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Classics Explained: BEETHOVEN - Symphony No. 6, 'Pastoral'

An exploration of Beethoven's Symphony no. 6 narrated by Jeremy Siepmann

Jeremy Siepmann (reader)

Classics Explained: BEETHOVEN - Symphony No. 6, 'Pastoral'

Classics Explained: BEETHOVEN - Symphony No. 6, 'Pastoral'

An exploration of Beethoven's Symphony no. 6 narrated by Jeremy Siepmann

Jeremy Siepmann (reader)

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Contents and tracklist

Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 ‘Pastoral' - I. Allegro ma non troppo
Work length51:46
On Beethoven's Openings
Track length1:26
Opening phrase of the 'Pastoral': ood, Symbolism and Musical Function
Track length1:44
Musical Acorns: the outline of melody; the shape of a question
Track length0:42
The 'question' in the 'Pastoral' repeated...
Track length0:04
...and answered
Track length0:12
The opening phrase ends on a note full of pregnant expectation
Track length0:19
Starting with a stop
Track length0:36
The rhythmic profile of the opening phrase; a two-part construction
Track length0:52
Phrase One, Part One
Track length0:09
Phrase One, Part Two
Track length0:06
The properties of rhythmic ambiguity; the 'question' of Phrase One answered
Track length1:03
Phrase Two: from meander to march
Track length0:27
The makings of a conversation: contrast and variation
Track length0:47
Repetition as a major factor, but it's never mere repetition; each time something new is added
Track length0:33
From soft to loud and back again; instrumental enrichment from horns and double-basses
Track length0:18
Mega-repetition: violins play exactly the same little fragment ten times in a row
Track length0:29
But no two repetitions are quite the same; varieties of contrast
Track length0:34
More variation: pitch rises; violins joined frist by the clarinet, then by the oboe
Track length0:19
Return to opening idea, but with new instrumentation and articulation
Track length0:25
Clarinets, horns, bassoons and flutes now join expansive variation
Track length0:49
'New' insistent rhythm derived from the first four notes of the piece
Track length0:09
With the dawn chorus, a whole forest is waking up; feelings of rapture
Track length0:36
First violins play a derivative of the opening figure, joined by wind and strings
Track length0:32
Sudden change of key, from the home key (tonic) to the dominant
Track length0:30
Arrival at the hightly contrasting second main theme
Track length0:55
Unusual properties of second main theme
Track length2:15
Rhythmic clash between simultaneous groups of three beats and groups of two
Track length1:09
winds fall selent as the violins and violas interrupt with a new theme
Track length0:30
Winds answer with the same morse-like rhythm but at half the speed
Track length0:51
Crescendo leads to strings' acceleration of the pace with no increase in tempo
Track length1:05
Beginning of coda, directly based on morse-like rhythm of the main theme
Track length0:22
Strings reiterate small fragment of the new theme 13 times in a row
Track length0:48
A simple, rising violin phrase leads to a repeat of the Exposition
Track length0:18
The nature and function of the Development section in sonata form; 'harmonic' rhythm explained
Track length2:22
The nature of harmonic rhythm illustrated
Track length0:35
A typically Beethovenian exercise in the frustration of expectation
Track length0:38
Repetitiousness and magic effected largely through instrumental colour
Track length0:42
Then come four, almost identical bars
Track length0:08
Even greater magic, with sudden switch of key and tone colour
Track length0:28
Entire Development section up to this point
Track length1:55
The Development continued
Track length1:23
Increased unease and suspense as harmonic rhythm accelerates
Track length2:03
Arrival at the point of Recapitulation; back to the beginning, as a reminder
Track length1:50
Beginning of Recapitulation
Track length0:50
More Beethovenian frustrations of expectations which he himself has just set up
Track length1:01
Harmonic rhythm speeds up, giving the impression of an accent on every beat
Track length0:34
Prevailing mood restored; new theme from clarinets and bassoons
Track length0:28
Violins and violas take up theme; horns, cellos, double-basses accompany
Track length0:48
A hush falls, followed by a return of the movement's most familiar tag in strings
Track length0:58
Clarinet takes up the running triplet figures of the main closing theme
Track length0:32
First violins take up the opening phrase again, accompanied by double-basses
Track length0:37
Beethoven slips in one last surprise; cue to complete movement
Track length0:59
First movement (complete)
Track length11:01
Beethoven: Second Movement: Scene by the Brook
Work length38:09
General introduction; the birth of a melody
Track length1:59
Brook music quickens; syncopated horns; theme changes hands; evocation of birdsong
Track length1:19
The 'motto' theme introduced by violins and treated to round-like overlappings
Track length0:52
Transitional 'bridge' theme sets off for new key group. But is it? And does it?
Track length0:39
Will he, or won't he? Beethoven keeps us guessing
Track length1:09
The run-up to the Second Group
Track length1:14
Arrival at the Second Group; but where is the actual Second Subject?
Track length0:39
A new tune is introduced by the bassoon
Track length0:38
Tune is repeated three times
Track length1:00
...which the full orchestra now takes up in varied form
Track length0:45
Theme carried by flutes and first violins in a charmingly waltz-like development
Track length0:48
A reminder of precedent
Track length0:14
Back to the prevailing triple-metre with violins, bassoons and flutes
Track length0:16
Another reminder of precedent...
Track length0:16
...and a cue to some unexpected departures
