At the premiere of the Ninth Symphony in Vienna in 1824, the profoundly deaf Beethoven had to be turned around by a soloist to see the audience's wild applause.
Composition History
Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, completed in 1824, is separated from his previous symphonies by over ten years and is stylistically distinct.
Critical Reception
It took several years for Beethoven's Ninth Symphony to become established in the repertoire due to its size and difficulty, but it is now considered one of the greatest works ever.
Composition History
The idea of incorporating voices into a symphony, specifically using Schiller's poem, was initially planned for a different symphony before being transferred to the Ninth.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Beethoven's decision to include voices in his Ninth Symphony was revolutionary, as symphonies were traditionally instrumental pieces.
Composition History
Beethoven considered setting Friedrich Schiller's poem "An die Freude" (To Joy) to music as early as 1793, though no early setting survives.
Compositional Technique
The Ninth Symphony begins very softly with hushed tremolo strings and horns, immediately conveying its vast scale through a slow harmonic progression.
