Favorite Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony?

[Khephra]

[BurtWorm]

1. I know it's not original, but I vote the Ninth

It's got eveything. I could listen to it over and over and over--and I have!

I'm basically an odds guy: I like the 3rd, the 5th, the 7th, and the 9th. Also the 6th. I don't know the other ones as well.

[Coventina]

2. Yep, Ninth for me as well

Probably one of the greatest achievements by a human.

I also am very fond of the Sixth.

The Seventh and Fifth get honorable mentions.

[noonwitch]

3. I like the sixth

I always think of the little winged horsies, the slutty girl cenataurs and Jupiter and Vulcan using lightening bolts to mess with a drunken Baccus from the original Fantasia.
The ninth is awesome, but it reminds me too much of A Clockwork Orange.
The third is the Eroica one, right? I love that-I went to a DSO concert in which they performed it a couple of years ago. I heard it recently on CBCII (I love living in a border city) and the commentator afterwords stated that it was the work the started the romantic period.
Even though D'Vorak is my favorite composer, Beethoven was the Shakespeare of classical music.

[Tyler Durden]

4. As a PIANIST (ex-pianist to be exact): Piano Concerto #5, "The Emperor"

Possibly the most perfect example of Symphonic music OF THAT PERIOD.

[wryter2000]

8. Emperor Concerto

I like your style, Tyler. That concerto would lift me off my death bed.

I'm glad to say that, although it's taken years of hard work, I can now listen to the Sixth Symphony without seeing that d*mn*d Disney movie.

[DrGonzoLives]

5. The Glorious Ninth

Let's see who gets that reference...

[BurtWorm]

14. Alex in "A Clockwork Orange"

[skippysmom]

6. took a class on the beethoven symphonies once...

...hard to choose one. I guess I'd say the 7th -- especially that beautiful 2nd movement -- edges out 3, 6 and 9.

The 5th always makes me think of that disco song...

[FlashHarry]

7. Let's not forget his brilliant violin concerto

Especially the 3rd movement (the Rondo, Allegro?).

[stopbush]

9. Make mine the 4th

I know that makes me odd man out, but give it a listen.

From the mysterious opening, the sublime 2nd movement, the herky-jerky third movement to the jocular Finale (with that hilarious bassoon solo!), it's the rara avis among the 9. Totally under-rated, IMO.

Listening to this symphony never fails to brighten my day and lift my spirits.

Try it.

[JitterbugPerfume]

10. I was listening to the eighth this AM

so it gets my vote~~

[Le Taz Hot]

15. Interesting choice

Not criticizing it, you understand, but musicologically, he had JUST started to venture into what came to be known as the Romantic Period with his 3rd Symphony. With the 4th, he went decidedly backwards as it is unquestionably deeply rooted in the Classical Period. The Fifth, of course, moved us unmistakeably (is that a word?) into the Romantic.

Just for the record, I voted for the 9th, though it was a very difficult choice. I love the 5th, 6th & 7th as well.

[0rganism]

11. 9th, of course...

Talk about a symphony where every movement totally kicks butt, well, that's the one. From the somber opening 1st movement, to the up-tempo quasi-sinister development of the second, to the bittersweet adagio, picking up speed and then the glorious choral finale with the unforgettable "Ode to Joy".

You just don't get any more bang for the classical buck than that. It's the swan song of the true "high classical" era, before Europe went all "romantic". The ninth has everything.

However, for a standalone movement, the second movement of the seventh is probably my sentimental favorite. While it doesn't stand up as the magnum opus that is the ninth, it has huge character and a unified feeling all its own, almost a pasacaglia. Gotta like that.

[regnaD kciN]

12. My only possible response would be...

...ALL OF THEM!!!

Of course, that's not an option in the poll.

[pmbryant]

13. The 7th!!

But I also absolutely love the 6th and the 9th. And the 3rd, 4th, 5th ain't too shabby either. And the 1st, 2nd, and 8th are pretty darn good as well.

Alas, I can't say I've ever heard the "Battle Symphony". :shrug:

--Peter

[Art_from_Ark]

17. The Battle Symphony commemorates Wellington's victory over Napoleon

at Vittoria, Spain, in 1813. It is very rarely performed today.

[Art_from_Ark]

16. I know them all by heart

Including the Battle Symphony-- that was on the second LP I ever bought-- when I was 13. The third LP had selections of the 5th, 6th, and 9th symphonies, which all enchanted me so much that I played that record up to ten times a day. Later I asked a local radio station to play the 9th for me, and was in seventh heaven when it was time for the "NBC Nightly News theme song" (2nd movement).I entertained kids in a bus station once with a recording of the 2nd Symphony, and was taken away to a time and place long forgotten when I heard the mysterious opening chords of the 4th-- which I agree is a "reversion" to the Classical style-- Haydn to be precise (extremely similar to the opening chords of the Clock Symphony, I believe). The 3rd intrigued me because of its history (Beethoven literally rubbing out Napoleon's name) and the funeral march in the 2nd movement.