Beethoven's Nine Symphonies (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884 edition. Excerpt: ...The next movement--Allegro, 2-4 (answering to the Trio of the Scherzo)--is said to represent a fight among the dancers, though indeed it may just as well be a rough dance: --No. 20. Wusd. The storm which bursts upon the revels and quarrels of the peasants would require a whole pamphlet for its adequate illustration and encomium. It is as distinct an addition to the usual four movements of the Symphony as the Cathedral Scene in Schumann's third or "Rhenish" Symphony is. Fortunately, it needs no commentary, but is so grandly and broadly written that the hearer has but to surrender himself to the impressions of the moment, as the splendid war of the elements rages before him. One or two favorite passages may, however, be cited, such as the following bold progression: --or this other, in which the Basses virtually go down through three octaves, with the Violins in arpeggios of double notes above them, --curiously simple means for the immense effect produced Mention has often been made of the truth to nature shown in the mysterious lull before the storm reaches its climax (where the chromatic scales are first introduced); of the picturesque beauty of the final clearing off of the tempest (First Oboe solo, with Second Violin in octaves): --and of the strip of blue sky (final scale upwards of the Flute): --It is perhaps not generally known that a distinct prediction of this storm is to be found in the "Introduction--Allegro non troppo" to Beethoven's Prometheus music (between the Overture and the "Poco Adagio, No. I "). Indeed, in some portions, the one might almost be a rough draft of the other. The fact is all the more interesting because of the rare occurrence of such repetition in this original and careful master....