to me, when I listened to it years ago, it seemed like some parts of it have been used someway in the 9th, of course in a more mature way. I can't remember the details this impression of mine was based on, but the idea got stuck in my head to judge this piece as very important between Beethoven's symphonic works.
When I was a beginner listener this was one of my favourite symphonies to listen to, so catchy. Every single one of Beethoven's symphonies is absolute fire, no matter the number.
I'm so glad someone else recognized this work. Probably, it simply got buried by the towering masterpieces to follow . . but I've always thought this piece early on showed what this composer could do. I read somewhere that he wrote this just as he learned that he was losing his hearing. And yeah, the passage you show is one of my favorites, even loving 3, 5, 7, 9--oh yeah 6 too--as much as I do.
This symphony is truly colorful. It it whimsical, playful, rewarding and just plain enjoyable to listen to. If you lost your get up and go, this will sure set your engine on fire.
Fantastic symphony...underrated, like all of his even numbered ones. Great analysis and breakdown here too! There are SO many moments in the 2nd that you could have titled the same way...the last 2 minutes of the finale come to mind, but there are plenty more!
I had the honour to visit Bonn and to go to the Beethoven House Museum last Spring and when I entered the building I was overwhelmed by the tears of joy 🥹
It's also vaguely reminiscent of Mozart's Rondo "alla turca" (the F sharp minor 16ths passage, slowed down and transposed to A minor... and of course changed here and there). PS: Ciao Pietro!
I'm an idiot. Love Beethoven, especially the 3rd, but thinking it was the game changer, only listened to the symphonies after. This is magical. What a treat awaits me!
All his innovations can be found in Haydn's symphonies. But he took them and created something new based on his own aesthetics. He took the structures of his predecessors and modified them to suit his expression.
The best symphony Haydn ever wrote, just like the First Piano Concerto is the best Mozart ever wrote. But this 2nd Symphony was quite influential in its time, not only to Beethoven's contemporaries but even Beethoven himself. There are innovations in this work that unfairly go to its successor work, highly acclaimed but largely experimental, looking backward as well as forward. The expansion of the coda of a movement into a full fledged section in itself is introduced in this work, not its successor. Moreover, some of the early piano sonatas point in that direction. Nevertheless, in my considered opinion, as far as symphonic writing goes, the work in which Beethoven first found himself symphonically is the Fifth, not the Third/Eroica which was experimental. From the Fifth on the works show strong individuality with one another. (I consider the 4th as a step backward and weaker in its bearings than the 2nd which is a powerful statement.) My honest opinion. Others are free to disagree.
Beethoven had a wonderful sense of humor. It is present in many of his works. I have no proof, but my bet is that he also liked "off color" jokes. Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)
I tend to agree, there's a charm in not really knowing what's going on. But at the same time, it could also help guide those less familiar with Classical music.
Great piece, played it in my Orchestra last year. The second movement is beautiful. Always interesting to see how his even-numbered symphonies are more classical in style, whereas the odd ones are much more revolutionary (1,3,5 and 9 especially). Also, don't you think that bits of the 2nd symphony opening movement sound like the Dm bits in Beethoven 9? Quite interesting comparisons.
Oh the 7th symphony is indeed very revolutionary as well, especially the 2nd movement. My old teacher mentioned the exact same thing about Beethoven symphonies. And yes that passage in the introduction is indeed quoted in the 9th! Considering both are in D major means that perhaps Beethoven had high regards for his 2nd as well.
@@skylarlimex I suppose 7 is revolutionary too, but maybe a paradoxically simple way (the 2nd movement is very diatonic and rhythmically repetitive, but nonetheless very beautiful!) How do you see the 7th as particularly revolutionary? Beethoven is such a great composer.
@@skylarlimex Apparently his 8th was one of his favourites: he used to call it his "little symphony in F". For me, 3, 6 and definitely 9 are my favourites, especially as an oboist as there are so many great oboe passages in them. What's your favourite?
@@tobyelms6148 it's revolutionary precisely because the material is indeed so simple to the point that one would wonder how a movement could possibly be constructed around it, which Beethoven does, adding a double subject fugue for good measure.
Unpopular opinion: Beethoven's 2nd Symphony is his second-best symphony (after the 7th), and the final movement of the 2nd is perhaps the best one Beethoven ever wrote.
@@skylarlimex I won't say it's his greatest, but certainly a great movement. It takes what start out as simple motifs and develops them each into significant complexity that all work together beautifully. He also introduces a moment of very soft development we don't hear again until his fifth symphony. You can easily tell his genius was beginning.
@@juliendespois508 thanks for the clarification! I can't seem to find where that is in the Coda though, all I see is the ascending bass line that goes into a circle of fifths...
