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Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 4 in B Flat Major, Op. 60, was written in 1806.

Background

The work was dedicated to Count Franz von Oppersdorff, a relative of Beethoven's patron, Prince Lichnowsky. The Count met Beethoven when he traveled to Lichnowsky's summer home where Beethoven was staying. Von Oppersdorff listened to Beethoven's Symphony No. 2 in D Major, and liked it so much that he offered a great amount of money for Beethoven to compose a new symphony for him. The dedication was made to "the Silesian nobleman Count Franz von Oppersdorf".

Instrumentation

The symphony is scored for flute, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in B flat, 2 bassoons, 2 horns in B flat and E flat, 2 trumpets in B flat and E flat, timpani and strings.

Form

There are four movements:

1. Adagio -- Allegro vivace
2. Adagio
3. Allegro molto e vivace -- Trio. Un poco meno allegro
4. Allegro ma non troppo

The work takes about 33 minutes to perform.

Reception

Although all nine of Beethoven's symphonies are widely performed, the Fourth is less often performed than some of the others. Robert Schumann described Symphony No. 4 as a "slender Greek maiden between two Norse gods", referring to the 3rd and 5th Symphonies, both with towering reputations.

Performance

The sound files are from a performance by the Skidmore College Orchestra.

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Notes

1. Paul Netl (1976) Beethoven Handbook. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., p. 262

External links

• Analysis of the Beethoven Symphony No. 4 on the All About Ludwig van Beethoven Page
• Full Score of Beethoven's Fourth Symphony.

Links to related articles

v t e Ludwig van Beethoven List of compositions Life Birthplace Relationship with contemporaries Mozart Death Heiligenstadt Testament Immortal Beloved Concert of 22 December 1808 Music Relationship with C minor Collected edition Musical style Compositional method Works catalogs WoO Biamonti Catalogue Memorials Beethoven Hall Beethovenhalle Beethoven House List of sculptures Berlin Bonn Mexico City New York and San Francisco Depictions Mähler's portraits Beethoven with the Manuscript of the Missa Solemnis Eroica (1949 film) Immortal Beloved (1994 film) Eroica (2003 film) Copying Beethoven (2006 film) Other films Family Johann (father) Maria (mother) Kaspar (brother) Johann (brother) Ludwig (grandfather) Johanna (sister-in-law) Karl (nephew) Related 1815 Beethoven Birthplace of Beethoven's mother Beethoven Peninsula Beethoven quadrangle / Beethoven crater Beethoven Burst Beethoven Frieze Beethoven Project Trio Beethoven Quartet Society British première of Symphony No. 9 Eroica Peninsula Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies Three Bs Category v t e Symphonies by Ludwig van Beethoven Early symphonies No. 1 in C major Middle symphonies No. 2 in D major No. 3 in E♭ major (Eroica) No. 4 in B♭ major No. 5 in C minor No. 6 in F major (Pastoral) No. 7 in A major No. 8 in F major Late symphonies No. 9 in D minor (Choral) Hypothetical: No. 10 in E♭ major

• Symphonies by Ludwig van Beethoven
• Romantic symphonies