (d-moll)
3. Adagio molto e cantabile (B-dur)
4. Presto (d-moll - D-dur)

The selected keys are not random. D minor is seen as the personification of grief and sorrow. Gradually, the tension is removed by the appearance of B-flat major, which marks and symbolizes Faith, Hope and Love, as the support of everything in this world. The grandiose composition ends with rejoicing in D major, which is customarily related to the notions of joy, happiness and life.

Beethoven's innovation is the introduction of vocal music into the instrumental composition. So the classical symphony expands its own borders, gradually, gradually transforming into a cantata. Many musical researchers view Beethoven’s final work as a “mass” narrating the Old Testament. The work was composed in parallel with the solemn mass, and is connected with it by inseparable ties.

First part paints a picture of the creation of the world. The instruments sound unclear, as if the orchestra is just starting to be tuned. Quint intonations sound empty and tonal at the same time. Gradually, from the introduction, the relief, dotted theme of the main party is born. Reaching the top, she rolls into the intonation abyss. Vague, stormy mood continues to grow. There is an internal struggle, the clouds are gathering, the texture is compacted. Like a ray of light pierces a side batch. The world of lyrics contains future material for creating the theme of joy. The culmination of the first part is an affirmative and clear final batch. It is a variant of the main party, but a substantially transformed, filled with force of overcoming, determination. Towering, the final party rolls down to spontaneous and unchecked development. Everything is changing, transforming. The struggle and the process of formation are accompanied by bright climaxes and rapid recessions. The moods of the codes are ambiguous: the mourning march against the background of a gamma descending along the chromatism, symbolizing the katabasis figure, is replaced by the main theme, which affirmatively ends the part.

The second part of It is a scherzo unique to Beethoven’s work. It feels endless pulsation of life. Music draws life as a happy being in paradise. The basis for the part is the genre-everyday thematism, which has a support on the song and dance intonations. Unusual interpretation of the traditional three-part form, as sonata. Polyphonicity is most clearly manifested in the form of fugato. The figurative world of the part prepares the appearance of the theme of joy.

The third part - this is surprisingly deep, thoughtful music. The philosophy of the slow part opens the soul world to the listener. There is a bright, architectural atmosphere that fundamentally rests on two enlightened themes. The first theme seems endless. It develops variationally, and each variation carries special refinement and refinement. The second theme seems to float, spinning in a waltz. The dance is gradually weakening, and already in the code it breaks in sharply, disrupting the harmony, the fanfare sound. This is a reminder that perfection has not yet been achieved. The idea of ​​unification has not yet materialized.

Original implementation finals. Beethoven seems to be trying to briefly reproduce the material of the previous parts. Fanfare horror, opening the curtain of the fourth part - as a symbol of rock, the ghost of the introduction of the first part, he continues the scherzo intonations of the second and comes to the sweet sound of adagio. Finally, the material being prepared for the topic of Joy is being developed. The light and transparent sound of the wood-wind instruments is established and gradually turns into a more juicy and low timbre of the cellos. Chain variation grows with a geometric progression, leading it to a climax. But the voice was broken by the invasion of fanfare of horror. The theme of joy is set out in the bass solo part. The picture of the celebration is picked up by a resounding chorus. The theme “Embrace millions!”, Which in the process will be masterly in terms of polyphony combined with the theme of joy, sounds particularly bright.

It is no coincidence that the introduction of the text into a symphony, because in the beginning was the word. Like art, the word helps unite people. Cantata "Ode to Joy"included in the symphonic cycle, it is a large-scale hymn of the human spirit.

The use of music in the cinema

The ninth symphony combines polar affects. So the emotional intensity can be replaced by calm and peace, heroicness gives way to lyrical moments, secular music by definition has pronounced features of religious music. The versatility of the musical material allows you to create an atmosphere peculiar to the art of cinema. This determines and explains the popularity of 9 symphonies in contemporary films.

• The Simpsons (2017)
• Paper House (2017)
• Ghost Story (2017)
• Sherlock (2017)
• Young criminals (2016)
• Alchemist's Cookbook (2016)
• Christmas (2015)
• The Fang Family (2015)
• The Lady in the Van (2015)
• Trap for the cast (2015)
• The Experimenter (2015)
• Supernatural (2012)
• Book of Life (2014)
• John Wick (2014)
• Orsay Embankment (2013)
• Song for Marion (2012)

In his youthful years, young Beethoven seriously talked about how he sought to serve humanity with his art. At a more adult age, when many philosophical works were studied, the composer came to the conclusion that art unites. But he didn’t need words, everything was said in music. The Ninth Symphony is a message to humanity. This music is eternal. Beethoven's art was to serve the people. Passing through time, his music became the bearer of the ideal idea of ​​equality and brotherhood of millions of people.