Pieces › Ludwig van Beethoven

Symphony No. 3 in E♭ major, Op. 55 “Eroica”

II. Marcia funebre. Adagio assai

Ludwig van Beethoven · 1803–04 · C minor · 248 bars · 232 chords analysed

Twice as long as any symphony before it. Beethoven first dedicated it to Napoleon, then angrily scratched the name out when Napoleon crowned himself emperor.

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 minor, C major, F minor, G minor, A♭ major.