Beethoven's Seventh Symphony Analysis

Symphony No. 7 in A Major (Op. 92), completed in 1812, might have been one of Ludwig Van Beethoven’s most popular pieces. The seventh of Beethoven’s nine symphonies, its premiere concert (December 1813 in Vienna) was performed at a charity concert in order to benefit the soldiers who had been wounded a few months prior in the battle of Hanau. It was performed three times in ten weeks following its premiere. During the time of the symphony’s premiere, Vienna was still distressed due to being taken over by Napoleon in 1805 and 1809 and yearning for victory; the audience at the premiere seemed to have loved the energy and beauty of the piece. The Seventh Symphony had been dedicated to both Count Moritz von Fries and Russian Empress Elisabeth Aleksiev. The symphony’s second movement (Allegretto) is often performed separately from the complete symphony and has actually been featured in several famous movies, including Immortal Beloved (1994) and The King’s Speech (2010.) Being that the Seventh Symphony was completed in 1812, an elongated interval had passed since Beethoven’s last symphony. It was a longer time than had passed between any of his other symphonies, and during this period he composed a large number of less important works (such as The String Quartets in E flat.) At this time, Beethoven was a widely recognized composer but not yet exactly most popular, published, or often performed. Scattered but relative dates within this interval between symphonies have been considered to have constituted as to why his Seventh and Eighth Symphonies had differentiated in sound from his previous symphonies. Such instances include Beethoven’s engagement with Countess Theresa Brunswick being broken off in 1806, and the appearance Hoffman’s criticism on Beethoven’s C Minor in 1810. It’s been believed that Beethoven’s personal characteristic rough traits had not made their way into his music until the Seventh Symphony. His moods and mannerisms had not quite yet shown through