And your favorite Beethoven Symphony is?

I notice nobody has mentioned the first, second, or eighth. Why is that?

I won't pick a favorite, since I haven't heard them all through, but I'm particular to the second at the moment, we're playing it in youth orchestra. :toothygrin: Such a typical piece by Beethoven's standards. It's like a Haydn but with a twist (or several for that matter).

I like the second.

I like his eleventh.

I notice nobody has mentioned the first, second, or eighth. Why is that?

I won't pick a favorite, since I haven't heard them all through, but I'm particular to the second at the moment, we're playing it in youth orchestra. :toothygrin: Such a typical piece by Beethoven's standards. It's like a Haydn but with a twist (or several for that matter).

Do you know what the last movement of the 2nd is supposedly about? :toothygrin:

No, I don't. If we were playing the whole symphony I'm sure our conductor would eventually tell us about it, but we're only playing the first movement as of now. :( So go ahead, enlighten me (and the rest).

Rafn, he only wrote nine, you know! :) He started sketching a tenth, but never finished and we don't have enough of it to surmise what it would've been like. He hadn't even begun to think of an eleventh. (Yes, I know you were kidding :P)

uh, no, it doesn't.

Yes, it does.

Last I checked, one symphony can't just pwn another all by itself. It all has to do with subjectivity, so quit quarreling over which is better, it is only a matter of opinion.

I know its not the best one, but

I'm seeing John Adams conduct Symphony No. 7 in like a week or two by the BaltimoreSO (BSO). I'm kinda excited, because 7 is also among my favorites! :)

Last I checked, one symphony can't just pwn another all by itself. It all has to do with subjectivity, so quit quarreling over which is better, it is only a matter of opinion.

The fact the 9th is superior to the 5th is not subjective.

The 5th is superior to all other symphonies. Tomas, surely a fellow violinist can be sensible?:P

So last night I heard Beethoven's 7th conducted by the amazing John Adams.

I was blown away. The BSO's performance was just incredible, and it reminded me how much i love the 7th one!!!

What a great night!!!

(200th post!)

As of now, it will have to be the 9th. Why? Because it is the only symphony by Beethoven that I have listened to in it's entirety so far. This is certainly subject to change though. :)

Probably a bit cliche, but I love the 3rd and 9th symphonies.

All votes to the Beethoven's Eighth (godlike bassoon part) and the SEventh. i will say i DESPISE his first symphonie with a passion.

I like his 8th. Although I get bashed whenever I say that. But then nobody liked his 8th. I'm reminded of when his apprentice asked him why people disliked the 8th so much as compared to his 7th. He responded with "because the 8th is so much better."

I love the 8th and 7th they are at the top of my list!!

Where's the love for the 4th? I think it's really sexy, with the exception of that awful second movement.

I think it's really sexy, with the exception of that awful second movement.

Beethoven was terrible, his violin scoring is clumsy, and he doesn't prepare his modulations.

Ask the resident Beethoven musicology expert.

Not everything Beethoven wrote was gold, but the last thing you should *really* lambast in his catalog are his symphonies. Of course when it all boils down, this is just dumb internet banter and everyone knows that no one on the internet knows their head from their donkey, me included

My favorites are:

9

5

3

7

6

2

I like the 7th the most! the opening and ending to the 1st movement is awesomely captivating, the 2nd movement is just beautiful to listen to, the 3rd movement sounds like great fun to play, and the 4th movement is just an amazingly triumphant ending to a fantastic piece.

Also, the 2nd symphony is also kind of unpopular lol, the theme in the 1st movement in the basses is just wonderful.

The 1st symphony is also a fav, as its a ton of fun to play.

The 9th, ofcourse is a fav, its just magnificent in every way possible.

However, I don't really get the hype about the 5th symphony, sure, the triplet progression is very iconic and it captures the mood of beethoven really well, but I just never really clicked with it all that well. Plus, its got to be the most overplayed classical piece EVER.

All in all though, I think my favourite symphony is a close tie between the 7th and the 9th.

Beethoven was terrible, his violin scoring is clumsy, and he doesn't prepare his modulations.

Ask the resident Beethoven musicology expert.

lol.

AND all of that modulation was to distant keys! Awful!

I love the fourth movement of the 1st, and second and fourth movements of the 5th, 7th, and 9th. The rest of them is okay, too, but my favorite would be the seventh.

I think, as a whole, the 5th is the most unified and comprehensive masterpiece (out of, like, 7 masterpieces?)

I also like the 3rd and 4th. The second movement of the seventh is very moving to me as well, and I'm glad to see it got some press here!...