Beethoven’s 6th Symphony ‘Pastoral’
The Pastoral Symphony is a charming masterpiece which both paints a picture of nature and showcases people’s feelings towards it. Beethoven’s 6th Symphony is filled with colorful sounds, simple folk tunes, nice development, and a feeling of calm beauty.
“How happy I am to be able to walk among the shrubs, the trees, the woods, the grass and the rocks! For the woods, the trees and the rocks give man the resonance he needs,” Beethoven said in the summer of 1808. The premiere of the 6th Symphony was probably the grandest musical event in Beethoven’s life.
Pastoral is a musical feast one can listen and dissolve with nature in any circumstances. I would love to listen to this masterpiece if I were at a picnic or during long train journeys through the country side. I would also put on this music with a hot cup of coffee in my hand, staring at nature outside my window at dawn.
Below is the music analysis of “Pastoral” Conducted by Frans Brüggen (Orchestra of the 18th Century) Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbfa86bTD34
First Movement : Happy Arrival
Movement Score 15/20 (Melody score 7; Excitement score 8)
The symphony begins with a placid and cheerful movement depicting the composer’s feelings as he arrives in the country.
Starts in a very jovial almost giving a feeling of arrival of a caravan in a township. The jovial mood flows until small sift of mood.
@4:31 Music turns into a bit of suspense as if the main character is trying to figure something out, the music then again at takes on a jovial mood. There is sense of festivity and the scene in mind is filled with cheerful people. The light-suspense to jovial cycle repeats.
A joyful feeling of many happy people is awakened, and music ends with Grand build up.
Second Movement : By the Brook
Movement Score 16/20 (Melody score 9; Excitement score 7)
Music in this movement is more flowing and gives me picture of a small family in country side meadow enjoying a picnic.
Imagine a spring time scene in flowery, green meadow by a small water fall.
The movement begins with the strings playing that imitates flowing water. Melodious music continues throughout.
Toward the end @23 is a cadenza for woodwind instruments that imitates bird calls. Beethoven identified the bird species in the score as nightingale (flute), quail (oboe), and cuckoo (two clarinets). @23:46 music becomes quieter and end in slow tempo as if in indicating ending of picnic at sunset.
Third Movement : Merrymaking
Movement Score 15/20 (Melody score 7; Excitement score 8)
The third movement depicts country folk dancing and reveling.
Upbeat tempo, music builds up and generates scene of dance by a large group of happy people.
Tempo builds and repeats in small cycle as if people are dancing in fast pace competitive mood.
@27:25 is a melodious flute segment, with light fast tempo accompaniment in the background, which transitions to beginning of a huge build @28:05
@29:05 The final return of the theme conveys a riotous atmosphere with a faster tempo. The movement ends abruptly, leading without a pause into the fourth movement @29:12
Fourth Movement : Thunderstorm
Movement Score 14/20 (Melody score 5; Excitement score 9)
Continuing from third movement… The fourth movement depicts a violent thunderstorm with painstaking realism.
Intense suspenseful music, leading to rain and clear sounds of thunder. Gives an image of a nervous Maiden running to shield from storm.
Building from just a few drops of rain to a great climax @29:44 with thunder, lightning, high winds, and sheets of rain. @31:56 The storm eventually passes, with an occasional peal of thunder still heard in the distance.
Music has several segments of suspenseful build up. The ending of movement end with couple of thunder in the distance. Music quickly transitions into the final movement.
Fifth Movement : Shepherd’s Song
Movement Score 14/20 (Melody score 7; Excitement score 7)
@32:22 Orchestra starts with joyful tempo and is quickly joined by solo violins @33:50 there is exhibition of dynamics between violins and orchestra. @ 36:50 The music picks up speed and takes a high energy melody. There is fantastic music range bringing forth energy and enthusiasm. @40:57 Towards the end the music takes a gradual slowdown in tempo and ends gracefully.
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Music guide : Esin Yardimli Alves Pereira
