Pieces › Ludwig van Beethoven

Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92

III. Presto

Ludwig van Beethoven · 1811–12 · F major · 661 bars · 649 chords analysed

Wagner called it “the apotheosis of the dance”; its Allegretto, a slow march over a repeating rhythm, was encored at the premiere.

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: F major, A major, D major, D minor, B♭ major, C major.