Beethoven Middle Period

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Recommended: The impact of Beethoven

Lewis Lockwood, a Beethoven devotee, he has stated that Beethoven’s middle period can be classified as “the Heroic & the Beautiful.”1 whilst adding that “some of his most magnificent works were produced during this time”2 The heroic style showcases spectacular emotion with big orchestral proportions, strong alterations to popular practiced theories, creation of large extended structures characterised by the repeated expansion and development of musical material, themes, rhythmic and melodic motifs.

One of the pieces that is often considered the beginning of the heroic style is Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major (“Eroica”). With its unpredictable harmonic turns, significant contrast and striking dissonances, it is aptly named 'Heroic'. The orchestra used, was quite typical for symphonies of the time. The only notable effort to alter the normal was the inclusion of another horn, bring it to a total of three horns. This also pushes the symphonies tone and timbre as the horn provides and pushes the heroic sound Beethoven was trying to showcase. 'Eroica' is an also tremendous symphony in terms of length. If you compare its length to early classical works, its first movement is more than half as long as Haydn's entire 22nd symphony. This aspect of length gives the symphony that much more epic tone. While the symphony is long, the themes and motifs used are comparatively short. The first theme succeeds the exposition's introductory chords and shows a fairly simple form in the cello [theme shown right]. It is simplistic because of it is only the tones of a Eb major triad and it only lasts four bars but is instantly adopted and elaborated upon for the next few phrases. This theme is exchanged through an orchestral sequence building to a tutt...

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... means it requires little harmonic activity. However, due to this energy, lightness and lack of characteristics of his definitive heroic style places it in what many call Beethoven's middle period style. This style reflects earlier works rather discovering new territories.

Works Cited

Beethoven, Ludwig van. Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major (Eroica), Op.55

Beethoven, Ludwig van. Symphony No. 4 in B-flat Major, Op.60

Beethoven, Ludwig van. Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op.55

Lockwood, Lewis. Beethoven: The Music and the Life.

Leonard Bernstein Omnibus Series: Beethoven Video

Leonard Bernstein, Young people's concerts video series

Thayer-Deiters-Riemann, The 3rd & 5th Symphonies, Vol. 3

Leon Plantinga,Romantic Music: A History of Musical Style in Nineteenth-Century Europe

www.lvbeethoven.co.uk

www.imslp.org

www.raptusassociation.org

www.expierencefestival.com

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