Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony no. 9

Chapter 6 begins with an Introduction that discusses the exceptional popularity of Beethoven’s final symphony. An historical overview of all nine symphonies follows, with emphasis on unique qualities, the genesis of the Ninth, and factors of its premiere. Other historical information includes biographical material about Friedrich von Schiller, his poem “An die Freude,” other musical settings of the poem, and Beethoven’s choice and arrangement of verses. Musical discussion of Beethoven’s Ninth focuses on the formal structures of all movements, the relationship of the first three movements to the fourth, and extra-musical characteristics. Performance practice topics include tempo based on character, metric accentuation, orchestration, and disposition of performers on stage.