DAILY DOSE of BEETHOVEN (November 10, 2020)
Beethoven twice referred to his Seventh Symphony as "one of his best". But even though the second movement became an instant hit, and the entire symphony had repeat performances, there were those, even among his friends, who simply could not understand it.
If the first movement was a cause of such confusion, the fourth was even more so. It has been characterized as a "whirling dance", "Bacchanalian fury", "strange and furious," and even as the product of a drunken state.
We hear something else in this movement. As mentioned before, the tide was beginning to turn against Napoleon at the time that the symphony was composed. The fourth movement’s exuberance has a joyous and victorious quality to it. It also has a quality of military with the brass and timpani. However, many performances take the tempo way too quickly and convey the idea of a Bacchanalian revel. Thus the rhythmic incisiveness of the main theme in the strings is lost. "Allegro con Brio" means "happy, and with spirit", not necessarily "faster". The movement is in duple time, and Beethoven puts an “sfz” on the second beat of the opening measures for the strings, which is matched by the timpani. At too fast a tempo, it becomes a blur. So, we chose a somewhat slower version.
The main theme of the movement comes from one of Beethoven's Irish song settings, "Save me from the Grave and Wise”, composer in 1810. Although the words to the song were not set until after Beethoven composed the music, he was informed of the spirit of the song. By 1813, when he was composing the symphony, the words might have become known to him. They certainly fit Beethoven's irreverend spirit.
Save me from the grave and wise
Save me from the grave and wise,
For vainly would I tax my spirit,
Be the thing that I despise,
And rival all their stupid merit.
On! My careless laughing heart,
O dearest Fancy let my find thee,
Let me but from sorrow part,
And leave this moping behind me.
Refrain
Speak ye wiser than the wise,
Breathe aloud your welcome measure,
Youthful Fancy well can prize
The words that counsel love and pleasure.
Is it merry look, or speech,
Or bounding step that thus displeases?
Go and graver movements teach
To yon light goss'mer on the breezes:
Go where breathes the opening spring,
And chide the flowers for gaily blowing,
Tell the linnet not to sing
In jocund May, when noon is glowing.
Hence with wisdom, dull and drear,
And welcome folly at a venture:
Cease my song, a sound I hear,
The planxty comes, the dancers enter.
In yon throng, if I should see
Some gallant, giddy, gay adviser,
Who trough life might counsel me,
He indeed might make me wiser.
You will hear the main theme of the fourth movement in the piano part at 0:38 in this recording of that song (Beethoven ‐ 12 Irish Songs WoO 154, No 8, “Save Me From the Grace and Wise”)
https://youtu.be/x7GAVDjWHoo?list=TLPQMDgxMTIwMjA09vdB5b1Whg
Here is the fourth movement of the symphony:
If you wish, you can follow the faster version with the score, at 26:37: https://youtu.be/JMrm9jEo_Pk