Symphony no. 9 (D minor) op. 125
Listening samples
Dedication
Text poets
Composition
Initial sketches in 1815, work resumed autumn 1822, completed February 1824
As with his four preceding symphonies (5 and 6, 7 and 8), Beethoven originally conceived the Ninth as one of a pair. The impetus for both symphonies came from the Philharmonic Society in London. On 9 June 1817, his former pupil Ferdinand Ries wrote to him in its name, 'Firstly: You should be in London in the coming winter; Secondly: You should write two great symphonies for the Philharmonic Society, which should remain their property' (BGA 1129). Beethoven was to give the first performance of these symphonies in London.
Beethoven agreed and set to work. His sketchbooks from 1817-20 reveal many sketches showing that the London trip and the composition of the symphonies were never far from his mind. However, he made no serious progress at this time: illness, worries, the disputed guardianship of his nephew Karl, financial difficulties, depression and other musical projects took up too much of his time.
It was only in 1822 that the symphony began to gain importance. At the beginning of 1823, Beethoven seriously began working on it after completing two of his great late works: the Diabelli Variations (op. 120) and the Missa solemnis (op. 123). Although he was supposed to deliver the symphony to the Philharmonic Society in London by March 1823 (Beethoven had faithfully agreed to this but temporized for months using well-tested tactics), he only finished his last great symphony in February 1824 and sent it to London in April. The Ninth was first performed in London on 21 March 1825 (7 May 1824 in Vienna), conducted by Sir George Smart in the Philharmonic Society's third concert of the spring season.
The second of these two symphonies went 'missing' along the way. Some of the ideas intended for it in the sketches were added to the Ninth during its composition. It is a well-known fact that there are sketches for a Tenth Symphony, which however never materialized. (J.R.)
Beethoven agreed and set to work. His sketchbooks from 1817-20 reveal many sketches showing that the London trip and the composition of the symphonies were never far from his mind. However, he made no serious progress at this time: illness, worries, the disputed guardianship of his nephew Karl, financial difficulties, depression and other musical projects took up too much of his time.
It was only in 1822 that the symphony began to gain importance. At the beginning of 1823, Beethoven seriously began working on it after completing two of his great late works: the Diabelli Variations (op. 120) and the Missa solemnis (op. 123). Although he was supposed to deliver the symphony to the Philharmonic Society in London by March 1823 (Beethoven had faithfully agreed to this but temporized for months using well-tested tactics), he only finished his last great symphony in February 1824 and sent it to London in April. The Ninth was first performed in London on 21 March 1825 (7 May 1824 in Vienna), conducted by Sir George Smart in the Philharmonic Society's third concert of the spring season.
The second of these two symphonies went 'missing' along the way. Some of the ideas intended for it in the sketches were added to the Ninth during its composition. It is a well-known fact that there are sketches for a Tenth Symphony, which however never materialized. (J.R.)
