Beethoven Symphonies

[reith]

Which of Beethoven's Symphonies (or other major orchestral/choral works) do you like?

At the moment I'm having a thing about the 4th...doesn't seem even to resolve itself into the definite key of B flat for about 50 bars!! Otherwise, once the slow intro is over it's exhuberant (spelling?) - lovely writing for winds. I'm trying to work out why the Pastoral (6th) has been more popular. Fantasia, maybe?

I'm going to try to have a more critical listen to his big D major Mass in the coming days.

So, what are others' preferences?


I'm not basically into "classical" classical music but Beethoven seems unavoidable!

[ttw]

I like all of them. Each symphony is somewhat different. Even #1 starts off with a big dissonance which resolves neatly. The Ninth is my favorite.

I also like Beethoven's string quartets and piano sonatas.

[Composer]

Why not make this to a poll?

[reith]

I don't know much about these polls. Do they allow multiple choices if someone ticks more than one?

[JTR]

It's really hard to make a choice. I love most of his works, especially his symphonies. My favourite use to be the 2nd movement from Symphony no.9 but then I change all the time.

[Shiva]

As JTR I love most of his works. Its really hard to make a clean discision. But I do perfer his later symphonies.

[val]

My favorite among Beethoven Symphonies is the 7th.

Then, the 3rd, the 4th and the 8th.

The 9th has the best first movement Beethoven ever composed, but I never saw a great musical coherency in the 4th movement.

The 5th is fascinating but after years and years of hearing it becomes a little boring, in special de 4th movement.

The 6th has very good moments (in special the first two movements).

Regarding the 2nd I only like the slow movement, very beautiful.

And I don't like much the First.

[Composer]

I think I'll make a poll

[bassistah]

Beethoven symphs are so much fun to play on the bass. My favourite overall is 7, to listen to and play, but for the wow effect, the slow movement of 3 is just incredible. Listen to the fugue at ear bleeding volumes and you´ll see what I mean. Goosebumps!

It´s a shame that 1 and 2 aren´t played that much. They have lots of really beautiful moments in them. Ok they don´t have the power of the following works but they really show how his working methods were changing and have some exquisite writing.

[esmat]

symphonie no 5 ,9. and the great( missa solemnis op.123)