CONCERT REVIEW

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Montana State University, Great Falls College *

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101

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Arts Humanities

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Jan 9, 2024

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docx

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Ali VanDyke Enjoyment of Music Concert Review Due: 3/3/23 Symphonies are not simply written or thought of in a day. Symphonies are a work of extreme art that many people study their whole life and do not grasp the full meaning of what a symphony is to a person. The reality is that a symphony is different for every person who listens to it or writes it. It has many different meanings and ways of expression according to the writers. They often show emotions and stories through their music which only the music composer would know. This gives the art a comforting feeling to many as if they can openly share their emotions with the comfort of knowing that many people will not think of it the same as they did when they wrote it. Although, each and every listener can be taken away from the harsh warps of society and everything that is entails. They can relax and flow with the music imagining a different place and details. They can escape from reality and encounter an adventure from anywhere. Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 is an extraordinary piece of art that is well-known around the world. Beethoven’s Symphony is not just remarkable for the happiness it brings the audience while listening to it, but it was the first symphony to incorporate vocal soloists and chorus into what until then has been simply an instrumental genre. Beethoven to a risk to break the rules of music by adding in vocalists instead of purely instrumental. This risk paid off immensely as it made history in music. While people got to enjoy the change and embrace it

into the future of change. This symphony brings joy to all the listeners who listen, it is equivalent to the anticipation of a child as they await to open their Christmas presents early Christmas morning. A symphony broke into four different enlightening movements. The first movement(Allegro in Sonata form) is dramatic and powerful, which goes against the classical era of the time. The second movement(Scherzo in D minor) is a lively and energetic dance-like movement that contrasts with the first movement’s serious and brooding character. The third movement (Adagio) is a lyrical and introspective Adagio that features a beautiful melody played by the cellos. The fourth movement(Ode to joy) is a joyful and triumphant finale that features the vocal soloists and choir. The melody of the Ode to Joy has become one of the most recognizable tunes in all of the classical music and is often used to represent joy and celebration. This symphony reminds me of the 1850s when people would dance in ballrooms with big ball gowns and suits. As they would dance and the girl’s dresses would sway back and forth as they lightly move their feet to the soft playing of the music as the men would lead them. Only to get faster and more aggressive with their feet when it turns to a louder and faster pace. The way the dancers feel each other’s emotions as they drift across and all around the ballroom sharing the floor with many other dancing partners who were all embracing the music through laughter and dance. The smiles that they glance at each other and the rush of emotions as you touch one another and lean closer in and farther away. The anticipation of not knowing what your partner will do next, but the excitement of your feet following theirs in elegance. The talk of the people who watch the others dance. The elegant food and drinks that were served all fit with the theme of the party along with the music picked. This is what Beethoven’s Symphony

No.9 reminds me of and sometimes I wish I could go back in time to be able to encounter such a time as this. A time when music was much more valued and respected by all. Then you get towards the fourth movement where he introduces the song of “Ode to Joy” by the vocal soloists. This ends the song with embrace and excitement as you hear the singers’ voices. The way the dancing would change and the people shocked as they hear voices in orchestral work, but go along with it as it brought them such joy. Beethoven wrote this symphony around the idea of Enlightenment he had always wanted to incorporate enlightenment into his music, and he finally did during this symphony and the listeners did acknowledge this. One reason that Beethoven was deeply influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment, which emphasized reason, liberty, and equality. Beethoven was also a great admirer of Friedrich Schiller, the German poet, and philosopher, who wrote the text of the “Ode to Joy” that is used in the fourth movement of the symphony. The “Ode to Joy” celebrates the ideals of brotherhood and unity among all people, and Beethoven was inspired to set this text to music as a testament to these ideals. Another reason why Beethoven wrote Symphony No. 9 was that he was deaf by the time he composed it, and he had withdrawn from public life. However, he was still driven to create new music, and he saw this symphony as his ultimate masterpiece. He poured his heart and soul into the composition, and it is considered one of the greatest works of music ever written. Beethoven wrote Symphony No.9 as a way to push the boundaries of what was possible in orchestral music. He was known for his innovative use of musical form and harmony, and he wanted to explore new ways of combining orchestral and vocal music. The inclusion of vocal soloists and choir in the final movement of the symphony was a bold and groundbreaking move, and it paved the way for future composers to

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