I think that with these chords Beethoven warns that they will be dealing with a different kind of music and a different type of composer. I think that here begins the transition from the classical to the romantic period in music. Then and now, there are music lovers who turn their noses up at such music. What would Beethoven exclaim? "I will seize destiny by the throat"! Such a thing seemed unthinkable at the time It is not only the first symphonies that are not appreciated at their true value. All his music, which is truly titanic, is placed in a "silenzio stampa"
I would love it if each note was highlighted as it was played because I can't read music very well; maybe using different colours for each instrument so I could follow along visually.
More a case ot a transitional work between his First Period and Second Period much like the C minor Piano Concerto, String Quintet, Piano Sonatas Op 26-31 all written between 1800-2.
Here Beethoven still sounded a bit like Mozart or Haydn, nonetheless it still is a beautiful work. But how much of a shock would have been for the audiences with his following symphony...
@@twanswagten unfortunately it depends on whether my videos are deemed interesting enough to the wider public. If you'd like, you could always turn on notifications for my channel!
It simply sounds more like a IV function, the D doesn't sound like a seventh by the movement of the melody and if we replace the chord with the IV we get largely the same movement compared to a ii6 for example.
@@KingstonCzajkowski Add6 on I is pretty much non existent but there is indeed a distinction to be made between ii65 and IVadd6 I think. Just look at the opening bars of Beethoven's 18th piano sonata and you'll find quite a convincing use of IVadd6.
Quite insulting to one of the greatest to have ever lived. Even if you want to think of 90% of Chopin music as farts, the last 10% are farts of pixie dust because of the magic he had. Beethoven was less of a musical poet until later in his life. He used scales and arpeggios and other fundamental music theory into his technique. More specifically the semi quaver. Chopin incorporated this same concept along with the most simple progressions and still came up with a melody that can jerk a tear into his music. Not technique, which makes Chopin more musical. But nonetheless how can we say one is better than the other? Both from different time periods. That's like comparing the mumble rap we have now to 80s music. It's just different.
Oh I know Beethoven did go absolutely wild after eroica he never looked back raising the wildness with each symphony (except 8 which is more traditional.) I don’t see what’s wild in this fairly standard sequence that does little to break form but has a couple off putting harmonic protrusions
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 88 | คู่เอก "ป้อมเพชร vs อัสลามจอน"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1ZqTVVbMgbo/mqdefault.jpg)
I am honored to say that I have conducted this piece!
What a fun piece to conduct!
olha quem ta aqui
@@lucascecim9102kkkkkkk a comunidade de música clássica no TH-cam é um ovo
@@joaoantonio7391 mkkkkkkk
Oh lucky, lucky you!!! I would KILL to be standing up there for any of his symphonies...but the 2nd holds a special place for me!!!
I don’t think that many people talk about his 2nd symphony enough. This is marvelous!
Definitely needs to change
People treat symphonies 1 & 2 as a package deal but there’s actually quite a lot of development/evolution between them
You are so right!
to me, when I listened to it years ago, it seemed like some parts of it have been used someway in the 9th, of course in a more mature way. I can't remember the details this impression of mine was based on, but the idea got stuck in my head to judge this piece as very important between Beethoven's symphonic works.
When I was a beginner listener this was one of my favourite symphonies to listen to, so catchy.
Every single one of Beethoven's symphonies is absolute fire, no matter the number.
I absolutely agree!
Nah fr they all have something to bring to the table - IMO No.8 is criminally underrated in particular
@@JJBerthume One of my absolute favourite ones
What a genius Beethoven was, Jesus Christ.
And to think that when this symphony was finished, he was just getting started!
Yes, he did owe it all to the Lord Jesus
I'm so glad someone else recognized this work. Probably, it simply got buried by the towering masterpieces to follow . . but I've always thought this piece early on showed what this composer could do. I read somewhere that he wrote this just as he learned that he was losing his hearing. And yeah, the passage you show is one of my favorites, even loving 3, 5, 7, 9--oh yeah 6 too--as much as I do.
This symphony is truly colorful. It it whimsical, playful, rewarding and just plain enjoyable to listen to. If you lost your get up and go, this will sure set your engine on fire.
One of the greatest minds to walk this earth.
"Holy mixed metaphor, Batman!..." :)
2nd symphony is very underrated.
Fantastic symphony...underrated, like all of his even numbered ones. Great analysis and breakdown here too! There are SO many moments in the 2nd that you could have titled the same way...the last 2 minutes of the finale come to mind, but there are plenty more!
Nice to see this symphony getting some recognition!
About time too!
It's so beautiful, my heart hurts ❤️
Shout out to Liszt as well, who did this marvelous piano transcription you used for this video.
Yes absolutely
Liszt is dead.
Beethoven Lives
Nice analysis of one of my favourite beethoven works!
Definitely one of my favourites too!
