Courtney Peebles
Sharon McCabe
FAS-101-DL05
10 February 2013
Assignment 5
Beethoven mostly used classical forms, and techniques, but he illustrated extreme power and intensity in his works. He builds intensity and tension through syncopations and dissonances. In Beethoven’s, fifth symphony it opens with a short-short- short- long motive, and is believed to one of the most rhythmic ideas in all music. Even if someone is not into Classical music this is so unique it is definitely an attention getter. Beethoven called this motive theme “fate knocking at the door; it dominates the first movement and plays an important role later in the symphony.
In Beethoven’s fifth symphony he use many instruments to perform this work, a full orchestra is used. Some of the instruments used in this symphony include: flute, violin, horn, clarinets, trumpets, and cello. This symphony can be seen as an emotional progression from conflict and struggle from the first movement. The rhythmic motive of this movement has a march-like theme; tensions and expectations are built from the beginning of this motive. There are three rapid notes of the same pitch which are followed by a downward leap to a held tone.
The movement of Beethoven’s fifth symphony is unified by the opening motive. He uses varied repetitions of the motive together and shifts the motive to different pitches and instruments. The second theme begins with an unaccompanied horn call that goes back to the basic motive form. The instruments used to play this theme are the horn, strings, and woodwinds. He builds tension in the developing section of the song by breaking the horn-call motive into smaller fragments until its one