Ninth Symphony Intermezzo

DAILY DOSE of BEETHOVEN (April 26, 2020)

Ninth Symphony Intermezzo

Before getting to Part 5, we wish to answer a question that some readers may be asking after reading Part 4.

"Why on earth would Beethoven need to test out such a simple tune, as a scientific hypothesis?"

It is easier to assume that Beethoven wrote the tune first, then built a symphony on it. Not so! The complex counterpoint of the symphony and the “Ode to Joy” song co-evolved. As one changed, so did the other. Beethoven's sketches demonstrate that clearly. When you compare the finished product to the sketches, the “Ode to Joy” does not seem so simple as one might think. It might be better described as elementary, rather than simple. As such, it is a microcosm that invokes a macrocosm. Simple statements are useful, and necessary, but they should not be simple-minded. Instead, they should open up a world of thought.

The included 2 minute audio, of Beethoven's early sketches, should make us happy that he did not stop with them!

https://soundcloud.com/user-385773006/odesketchesb