Symphony No. 5 in C Minor

Perhaps the most recognisable four-note motif in all of classical music—da-da-da-dah—launches Beethoven’s compact and punchy Fifth Symphony, first heard in Vienna in 1808. Beethoven is rumoured to have described the motif to his biographer as “Fate knocking at the door”, and indeed some hear the work as a challenge to Fate. It’s easy to see why, with its glorious finale that ends in a starburst of C major (the work is primarily scored in C minor). The Fifth’s ideas, however, go further than that—the French Revolution had made a great impression on the 18-year-old composer with its message of liberty, and Beethoven hints at a Revolutionary song in this symphony, a work he originally intended as a follow-up to No. 3, the “Eroica" Symphony. The music of the Fifth itself takes us on a wild journey, the coiled tension of the first movement "Allegro con brio" passing to a slow movement of seemingly carefree mood. The third-movement “Scherzo" rebuilds that tension before one of the most arresting and mysterious bridge passages in all music takes us to the finale, which bursts with its Revolutionary instrumentation of contrabassoon, trombone and piccolo, all adding a unique flavour. Even a poor performance will leave your heart beating faster. A great one, however, will change you forever.