Skip to main content

Primary sourceDocument1801-1802

Symphony No. 2

Ludwig van Beethoven · 1801-1802

An exuberant symphony Beethoven largely composed at Heiligenstadt in 1801–02, the same period as his despairing Heiligenstadt Testament.

Beethoven composed this symphony himself during the same months he wrote his despairing Heiligenstadt Testament.

Ask Ludwig van Beethoven about this sourceView the original(opens in new tab)
Annotated musical score excerpt of the opening of a symphony in D major, showing the Adagio molto introduction. Handwritten-style Italian labels mark 'INTRODUZIONE: prima sezione', 'tutta l'orchestra', 'legni' and 'archi', and 'tonica (re magg.)' in red, with green bracket lines grouping the instrument sections across the staves.
Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36, 1801–1802. Annotated score excerpt.

About this source

What it is

Symphony No. 2 in D major is a four-movement orchestral work by Ludwig van Beethoven, written mostly in 1801–02 and dedicated to Prince Karl Alois Lichnowsky. It premiered in Vienna in 1803, conducted by Beethoven himself.

Why it matters

Beethoven wrote much of this cheerful, energetic symphony while staying at Heiligenstadt, at the very time his hearing loss was worsening and he feared it might be permanent. The contrast between the symphony's high spirits and his private despair, expressed in the Heiligenstadt Testament, shows how his art and his personal crisis unfolded side by side. One critic at the time found its humour and energy shocking rather than pleasing.

Look closer

  • Does knowing about Beethoven's hearing crisis change how you listen to this 'exuberant' music?
  • Why might a composer hide personal suffering behind a joyful public work?
  • What does the annotated score tell you about how musicians analyze a piece long after it was written?

This document 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.

More Ludwig van Beethoven sources

Meet the AI Ludwig van Beethoven →
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

Primary source

Symphony No. 9

Ludwig van Beethoven · 1824

Charcoal and white chalk drawing on grey paper of a death mask of a bald man with closed eyes, a furrowed brow, a large nose and a pursed mouth, seen three-quarter view against a dark background and a vertical wooden post. A cursive signature and date appear at lower right.Sculpture

Secondary source

Death of Ludwig van Beethoven

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

Photograph of a dark bronze-toned bust of a man with full wavy hair swept back, a furrowed brow, and a stern, closed-mouth expression, shown from the chest up against a pale grey background.Sculpture

Secondary source

Bust of Ludwig van Beethoven by Frederic Storck

Frederic Storck · 1930

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

Ready when you are

Start chatting with Ludwig van Beethoven now.

20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.

Trial Humy for freeGet a quote for institutions