Track length0:38
The transformational magic of Beethoven's 'tone-painting' - and a new varation
Track length0:50
Conversation of clarinet, flute and oboe on the way to the Development
Track length0:43
Harmonic movement emphasised by violins; oboe takes up the First Subject
Track length0:38
Flute and oboe discuss the First Subject, before arriving together at the Transition
Track length1:04
Gains in volume and intensity lead to a new key-change
Track length0:47
More thematic transformation through the agency of tone-colour
Track length1:11
Harmonic fluideity - instability - as the central engine of the Development section
Track length1:40
Harmonic instability, thematic dissolution increase, then lessen with approach of Recapitulation
Track length1:41
Recap. and transformation: key and material are right, but what a change of presentation!
Track length1:29
Just when we know what's coming, Beethoven changes the rules (or at least the harmony)
Track length0:53
Transformation by reorchestration; switch to long sustained chords; then everything stops
Track length1:20
The silence is broken by voices of nightingale (flute), quail (oboe) and cuckoo (clarinet)
Track length0:40
First violins bring back motto theme
Track length0:12
Cue to complete movement on CD 2
Track length0:32
Second movement (complete)
Track length12:03
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 ‘Pastoral' - III. Allegro
Work length14:40
Beethoven and the Scherzo: an introduction; Part One of opening phrase taken by the strings
Track length1:32
Immediate response; Part One is answered by a march more singing, continuous legato
Track length0:23
Entire orchestra gives out opening theme, this time fortissimo and with powerful accents
Track length1:06
A mustical ball game. The contrast of this and the first two movements could hardly be greater
Track length0:33
After quietly teasing suspense, Beethoven mocks village band, first the oboe, then the bassoon
Track length1:18
Clarinet joins in, then horn takes the tune - the dance no longer boisterous but lyrical
Track length0:48
Strings sweep the village musicians aside and hurtle us into the new, boisterous 'Trio' section
Track length0:46
The air is alive with the sound of (mock) bagpipes, tambourines and fifes
Track length1:00
Coda; begins as the movement itself begins, but soon diverges in harmony and instrumentation
Track length1:18
Original layout compressed; order of events is changed nd Beethoven springs a big surprise
Track length0:42
Third movement (complete)
Track length5:14
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 ‘Pastoral' - IV. Allegro (Sturm)
Work length15:03
Unparalled portrait of nature's power over humanity, with some stupendous orchestration
Track length3:05
Self-generating form and terror of total unpredictability; 'anxiety motif' from the violins
Track length1:34
The 'lashing rain' motif - downward-driving arpeggios from the first violins and violas
Track length0:36
The 'lightning' motif, and its recurrnece later in the movement
Track length0:22
'Rain' motif, derived from descending scale pattern from the violins at the outest
Track length0:13
Shivering tremolandos from the strings and increasingly eerie harmonies from the wind
Track length0:18
Steady crescendo in strings; terrifying, downward spelling-out of chords in the violins
Track length1:37
Extremes of dynamic contrasts; the unsettling, disturbing, undermining effects of chromaticism
Track length1:02
Abandonment of melody, and most traces even of rhythm; sustained, discordant harmony
Track length0:20
Storm dispersed, the sun reappears, bathing sodden earth below with its life-giving rays
Track length1:52
Cue to complete preformance of Fourth Movement
Track length0:09
Fourth movement (complete)
Track length3:55
Beethoven: Fifth Movement: Shepherd's Song - Happy and Thankful Feelings After the Storm
Work length33:22
'Yodelling' figure from clarinet, then horn, the violins, who introduce the main theme
Track length0:59
Details of instrumental magic in the interplay of horns, cellos, clarinets and bassoons
Track length1:06
Main theme heard three times in a row - and yet never the same way twice
Track length1:06
Now we get the whole orchestra, playing full out, with violins all double-stopping
Track length0:36
Transition to the next section, based on the last two notes of the main theme
Track length0:43
The rhythmic basis of new transition theme, first in violas, then takes up by first violins
Track length0:38
Another rhythmic details of extended transition comes increasingly into the foreground
Track length0:29
...and is then heard in expanded version, taken in sequence by the strings, from the top down
Track length0:51
New phrase, introduced by violins, brings us resoundingly back to the opening material
Track length1:13
Main theme, re-orchestrated; unexpected drift into another key and a new, gently flowing theme
Track length2:15
Hints of a return to main theme; long 'pedal point'; running commentary from the violins
Track length0:58
Main theme returns, but significantly altered, and not entirely intact
Track length0:37
Running commentary now heard in the middle, with alternating pizzicatos both above and below
Track length0:24
Part Three of main theme given to entire orchestra, leading to final appearance of Theme two
Track length1:21
Extended coda; overlapping variations of main theme, rather in the manner of a round
Track length2:09
Suddenly the scene changes. A variation of the 'running commentary' cited in Tracks 34 and 36
Track length0:51
The crowning glory, as the Shepherd's Song of Thanksgiving takes on a 'heavenly' magnificence
Track length2:10
Cue into complete performance of Fifth Movement through the 'gateway' of the Fourth
Track length1:09
Fourth and Fifth movements (complete)
Track length13:47
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