Symphonies Nos. 1-5 for Piano Four Hands

by Ludwig van Beethoven

Comprising some of the most celebrated themes in all of music, Beethoven's symphonies have remained at the forefront of the Western canon for two centuries. They embody the composer's innovative notion of the symphonic ideal, and they bridge the transition between the Classical and Romantic ages--although Classical in structure, the symphonies possess a psychological element that makes them the quintessence of Romanticism.
Beethoven's first five symphonies appear here in special unabridged four-hand arrangements. These elegant versions of the composer's masterpieces have long been favorites of duet performers. Reproduced from authoritative editions, they offer pianists of an intermediate level and beyond the chance to perform and study these famous works.

208 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1985

About the author

From classical composition, well-known musical works of Ludwig van Beethoven, a partially and then totally deaf German, include symphonies, concertos, sonatas, string quartets, Masses, and one opera and form a transition to romanticism.

Ludwig van Beethoven lived of the period between the late and early eras. A mother in Bonn bore him.

People widely regard Ludwig van Beethoven as one greatest master of construction; sometimes sketched the architecture of a movement and afterward decided upon the subject matter. He first systematically and consistently used interlocking thematic devices or “germ-motives” to achieve long unity between movements. He equally remarkably used many different “source-motives”, which recurred and lent some unity to his life. He touched and made almost every innovation. For example, he diversified and even crystallized, made and brought the more elastic, spacious, and closer rondo. The natural course mostly inspired him, and liked to write descriptive songs.

Ludwig van Beethoven excelled in a great variety of genres, piano, other instrumental for violin, other chamber, and lieder.

People usually divide career of Ludwig van Beethoven into early, middle, and late periods.

In the early period, he is seen as emulating his great predecessors Haydn and Mozart, while concurrently exploring new directions and gradually expanding the scope and ambition of his work. Some important pieces from the Early period are the first and second, the first six, the first three piano, and the first twenty piano, the famous “Pathétique” and “Moonlight."

The Middle (Heroic) period began shortly after Beethoven’s personal crisis centering around his encroaching. The period is noted for large-scale expressing heroism and struggle; these many of the most famous. Middle period six (numbers 3 to 8), the fourth and fifth piano, the triple and violin, five (numbers 7 to 11), the next seven piano (the “Waldstein” and the “Appassionata”), and Beethoven’s only Fidelio.

Beethoven’s Late period began around 1816. The Late-period are characterized by intellectual depth, intense and highly personal expression, and formal innovation (for example, the Op. 131 has seven linked movements, and the Ninth Symphony adds choral forces to the orchestra in the last movement). Many people in his time period do not think these measured up to his first few, and his with J. Reinhold were frowned upon. Of this period also the Missa Solemnis, the last five, and the last five piano.