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Symphony No. 5 - Beethoven (1808)
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Symphony No. 5 in C minor Opus 67

Beethoven's 5th Symphony is one of the best-loved symphonic pieces, and perhaps the best-known classical piece in the world. This is one of the rare encounters between uncompromising musical quality and huge success among the masses. The four-notes theme that opens the work represents "fate knocking on the door", and there is controversy over whether Beethoven himself contributed to this image, or if it was suggested by a listener. The image of fate knocking on the door suited well the spirit of the work that Beethoven described as "the via dolorosa to the stars". The struggle personified in this symphony is universal, and valid in every historical confrontation. This is why the symphony became the symbol of victory and hope Beethoven symbolizes as an artist - the hope to overcome his private tragedy.

This is maybe the first symphony that transmitted a programme idea, thus fitted the spirit of the recently-born Romanticism. Its four movements correspond to the stages of the struggle:

1
War - an entire movement dealing with the development of the opening motif, and demonstrating the struggle against uncompromising fate.
2
Andante con moto - a calm movement representing hope.
3
The pain movement, presenting melancholy for losing the fight, when the motif becomes a depressing march.
4
The victory movement, in which we celebrate and rejoice, in spite of the loss and the pain of war. In this movement the trombones will be introduced for the first time in a symphony, used as an important element of power and expression, in this work's finale.

The Fifth Symphony, a piece that rightfully won immediate success, became the symbol of struggle and the victory of good over evil ever since. The motif that opens the symphony turned into the opening theme of radio transmissions of the Western Allies in the Second World War, because it resembles the letter "V" in Morse code - the sign of victory.

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