Pieces › Ludwig van Beethoven

Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21

III. Minuet. Allegro molto e vivace – Trio

Ludwig van Beethoven · 1800 · C major · 141 bars · 144 chords analysed

Beethoven's first symphony teases the ear from the start: it opens on a chord that belongs to the “wrong” key.

Beethoven's nine symphonies (1800–1824) changed what a symphony could be: longer, louder, more dramatic, and finally, in the Ninth, with singers. A symphony is a large work for orchestra, usually in four movements: a dramatic first movement in sonata form, a slow movement, a dance (minuet or scherzo) and a fast finale. With strings, woodwind, brass and timpani all taking part, the harmony is spread across the whole orchestra — the numerals under the score read it all at once.

Keys visited: C major, C minor, F minor, D♭ major, E♭ minor, D minor, G major.