Beethoven · Ludwig van Beethoven
Beethoven Symphony No. 1 in C major
From the very first chord: "Wait, is that the wrong key?"
- Key
- C major
- Composed
- 1800
- Duration
- about 25 min
- Movements
- 4 movements
- Instrumentation
- Woodwinds 2·2·2·2 · Brass 2·2·0·0 · Timpani · Strings
The story behind this piece
Beethoven wrote his first symphony in 1799–1800, a few years after arriving in Vienna. He premiered it on April 2, 1800, at the Burgtheater in Vienna, at a concert he organized himself. That day the program also included a Mozart symphony, part of Haydn's The Creation, and the premiere of Beethoven's Septet.
It's a piece in C major, but the first chord isn't C major. It starts from other chords and gradually finds its way to C major. Listening today, you might not notice, but people at the time whispered that it was bold.
What to listen for
- First chords of the 1st movement: it starts away from the tonic chord and finds its way home (C major)
- 3rd movement: it's called a "minuet," but it's actually a fast, energetic scherzo
- Opening of the 4th movement: the violins hesitantly extend a scale one note at a time, then burst into a fast theme
Listen · Score
Credits