Beethoven's 6th Symphony Interpretation

Beethoven’s 6th Essay

Ludwig van Beethoven’s 6th Symphony is one that will be regarded as a masterpiece for years and years to come due to Beethoven’s ability in just five movements to convey emotions ranging from love, excitement, joy, and even fear. Beethoven was known for his love of nature, and makes it very evident through his musical elements such as texture, contour, harmony, and more. Along with sheet music, Beethoven wrote program notes for each movement giving a broad overview of what is happening in the symphony. This story is the best fit for visualizing Beethoven’s 6th Symphony not only because it aligns perfectly with his program notes, but also because the story is about nature, the love for it, and the danger it sometimes brings our way.

The story begins in the first movement with a group of friends arriving to their campground after a long and tiring hike to reach their destination. Instantly they are all full of “cheerful feelings on arrival in the countryside”, as stated in Beethoven’s notes. As the movement begins, the violins and celli combine to create a soothing consonant melody while the teenagers look about and attempt to take in the beauty of the scenery around them. The violin tremolo comes in at (00:20) as the campers decide to drop all the equipment and run around with excitement. Sarah, one of the campers, points out a blue jay chirping in a tree (00:32) just a few feet away from them. They all turn, and as the flutes get louder and louder, the tempo picks up, and the violins join in, one bird after another begins to grace their presence with song (00:45). With so much joy and excitement, John begins to chase Sarah in the grass fields as portrayed by the violin triplets at (01:56).

 The friends continue to wonder and explore the countryside and cannot seem to get enough. At (03:10), however, everybody comes to a stop as John captures their curiosity by discovering a passage in the forest. While going down the path their curiosity of where it leads only increases. As the tempo speeds up, so do they. One by one they each begin to run with excitement, and the polyphonic melodies and syncopation at (03:45) represent each friend running down the path at their own pace and determination. They eventually reach a cliff overlooking the entire landscape, and it seems as though life cannot get any better (04:05).

Hours have passed, and John and his friends have spent every second of it in nature. John finally comes to his senses and recognizes how they spent the whole day, and that setting up the tents should have been their priority. The sun starts to set, and the dissonant chromatic violins begin to rise in minor key while panic spreads throughout (00:15). The runs on the violin and sudden burst of horns come in as they start to sprint back to the campsite, only to see it is too late (00:25). The timpani is introduced for the first time, and the roaring of the clouds are heard across the land. Out of nowhere, strong and heavy rain pours down from the sky like nothing they have ever seen before. While frantically looking around for shelter, the eerie violin tremolos build, and lightning strikes down followed by gusts of rain and piercing wind (00:56).