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Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125

“Choral”18241 h 5 min

This guide follows Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 “Choral” (1824) in four parts: Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso (sonata form), Molto vivace (sonata form), Adagio molto e cantabile (theme and variations) and Finale: Presto (theme and variations).

Recording: Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan

I Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso · Sonata form · 23 sections

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AnalysisComments
  1. I , · Sonata form
  2. II · Sonata form
  3. III e · Theme and variations
  4. IV: · Theme and variations
I , Sonata form0:15–15:08

, , in D minor. It opens with bare open fifths (A and E) in quiet strings, which some listeners hear as an orchestra tuning, and the gathers out of them. There is no repeat. Then the starts. At the the fortissimo in D major instead of D minor. The is large, taking nearly a quarter of the .

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  23. : ii
II Sonata form15:20–25:41

in D minor, a that opens with a fugue. Beethoven marks passages ritmo di tre battute and ritmo di quattro battute, rhythm of three and rhythm of four , so the triple- music is heard in groups of three or four . The timpani have moments in the . The is in D major and in duple , and it brings the first of the trombones. The after it, .

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  11. : 3rd
  12. : 4th
  13. : 5th
  14. : 3rd
  15. : 4th
  16. : 5th
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III e Theme and variations25:54–41:18

e in B-flat major, in variations on two themes. The slow, serene main melody alternates with a gentler idea in triple in D major, and each in decorated form. The follows the , then come the first , the second and the . Fanfares interrupt the last , and a horn has a prominent .

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  4. : B
  5. B
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  7. I: A′: A1
  8. I:
  9. I: B′
  10. B1
  11. I:
  12. C
  13. II: A″: A2
  14. II: C: D
  15. II: C
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IV: Theme and variations41:32–1:05:02

in D major. Low-string recitatives the first three movements in turn. Then the cellos and basses introduce the Ode to Joy , and three instrumental variations follow. The baritone enters at the start of the second part with words by Beethoven himself, and the chorus takes up Schiller's poem. Later come a in Turkish style ( 7), a , a and a fast .

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  3. : of I
  4. : of II
  5. : of III
  6. : Ode to Joy
  7. Part 1: Ode to Joy
  8. Part 1: 1
  9. Part 1: 2
  10. Part 1: 3
  11. Part 1:
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  17. Part 2: 6
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  20. Part 3: 7
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  22. Part 3: 8
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  24. Part 3: 9
  25. Part 3:
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  28. : 10
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  30. : Part 1
  31. : Part 2

Section boundaries in music are not always sharp; a transition may be felt over a pause or a held chord.

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In the catalog

Ludwig van BeethovenSymphoniesClassical periodD minorSonata formTheme and variations

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