2025-26 Program Book - Other - Page 26
Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 "Pastorale" (1808)
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
(December 17, 1770-March 26, 1827)
The early 1800s were important years of activity for
Beethoven, during which he created some of his
greatest works. At this time, composers depended
on individual commissions and concert ticket
sales, so when the Theater an der Wien was put at
his disposal for December 22, 1808, he arranged an
enormous concert to benefit himself. The program
lasted four hours, and included the Fifth and Sixth
Symphonies, the Fourth Piano Concerto with
Beethoven as soloist, portions of the Mass in C, Ah!
Perfido, and the Choral Fantasy.
Beethoven was a lover of nature, spending a great deal of time walking in the
country. With this inspiration, he composed Symphony No. 6, also referred to as
“Recollections of Country Life.” Sketches of the work go back as far as 1803, but
most of the symphony was completed in late 1807 and early 1808. It was inspired
by other works depicting nature, most notably Le portrait musical de la nature
(1785) by German composer Justin Heinrich Knecht (1752-1817). The symphony
is dedicated to two of his most devoted patrons, Count Andreas von Rasumovsky
and Prince Franz Joseph von Lobkowitz.
One of Beethoven’s few programmatic works, the five movements are subtitled
as follows: Awakening of cheerful feelings upon arrival in the country, Scene by the
brook, Happy gathering of country folk, Thunderstorm, Shepherds’ song; cheerful
and thankful feelings after the storm. Movements 3-5 are continuous with each
leading into the next without pause. The first movement begins with a serene yet
cheerful movement depicting the composer’s feelings as he arrives in the country.
At the opening of the second movement, the strings play a motif that clearly
imitates flowing water. A cadenza of birdcalls includes a nightingale (flute),
a quail (oboe), and a cuckoo (clarinet). The third movement is a scherzo,
depicting country folk dancing and revelry. The party is abruptly cut short by
a thunderstorm, i.e., the fourth movement. The weather eventually clears and
everyone comes out to celebrate the beauty and freshness of the world around
them. After a plaintive shepherd song, the music gradually builds to an exciting
outpouring of happiness, goodwill, and a sense of gratefulness for the time
spent in nature.
Beethoven made a point of saying it was about feelings he had about nature,
not an attempt to depict nature itself. This is interesting, however, considering
some of the clear depictions in the music, e.g., the bird calls in the first movement
and the storm in the fourth. This symphony has been an audience favorite since
its premiere and was an important early catalyst for programmatic music in the
19th century.
26 CLASSICAL SERIES BEETHOVEN'S SIXTH SYMPHONY