He actually goes pretty wild in the coda section with basses descending in arpeggios.
Beethoven's last Mozartean symphony. The world was in for a shock with the next.
Sometimes the world needs a good shock
The man could do anything!
Musically, yes
I had the honour to visit Bonn and to go to the Beethoven House Museum last Spring and when I entered the building I was overwhelmed by the tears of joy 🥹
My head loves the beautiful lifting clarity, but my heart will always be with the thunderstorms raging in the sky.
0:36 is very similar to Waldstein Sonata I
Oh yes I think I know where you're referring to!
Fantastic observation!
yes it's clearly meant to be
It's also vaguely reminiscent of Mozart's Rondo "alla turca" (the F sharp minor 16ths passage, slowed down and transposed to A minor... and of course changed here and there). PS: Ciao Pietro!
Think about that exact passage everytime I hear this 😂 I call that a fingerprint!
I listen so often to the early symphonies that I always get them confused in my head. I first didn't know if it was the firist or second.
I'm an idiot. Love Beethoven, especially the 3rd, but thinking it was the game changer, only listened to the symphonies after. This is magical. What a treat awaits me!
Beethoven was already Beethoven from earliest age.
No shit Sherlock
Bernstein was right about Beethoven: flawless form
Another great analysis!
This is almost in the style of Haydn and I'm all for the collab
It's amazing how much Beethoven took from Haydn
Beethoven had moved far from Haydn here idk what you’re talking about
All his innovations can be found in Haydn's symphonies. But he took them and created something new based on his own aesthetics. He took the structures of his predecessors and modified them to suit his expression.
He also took alot from Haydn's quartets for his symphonies too...especially the whole Op 70's series of quartets
The best symphony Haydn ever wrote, just like the First Piano Concerto is the best Mozart ever wrote.
But this 2nd Symphony was quite influential in its time, not only to Beethoven's contemporaries but even Beethoven himself.
There are innovations in this work that unfairly go to its successor work, highly acclaimed but largely experimental, looking backward as well as forward. The expansion of the coda of a movement into a full fledged section in itself is introduced in this work, not its successor. Moreover, some of the early piano sonatas point in that direction.
Nevertheless, in my considered opinion, as far as symphonic writing goes, the work in which Beethoven first found himself symphonically is the Fifth, not the Third/Eroica which was experimental. From the Fifth on the works show strong individuality with one another. (I consider the 4th as a step backward and weaker in its bearings than the 2nd which is a powerful statement.)
My honest opinion. Others are free to disagree.
Love Love LOVE your choices and analyses.
So sweet of you! Thank you
Beethoven had a wonderful sense of humor. It is present in many of his works. I have no proof, but my bet is that he also liked "off color" jokes.
Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)
Great, now I need to listen to the entire symphony again...😅
Ole Ludwig Van Beethoven did HOWSONEVER HE WELL PLEASED! PWG
Dissecting a piece like this, *almost* destroys it's magic.
I tend to agree, there's a charm in not really knowing what's going on. But at the same time, it could also help guide those less familiar with Classical music.
The finale of the second is the most revolutionary work of its time, before eroica that is, but just as much as some of Eroica in my opinion
The ending was coooool
The whole movement is a banger
@@skylarlimex The whole Symphony is a banger.
Bravo! 👏
Great piece, played it in my Orchestra last year. The second movement is beautiful. Always interesting to see how his even-numbered symphonies are more classical in style, whereas the odd ones are much more revolutionary (1,3,5 and 9 especially). Also, don't you think that bits of the 2nd symphony opening movement sound like the Dm bits in Beethoven 9? Quite interesting comparisons.
Oh the 7th symphony is indeed very revolutionary as well, especially the 2nd movement. My old teacher mentioned the exact same thing about Beethoven symphonies. And yes that passage in the introduction is indeed quoted in the 9th! Considering both are in D major means that perhaps Beethoven had high regards for his 2nd as well.
@@skylarlimex I suppose 7 is revolutionary too, but maybe a paradoxically simple way (the 2nd movement is very diatonic and rhythmically repetitive, but nonetheless very beautiful!) How do you see the 7th as particularly revolutionary? Beethoven is such a great composer.
@@skylarlimex Apparently his 8th was one of his favourites: he used to call it his "little symphony in F". For me, 3, 6 and definitely 9 are my favourites, especially as an oboist as there are so many great oboe passages in them. What's your favourite?
@@tobyelms6148 it's revolutionary precisely because the material is indeed so simple to the point that one would wonder how a movement could possibly be constructed around it, which Beethoven does, adding a double subject fugue for good measure.
@@tobyelms6148 I'm quite partial to 2,8,9
Unpopular opinion: Beethoven's 2nd Symphony is his second-best symphony (after the 7th), and the final movement of the 2nd is perhaps the best one Beethoven ever wrote.
