Pieces › Ludwig van Beethoven

Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36

II. Larghetto

Ludwig van Beethoven · 1802 · E major · 276 bars · 323 chords analysed

Written while Beethoven was coming to terms with his deafness, yet one of his sunniest works.

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: E major, E minor, F major, C major, A major, A minor.