Beethoven Symphony No. 8 in F major

He wrote this right after finishing No. 7, in about four months in the summer of 1812 in the spa town of Teplitz. Beethoven called it "my little Symphony in F" to distinguish it from the long "Pastoral," No. 6, which is also in F major.

At the premiere on February 27, 1814, it was played on the same day as the hugely popular No. 7, and the applause was lukewarm. A story goes that when asked why the Eighth was less popular, Beethoven answered, "Because it's so much better." It's a short, humorous piece, but unlike a typical symphony, its last movement carries the most weight.