Good Example Of Essay On Human And Nature In His Symphony No. 6 By Beethoven

In this essay, I will talk about my perspective on the relationship between human and nature in the Symphony No. 6 by Beethoven. In order to support my arguments properly, I will start by listening to the Six Symphony in the interpretation of London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Herbert von Karajan. Furthermore, I will divide the work in separate parts, in the same way in which the composer had created it and I will approach each movement separately, by connecting music and the main themes with the relationship between nature and human, by searching elements that are correlated or similar for the two reasons both in music and in nature.
Ludwig van Beethoven was one of the most famous composers and was known as the composer that made the transition between classicism and romanticism. Beethoven was also pianist, but above all was a fantastic composer with incredible skills and during his life he has written a lot of music, including in his impressive collection, nine symphonies. From all nine symphonies, we will only talk about one of them, namely the Sixth Symphony.
The Sixth Symphony was sketch out in 1802 but it was only finished in 1808. The symphony was also called “Pastoral Symphony” because it was composed to draw image of painted landscapes from nature and by the other hand described man feelings towards it. The inspiration for this symphony came to Beethoven after his long walks into the countryside around Vienna that he made regular because he loved the natural world.
The pastoral composition has simple melodies, harmonies and structure lines that describe trough music the rustic atmosphere. On the title page, Beethoven wrote “Recollection of Country Life” and below “more an expression of feeling than a painting” that represented that Beethoven didn't tell us just a story but also tried thru musical expression to create the images of nature and smiling peasants and also a mixture of feeling that are experienced by people on going to the country side. The music is unique and different from the previous symphonies, containing an emotional aspect which reflected the feelings towards the natural world.
The symphony was divided into five movements and Beethoven gave each movement a subtitle where he explained what happen in that part. The symphony was longer than what people were accustomed to hear, Beethoven introducing the “Thunderstorm” making with this new part, an atypical structure.
The first scene is Allegro and has this subtitle “Awakening of cheerful feelings upon arrival in the country” that perfectly describes a warm and calm setting scene of the countryside landscape. The atmosphere of rural is created and sustained in the first movement by the fourth different rhythmic figures that are always changing but in the same time are always the same, creating an interesting mirror of the nature’s movements.
The first part has a sonata form where the coda is consisted by a second development section and by having an unusual length. The repetition here signified a basic and conspicuous figure that is conditioned by the nature elements and the subordinate theme that appeared at the bass part had the most thematic weight.
The second movement, played into an Andante tempo was the subtitle “Scene at the stream.” This is a slow movement where the nature is depicted so clear that almost you can feel the fresh country air. The audience can start to imagine directly from the title landscapes with the nature and can actually hear the murmur of the brook and also the rustle of the forest. Beethoven tried also to recreate the tuneful call of the birds thru the strange fragmentations of the melodies. The most realistic scene can be found at the end of the movement where we have a bird trio. Beethoven believed so much in it, that he repeated several times. All this changes can be heard by a person thru the subtle changes of orchestration, rhythm, color and dynamics.
The third movement, in tempo Allegro with the subtitle “Merry gathering of country folk” has a simple but strongly energetic motif which this time describes the jolly peasants that are celebrating something with a joyful dance. The movement is monopolized by a strong folkloric motif that reflects the rustic dance. This part is composed in a scherzo form and it is placed at the opposite side of stately aristocrat minuet, and this came from Beethoven’s uncomfortable feeling about the drawing rooms of Viennese aristocracy. The music is composed of solos from the woodwind section. The end of the movement is built with more accents which imitates the foot stomping and high-stepping dance of the peasants and at the final bar, the dance is interrupted by an unexpected visitor, the “Thunderstorm.”
The fourth movement, Allegro also called in the subtitle the “Thunderstorm” is the only part that used drums. More instruments are added as a piccolo and two trombones that then went into the final part too. It comes without pause between the movements and describe thru music and incredible storm with fantastic lightning crashes brought in forefront by the woodwind section. Beside energy and noise, this part brings at the light the sense of human fear that is powerless against the forces of nature. This movement is known as one of the finest representation into the music history of a storm and is also a brilliant example of orchestration for that era. It was fantastic how Beethoven managed to make such a clear image of the storm. For the lightening he used rapid ascending notes at the violins, and the rained was featured by strings thru arpeggiated tremolos.
The last movement is played an Allegretto tempo under the subtitle “Happy and thankful feelings after the storm.” The part has a rondo variation form completed with solos for flutes, clarinets and horn. This is a calm movement and full of grace, represented the relief that the storm fade away. The music has simple motifs that let the audience imagine and feet the emotions of gratitude endearing.
The theme from the beginning, from the first movement is brought back here to create again the pastoral nature landscape. The general feeling created by this final music is loaded by happiness and contentment. The amazing variation reached a glorious climax which leads to a beautiful coda. The theme is played as a chorale and the music ends with the muted horn that calls from the distance.
In conclusion, “Pastoral Symphony” is a programmatic masterpiece that contained a vastly expressive and unconventional way on dealing with the audience emotions. It is a symphony that present clearly the elements of nature that were incredible emitted thru the instruments with the musical materials composed so impeccable by Beethoven. Each movements is different and has a fairly descriptive scene that uses all tone paintings colors thru the instrumental music effects that push the music to go further thinking at the same time at the beauty of the nature but also expresses the feeling of the human beings.