Symphony no. 5 (C minor) op. 67
Listening samples
Dedication
Composition
Early 1804 to March 1808
Thus fate knocks at the door'. Beethoven allegedly used these high-flown words to characterise the theme of his Fifth Symphony, which has been called the 'Fate' Symphony ever since. Yet it is doubtful whether he ever uttered them, for they come from one of the many colourful and heroic accounts written by his first important biographer, Anton Schindler. Schindler met Beethoven during the composer's final years and tried to profit from his glory and renown by calling himself the composer's only authorized biographer and providing evidence of events he himself could never have witnessed.
Beethoven wrote down initial ideas for the Fifth in autumn 1803. He planned to travel to Paris, where he wanted to perform the new piece. When the trip was cancelled, he temporarily stopped work on the symphony as well.
The bulk of the Fifth was composed between spring 1807 and early 1808, together with some other pieces such as the Sixth Symphony and the Cello Sonata op. 69. In March 1808 Beethoven completed the autograph of the entire score. Both the Fifth and the Sixth were then sold to the publisher Härtel, who received copies of them during a visit to Vienna in September 1808. Both were also performed together for the first time in December 1808 during Beethoven's concert at the Theater an der Wien. (J.R.)
Beethoven wrote down initial ideas for the Fifth in autumn 1803. He planned to travel to Paris, where he wanted to perform the new piece. When the trip was cancelled, he temporarily stopped work on the symphony as well.
The bulk of the Fifth was composed between spring 1807 and early 1808, together with some other pieces such as the Sixth Symphony and the Cello Sonata op. 69. In March 1808 Beethoven completed the autograph of the entire score. Both the Fifth and the Sixth were then sold to the publisher Härtel, who received copies of them during a visit to Vienna in September 1808. Both were also performed together for the first time in December 1808 during Beethoven's concert at the Theater an der Wien. (J.R.)
