My all-time favorite symphony is one that I had to "dissect" in music theory class in high school. It's Beethoven's 6th (The Pastoral). The thing that amazed me the most about this symphony was that, not only did Ludwig compose the 5th and the 6th more-or-less simultaneously (think of how diametrically opposed those two works are), but that he was deaf!

Alot of folk claim this work is "impressionistic" due to the feelings and emotions it stirs. But it does follow all the rules of composing, and MANY classical works stirs feelings and emotions. I suppose it IS impressionistic to the point that it's Beethoven's impression of a pastoral scene.

Beethoven is an unusual case. As I understand it, he's considered to be both a Classical and a Romantic composer. Certainly he spans both eras.

At first glance it looked like you said, "Certainly he spans both ears". Being deaf, that might've been an advantage!

I suppose the reason so many people thought of Beethoven as an “impressionist” was that this symphony was one of the few that he gave NAMES to the movements. (rather than the just the tempo)

1. Awakening of Happy Feelings Upon Arriving in the Country
2. By the Brook
3. Peasant’s Merrymaking
4. The Storm
5. Happy and Thankful Feelings After the Storm

Beethoven really did cross the boundaries between classical and romantic orchestral music. Many reckon his 3rd symphony ("Eroica") was his most influential piece, and it does show - the first movement is in three beats in a bar, for instance, and contains odd harmonies that wouldn't feel out of place in a more modern piece.

My favourite Beethoven symphony, however, is his seventh. I'm not sure why - critics describe the final movement as "one man's descent into madness", which I suppose it is: it's a b*gger to play, anyway...

Call me pedestrian, but I like the Beethoven's 9th, followed by the 6th.

Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique is also one of my favorites.

However, these examples aside, I tend more towards Baroque (and early Classical) music.

I enjoy the cerebrality (is that a word?) of Bach. I enjoy Vivaldi. I also like the Royal Water Music and Royal Fireworks Music.

I enjoy Berlioz also (a recent discovery of mine) along with Richard Wagner. I keep his "Ride of the Valkeries" near my work-desk whenever I need a non-alcoholic "pick-me-up".

Re: Pick-me-ups.

I'm afraid I go to RockNRoll for that (specifically ZZTop). However, sometimes Beethoven's 9th does it for me too... but I get the funniest looks when I'm conducting the final chorale with my headphones on!

The Classical piece "March Militare" (can't remember the composer) will also give as much of an afternoon pick-me-up as "Sharp Dressed Man".

I have a confession to make.... I work at the library until after midnight and on the way home I drive on the highway.... I often roll down my window and blast "Ride of the Valkeries"... Oh, Im so ashamed!

I once saw a Car&Driver article that said you should play "Ride of the Valkyries" when you are lowering the top of a Mercedes 450 SLK.

I drive a Nissan Sentra.

Call me pedestrian, but I like the Beethoven's 9th

I was in Austria a month ago... took a picture of the outside of the apartment in Baden where Beethoven composed most of this symphony. (The man loved to move around. Had something like 80 places of residence in Europe.)

I'm a Bach man, myself, though I tend more towards shorter pieces than symphonies. And Berlioz is important to me, at least, because he did some interesting things with percussion. (About *time* we started getting some respect!)

As for me, I like Beethoven's pieces - the 5th symphony is probably the most technically brilliant symphony ever and is actually the first symphony I've ever played in, and my opinion on his 7th has been said above.

Personally, however, I'm more of a late 19th/early 20th Century man, such as Elgar, Shostakovich, Richard Strauss, Rachmaninov, etc. Elgar's 1st symphony is really stirring and oddly patriotic (if you're British), and Shostakovich's 5th symphony always leaves a shudder up my spine... Rachmaninov's 2nd symphony, however, has good memories for me...

Speaking of Beethoven, has anyone noticed how the start of the third movement in Dvorak's 9th Symphony ("From The New World") sounds remarkably similar to the beginning of the second movement in Beethoven's 9th Symphony ("Choral"), which was written nearly three-quarters of a century earlier than "New World"?

No, but I'll have to go back and listen again.

No ... but has anyone noticed that the Rolling Stones tune "Can't Get No Satisfaction" has the same iambic pentameter as Richard Strauss's Chit-Chat Polka? (jus jokin' ... nyuk-nyuk-nyuk ... [poke!] OW!!)

My favourite Beethoven symphony, however, is his seventh. I'm not sure why - critics describe the final movement as "one man's descent into madness", which I suppose it is: it's a b*gger to play, anyway...

Ooh, I love Beethoven's Seventh! A friend of mine says Beethoven symphonies are the opposite of Star Trek movies: the odd-numbered ones are the best. ;-)

I sing but don't play any orchestral instruments, so the only symphony I've ever performed in is Mahler's Third. It was absolutely wonderful, even if the choral part is all of three and a half minutes (and we had to stand for the entire final movement).

I'd love to sing in Beethoven's Ninth one day, too...

Ooh, I love Beethoven's Seventh! A friend of mine says Beethoven symphonies are the opposite of Star Trek movies: the odd-numbered ones are the best. ;-)

Except for the Sixth, just as STIII violates the rule.

I'll never forgive Disney for inextricably cementing Beethoven's Sixth and the picture of those darn unicorns.

Dang! I meant Pegases! (Why don't they have a "D'oh!" button on these pages........)

The odd-numbered Beethoven symphonies are very good quality, and naturally very difficult to play, though I can't speak for Symphony no.1. And yes, six is nice too, but not as hard as the odd-numbered ones.
I've never, ever had the opportunity to play or sing in any of the Mahler symphonies - I would just kill to do so!

This is probably not the right board, but the Sailor Monn board struck out. I've also tried the thing on the first page (ask an expert). I've also gotten no response from cartoonnetwork.com I'll copy my post from the Sailor Moon board:

By William Berry on Monday, November 19, 2001 - 07:50 pm:


I've got a question and I don't know where to ask it. Sailor Neptune plays something by Beethoven on the violin. My daughter likes it and this seems like a good "in" for classical music. What is the song?


Daddy was washing dishes and cartoon network stoped playing Sailor Moon repeats. Anyone know it off hand?

Tchaikovsy's 6th (Pathetique) is no doubt his best.

Beethoven's 3rd, 5th, & 9th Symphonies are major kudos.

Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony is great!

Dvorak's 9th (The New World) {Old #5} is fantastic!

Oh yeah...Beethoven's 6th is very good too!