That is indeed pretty unpopular. What do you think makes the last movement so great then?
@@skylarlimex I won't say it's his greatest, but certainly a great movement.
It takes what start out as simple motifs and develops them each into significant complexity that all work together beautifully. He also introduces a moment of very soft development we don't hear again until his fifth symphony. You can easily tell his genius was beginning.
Beethoven sure loved repeating chords a bunch lol
To such great effect too
Would love to see an analysis of the omnibus progression passage in the Coda, it's absolutetly fire!
What do you mean omnibus?
@@skylarlimex Omnibus is a type of harmonic device where you usually expand the V7 chord by moving the outer voices in a chromatic wedge motion
@@juliendespois508 thanks for the clarification! I can't seem to find where that is in the Coda though, all I see is the ascending bass line that goes into a circle of fifths...
Second symphony far much better than first.
I think that with these chords Beethoven warns that they will be dealing with a different kind of music and a different type of composer. I think that here begins the transition from the classical to the romantic period in music. Then and now, there are music lovers who turn their noses up at such music. What would Beethoven exclaim? "I will seize destiny by the throat"! Such a thing seemed unthinkable at the time
It is not only the first symphonies that are not appreciated at their true value. All his music, which is truly titanic, is placed in a "silenzio stampa"
I would love it if each note was highlighted as it was played because I can't read music very well; maybe using different colours for each instrument so I could follow along visually.
Geniusz
Beethoven *___KANN/KONNTE DAS !!!___*
The first "middle period" symphony of Beethoven...
More a case ot a transitional work between his First Period and Second Period much like the C minor Piano Concerto, String Quintet, Piano Sonatas Op 26-31 all written between 1800-2.
Here Beethoven still sounded a bit like Mozart or Haydn, nonetheless it still is a beautiful work. But how much of a shock would have been for the audiences with his following symphony...
I missed your videos, for some reason they don't pop up on my feed anymore
@@twanswagten unfortunately it depends on whether my videos are deemed interesting enough to the wider public. If you'd like, you could always turn on notifications for my channel!
@@skylarlimex Good idea :)
Just wondering, is the sheet music shown the Liszt transcription?
Yes indeed
Yea, great occasion to say that he didn't think of it in terms of harmonic functions.
@@matim7549 I doubt any great composer really thought of their music in terms of harmonic functions...they just composed.
This symphony was arranged by Big B himself for piano trio. I actually prefer the chamber arrangement, weirdly enough.
I've sight read that just for fun, the introduction is a pain to keep in rhythm 😅
At 0:07, why do you say IVadd6 rather than ii65?
It simply sounds more like a IV function, the D doesn't sound like a seventh by the movement of the melody and if we replace the chord with the IV we get largely the same movement compared to a ii6 for example.
@@skylarlimex Add6 chords weren't really a thing in Beethoven's time though?
@@KingstonCzajkowski Add6 on I is pretty much non existent but there is indeed a distinction to be made between ii65 and IVadd6 I think. Just look at the opening bars of Beethoven's 18th piano sonata and you'll find quite a convincing use of IVadd6.
As far as i know, IVadd6 is quite common since classical period
@@skylarlimex Ah see, even that I view as a seventh chord in first inversion, but I can understand each side of the argument.
Great lesson! thanks. i will listen to the whole thing now, alas, i kow 7, 9, 5 but not the others so much.
All of them are wonderful, each very different from the other, but all unmistakeably Beethoven.
Basedthoven
Has there anyone transcribed this masterpiece for piano? :)
beethoven
good piece bad conductor
Mozart was seated behind him dictating
La esencia de la música no está en la partitura, la partitura intenta capturarla; la música es oído, no visión.
Beethoven's 2nd Symphony is already better than 90% of what chopin could ever fart out.
💯
Quite insulting to one of the greatest to have ever lived. Even if you want to think of 90% of Chopin music as farts, the last 10% are farts of pixie dust because of the magic he had. Beethoven was less of a musical poet until later in his life. He used scales and arpeggios and other fundamental music theory into his technique. More specifically the semi quaver. Chopin incorporated this same concept along with the most simple progressions and still came up with a melody that can jerk a tear into his music. Not technique, which makes Chopin more musical. But nonetheless how can we say one is better than the other? Both from different time periods. That's like comparing the mumble rap we have now to 80s music. It's just different.
This is so classical, predictable, similar and boring af
Have you actually listened to classical music? There’s a lot of depth to this piece but go on I guess
you and I have different definitions of "wild" it seems
'Wild' can be interpreted in a historical context.
Oh I know Beethoven did go absolutely wild after eroica he never looked back raising the wildness with each symphony (except 8 which is more traditional.) I don’t see what’s wild in this fairly standard sequence that does little to break form but has a couple off putting harmonic protrusions