Symphony no. 8 (F major) op. 93
Listening samples
Composition
Spring 1812 to April 1813 at the latest
Like the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies, Beethoven composed the Seventh and Eighth shortly after each other. The autograph of the Seventh is dated April 13, 1812, probably referring to its completion. Immediately thereafter he began working on the Eighth, which, as we know from drafts in the Petters Sketchbook, he originally planned as a piano concerto. He must have changed his mind at the latest by late May 1812. In a letter to publishers Breitkopf & Härtel of Leipzig, dated ca. 25 May, he announced the composition of three new symphonies, of which one was already completed. This one was the Seventh Symphony; another was the Eighth, and the last was a project in D minor which he never finished (the Ninth Symphony was written in D minor years later).
Beethoven drafted the symphony in summer 1812 while vacationing in Teplitz and other Bohemian spas (Karlsbad and Franzensbad). It was a quite eventful summer: he met the poet Goethe (and called him a sycophantoc courtier) and wrote the emotional letter to the 'Immortal Beloved' whose recipient still remains a mystery.
The date and place noted down in the autograph of the Eighth Symphony (Linz, October 1812) mark the day when Beethoven started writing down the score. He may have finished the symphony by late 1812, but certainly in March 1813, when he offered two completely new symphonies (Seventh and Eighth) to concert organiser Joseph von Varena.
During a private rehearsal of both new symphonies at Archduke Rudolph's palace, Beethoven heard his works for the first time. Because of his poor health, the performance was postponed several times and finally took place on 21 April 1813. This rehearsal may have brought about changes to the ending of the first movement of op. 93, which Beethoven altered yet again. The Eighth was premièred together with the vocal trio Tremate, empi, tremate (op. 116) in Vienna's Redoutensaal on 27 February 1814. The programme also included the Seventh Symphony and Wellington's Victory (op. 91). (J.R.)
Beethoven drafted the symphony in summer 1812 while vacationing in Teplitz and other Bohemian spas (Karlsbad and Franzensbad). It was a quite eventful summer: he met the poet Goethe (and called him a sycophantoc courtier) and wrote the emotional letter to the 'Immortal Beloved' whose recipient still remains a mystery.
The date and place noted down in the autograph of the Eighth Symphony (Linz, October 1812) mark the day when Beethoven started writing down the score. He may have finished the symphony by late 1812, but certainly in March 1813, when he offered two completely new symphonies (Seventh and Eighth) to concert organiser Joseph von Varena.
During a private rehearsal of both new symphonies at Archduke Rudolph's palace, Beethoven heard his works for the first time. Because of his poor health, the performance was postponed several times and finally took place on 21 April 1813. This rehearsal may have brought about changes to the ending of the first movement of op. 93, which Beethoven altered yet again. The Eighth was premièred together with the vocal trio Tremate, empi, tremate (op. 116) in Vienna's Redoutensaal on 27 February 1814. The programme also included the Seventh Symphony and Wellington's Victory (op. 91). (J.R.)
