Beethoven's World

Friday, April 24

Northport High School

Free ($10 Suggested Donation)

In December 22, 1808, a Beethoven concert was held. It was a benefit concert at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna that featured the public premieres of Beethoven's Fifth and Sixth Symphonies (!), the Fourth Piano Concerto and the Choral Fantasy. This concert, then called an Akademie, occurred in a very cold hall and lasted for approximately four hours.

Beethoven was a lover of nature who spent a great deal of his time on walks in the country. He frequently left Vienna to work in rural locations. His Sixth Symphony is "more the expression of feeling than painting", and is very much a description of one of Beethoven's nature walks. From the "Awakening of cheerful feelings on arrival in the countryside", to the "Scene by the brook", the "Merry gathering of country folk", followed by "Thunder, Storm", and concluding with the "Shepherd's song. Cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm". This, the Pastoral Symphony is a very vivid description of the joys of nature, which provided a great contrast to the fiery Fifth Symphony that also premiered that cold December afternoon.

Also on the program is Dvořák's Serenade for wind instruments, cello and double bass. In May of 1879, Johannes Brahms wrote to his friend, the violinist Joseph Joachim, “Take a look at Dvorák’s Serenade for Wind Instruments; I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do...It would be difficult to discover a finer, more refreshing impression of really abundant and charming creative talent. Have it played to you; I feel sure the players will enjoy doing it!”

The work was heavily influenced by the composer's love for Mozart’s Serenade in B flat major for wind instruments, including his addition of a cello and double bass.

Program

Serenade for wind instruments, cello and double bass in D minor, Op. 44, B. 77

― Antonín Dvořák

1. Moderato, quasi marcia
2. Minuetto. Tempo di minuetto
3. Andante con moto
4. Finale. Allegro molto

Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 (Pastoral)

― Ludwig van Beethoven

1. Erwachen heiterer Empfindungen bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande (Awakening of cheerful feelings on arrival in the countryside)
2. Szene am Bach (Scene by the brook)
3. Lustiges Zusammensein der Landleute (Merry gathering of country folk)
4. Gewitter, Sturm (Thunder, Storm)
5. Hirtengesang. Frohe und dankbare Gefühle nach dem Sturm (Shepherd's song. Cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm)