The great master Beethoven, who is even rumored to have led a sad life.For many people, when you think of classical music, you think of Beethoven.We’ve compiled a ranking of his quintessential pieces.As you go through it, you might also catch a glimpse of changes in his mental state through the shifts in his musical style.
Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 “Eroica”Ludwig van Beethoven79rank/position
Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, “Eroica,” Op. 55 — Beethoven
It is a symphony also known as the “Eroica.” It was being written to be dedicated to Napoleon, but when Beethoven learned that Napoleon had crowned himself emperor, he flew into a rage, saying, “So he too is just an ordinary man,” tore up the title page bearing the dedication, and slammed the score to the floor—so one account goes.
Comprising four movements and conveying an overall monumental scale, it is a groundbreaking work among Beethoven’s symphonies.
From Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 “Fate,” First MovementLudwig van Beethoven80rank/position
Symphony No. 5 'Fate' – from the 1st movement / Beethoven – Piano [Flute Collaboration]
Beethoven’s great work, Symphony No.
5.
This time, we’re introducing a piano arrangement that uses the famous “Fate motif” from the opening—yes, the well-known “da-da-da-DAAAN.” Since it’s originally a symphony, the difficulty can vary widely depending on the piano arrangement, and it differs from score to score.
Some versions are for advanced players, while others are easy and suitable for beginners.
Although there are a few fast passages, it’s a piece that beginners and even children can approach comfortably.
Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 “Pastoral”Ludwig van Beethoven82rank/position
Beethoven – Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 “Pastoral” — Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic
The five-movement symphony Beethoven completed in 1808 continues to be cherished as the supreme masterpiece of the “Pastoral.” Its appeal lies in a development that feels like experiencing the story of a single day: arrival in the countryside, the murmuring of a brook, a peasants’ dance, a violent storm, and a song of thanksgiving.
In the second movement there’s a charming touch in which the flute imitates a nightingale, the oboe a quail, and the clarinet a cuckoo.
Premiered in Vienna in December 1808 alongside the “Fate” Symphony, this work was also featured in Disney’s 1940 film Fantasia, where it colored a bucolic world drawn from Greek mythology.
It’s the perfect piece when you want to be soothed by nature or spend a peaceful time.
Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral”Ludwig van Beethoven83rank/position
Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral,” composed by Beethoven
It is one of Beethoven’s representative works and the only symphony to which he himself gave a title.
Composed in the nature-rich Heiligenstadt, the piece vividly reflects the richness and serenity of nature.
Beethoven not only titled the symphony as a whole, but also gave titles to each movement: I.
“Cheerful feelings upon arriving in the countryside,” II.
“Scene by the brook,” III.
“Merry gathering of country folk,” IV.
“Thunderstorm,” and V.
“Shepherd’s hymn—Happy and thankful feelings after the storm.” Listening with these titles in mind, you may feel as if the landscape is unfolding right before your eyes.
Beethoven – Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93 (1962), Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic
It was premiered together with the Symphony No.
7, and while the Seventh became popular, he is said to have remarked, “The reason the audience cannot understand this piece (the Eighth) is that it is simply too good.” Among his symphonies, it is shorter in performance time and follows traditional classical forms, yet it is a masterpiece that displays original ingenuity and expression.
