Beethoven · Ludwig van Beethoven
Beethoven Symphony No. 2 in D major
A cheerful piece written in the year his hearing failed
- Key
- D major
- Composed
- 1802
- Premiere
- 1803 Vienna
- Duration
- about 32 min
- Movements
- 4 movements
- Instrumentation
- Woodwinds 2·2·2·2 · Brass 2·2·0·0 · Timpani · Strings
The story behind this piece
In 1802, as his hearing steadily failed, Beethoven stayed in Heiligenstadt, near Vienna, and wrote this piece. Though it came from his hardest period, the music is bright and full of mischief.
It premiered on April 5, 1803, at the Theater an der Wien, alongside the Piano Concerto No. 3 and the oratorio Christ on the Mount of Olives. Critics at the time grumbled that he was chasing novelty, and they were startled by the playfulness of the scherzo and finale.
What to listen for
- Introduction to the 1st movement: a long, serious slow introduction. Partway through it darkens into D minor
- 3rd movement: the first time Beethoven used a scherzo instead of a minuet in a symphony
- Opening of the 4th movement: it begins with a short, hiccup-like motif up high and a gurgling figure down low
Listen · Score
Credits