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Primary sourceBook1799-1800

Symphony No. 1

Ludwig van Beethoven · 1799-1800

Beethoven's first symphony, premiered in 1800, shows him working in the tradition of Haydn and Mozart while adding unconventional touches of his own.

Beethoven's debut symphony, which announced his arrival as a major composer in Vienna.

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Printed musical score excerpt for Violino I (first violin) with the tempo marking Adagio, quarter note equals 63, showing staff notation in 2/4 time with sixteenth-note runs, slurs, and dynamic markings including p and a crescendo hairpin.
Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 1, excerpt from the fourth movement.

About this source

What it is

This is Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21, dedicated to his early patron Baron Gottfried van Swieten and published in 1801. It premiered on 2 April 1800 in Vienna, conducted by Giacomo Conti, as part of a concert introducing Beethoven's talents to the city.

Why it matters

The symphony clearly follows the style of Beethoven's teacher Haydn and of Mozart, but it already contains surprising touches, such as sudden shifts in key and bold use of wind instruments, that mark it as distinctly Beethoven's own. It shows a composer working within tradition while beginning to push against it.

Look closer

  • What in the opening of the symphony has been called a 'musical joke' by some musicologists?
  • Why might Beethoven have wanted to dedicate this piece first to the Elector of Bonn, and then to Baron van Swieten instead?
  • What does the image of printed sheet music leave out about how the symphony actually sounds?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Ludwig van Beethoven on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Scan of a handwritten manuscript page of orchestral music on many staves, with pencil or ink notation, Italian and German text written under the staves, and a handwritten heading at the top. Appears to be a sketch or draft score page.Document

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Symphony No. 9

Ludwig van Beethoven · 1824

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Secondary source

Death of Ludwig van Beethoven

Theodor Kandale (after Josef Danhauser) · 1827 (mask); drawing 1893

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Bust of Ludwig van Beethoven by Frederic Storck

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Scan of a handwritten German letter on aged, yellowed paper, in cursive ink with some crossed-out words. A blue library stamp reading 'Nationalbibliothek' with a crest is at the upper left. The heading begins 'Für meine Brüder Carl und'.Letter

Primary source

Heiligenstadt Testament

Ludwig van Beethoven · 6 October 1802

Photograph of a handwritten German document on aged paper, with signatures and seals at left and a column of text at right listing sums of 1500, 700 and 1800 florins totaling 4000 florins, referencing Ludwig van Beethoven.Document

Primary source

Agreement between Beethoven and Archduke Rudolph, Prince Kinsky and Prince Lobkowitz

1 March 1809

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