Basking in Beethoven's Symphony No 5
III. Allegro
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
I'm Beethoven, and I'm pleased to guide you through the III. Allegro movement of my Symphony No 5. You'll hear the four-note rhythm creep back in this scherzo, with the strings playing softly and plucked, before a long, hushed build-up over the timpani leads straight into the finale without a pause. If you'd like to know how to spot this music, my fellow composers and I teach you on this site to recognize our pieces when you hear them, so why not try it out right now?
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Hold On to the Rhythm and Don't Let Go
I'd suggest you listen to this movement as a little story told in four steps, and you don't need any training to follow it. First, wait for the very quiet start, where the music creeps along softly, as if it doesn't want to wake anybody. Second, catch the four-note rhythm from the opening of the symphony as it steps back to the front, because this time it feels much more insistent. Third, listen for the moment when the strings pluck their notes and the music almost disappears, and then notice how the timpani carry you straight on into the finale.Why It Just Says Allegro
I gave this movement the title Allegro and also marked it as a scherzo, which is an Italian word for a joke. Allegro tells the players to keep things lively, and the three beats in every bar give the music a natural swing. The joke here is a dark one, though, because the mood stays in C minor instead of turning cheerful. So the title asks for speed, the scherzo label asks for a little mischief, and I wanted both of them at once.A Sandwich With a Surprise
The form of this movement is the classic scherzo shape. That means a main section is followed by a contrasting trio and then the main section comes back, rather like a sandwich with an unusual filling. The surprise is that I don't end this sandwich politely, because the last part opens a door into the finale instead of closing the movement. So we have four sections to visit, and I'll take you through them one at a time.Section 1: The Creeping Opening
The scherzo begins Allegro, in C minor and in three beats to the bar, with a hushed theme that rises slowly and a little uneasily. You can feel that something is being held back, and the tension grows with every phrase. Then the four-note rhythm bursts in with real force, and the quiet suspense turns into something much more daring. I wanted you to hear a movement that whispers first and then makes sure you were paying attention.Section 2: The Trio Barges In
Next comes the trio, and the mood changes at once, because the music turns rough, heavy and boisterous. After the secretive start, this part sounds like it has no interest in being quiet at all. The tempo stays lively, but the energy feels more earthy and more direct, which makes a strong contrast with what came before. I like this contrast because it makes the return of the opening feel like coming back to a place you already know.Section 3: The Ghost Version
Now the scherzo returns, but I ask the strings to play it pizzicato, which means they pluck the strings instead of using the bow. The theme you heard at the start is back, only lighter and drier, as if it has lost its weight and become a shadow of itself. The music is very quiet here, and the mood turns more mysterious than stormy. That is why I think it is the most fascinating spot in the movement, since you recognize every note and yet it all feels strangely different.Section 4: The Long Walk Into the Light
The last section is a long transition, and it grows over the steady, insistent sound of the timpani. There is no break between this movement and the next, so the suspense keeps building until you almost can't stand it. Then the music bursts into the finale, which is marked Allegro and sits in a bright C major with four beats to the bar. That is also the moment when the piccolo, three trombones and contrabassoon join in, and it was the first time anyone had used all three together in a symphony.Your Turn: Press Play
Now I invite you to hear this movement for yourself. Press play and let the music carry you along, from the hushed beginning to the bright arrival at the end. While you listen, keep in mind what we talked about: the four-note rhythm, the rough trio, the plucked return and the long walk over the timpani. I hope you enjoy the journey through this Allegro as much as I enjoyed writing it.---
We've reached the end of the guide to the third movement, and I hope the quiet opening, the returning rhythm and that long climb into the finale now feel like old friends. Did you enjoy learning about the listen guide of Symphony No 5's III. Allegro? I'd like to think the next time you hear the strings pluck softly and the timpani begin to murmur, you'll know exactly where the music is heading. What I love most about this movement is that it never really stops to say goodbye, because it hands you straight over to the finale. When that finale arrives in C major, after all the stormy C minor that came before, I hope you feel the whole symphony open up like a door swinging wide. There is still a lot more to discover about Symphony No 5. The first movement, the variations of the second movement, the story of how the piece came to be and the finale all have more to tell. Please click on the links provided to keep exploring Symphony No 5, and take your time with each one. Every time you listen, I think you'll notice something you missed before, and that is the best reason I know to press play again.