Symphony No. 4 in B flat major

Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 4 in B Flat Major (Op. 60), was written in 1806. It was premiered in March of 1807 at a private concert of the home of Prince Franz Joseph von Lobkowitz. The Coriolan Overture and the fourth piano concerto were premiered in that same concert.^[1]

Background

A portrait of Beethoven in 1804, three years before the premiere of his 4th Symphony.

The work was dedicated to Count Franz von Oppersdorff, a relative of Beethoven's patron, Prince Lichnowsky. The Count met Beethoven when he traveled to Lichnowsky's summer home where Beethoven was staying. Von Oppersdorff listened to Beethoven's Symphony No. 2 in D Major, and liked it so much that he offered a great amount of money for Beethoven to compose a new symphony for him. The dedication was made to "the Silesian nobleman Count Franz von Oppersdorf".^[2]

Instrumentation

The symphony is scored for flute, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in B flat, 2 bassoons, 2 horns in B flat and E flat, 2 trumpets in B flat and E flat, timpani and strings.

Movements

The work is in four movements:

1. Adagio - Allegro vivace, 2/2
2. Adagio, 3/4 in E flat major
3. Allegro vivace, 3/4
4. Allegro ma non troppo, 2/4

Media

The sound files are from a performance by the Skidmore College Orchestra.

Notes

External links

• Symphony No. 4: Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project.
• Analysis of the Beethoven Symphony No. 4 on the All About Ludwig van Beethoven Page
• Full Score of Beethoven's Fourth Symphony.
• Symphony No. 4 is available in PDF format created from MuseData.