The Blissful Beauty of Beethoven's Symphony No. 4

In the history of music, perhaps no composer is as frequently discussed in terms of heavy concepts like struggle and anguish as Ludwig van Beethoven. Standing tall before him is the Symphony No. 3 'Eroica,' and looming behind him is the Symphony No. 5 'Fate.' Caught between these two monumental dramas, Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, Op. 60, shines with a light as pure as a miracle.

In this piece, I will unravel the unparalleled brightness and dignity of this work, as well as the charm of that special second movement that draws us in so effortlessly.

This music essay includes links to a performance by Le Concert des Nations, conducted by Jordi Savall, a master of the early music world who recreates the vivid sounds Beethoven likely heard at the time, capturing the happy coexistence of brightness and dignity. Please experience this fast-paced and fresh rendition of the Fourth, played on period instruments.

A style unique to Beethoven, beyond mere brightness

What fills the heart upon hearing this work is, above all, its overwhelming brightness. However, this is by no means a frivolous or giddy brightness. Throughout the work, Beethoven's characteristic majestic structural beauty and unwavering dignity run through it like a thick, solid core.

The first movement begins with an Adagio introduction that starts with a mysterious, dragging chord in B-flat minor, as if wandering through a dark, enigmatic fog. The technique of intentionally obscuring the tonic B-flat note to create a sense of tonal suspension is an innovation that foreshadows the opening of his Ninth Symphony.

However, in the next moment, as if literally blowing the fog away with a single stroke, a vivid B-flat major chord explodes in ff. From here, the first theme of the Allegro vivace begins, and the sudden surge of vitality and the power with which the orchestra moves forward as one is the very essence of the majestic Beethoven we love so dearly. The second theme, passed from bassoon to oboe to flute one measure at a time, also highlights the brilliance of the intricate ensemble. While maintaining classical balance, this movement is filled with the pleasure of seeing the energy hidden within explode in the best possible way.

▶️ Listen to the 1st movement [YouTube]—Jordi Savall (conductor), Le Concert des Nations
The original tempo markings (metronome marks) left by Beethoven in the score are surprisingly fast by modern standards. Savall takes this on head-on. The main section of the first movement and the fourth movement race by with a sense of speed that makes particles of light seem to scatter, bringing out 120% of the work's inherent youthful energy and radiance.

A miraculous slow movement that is too good to sleep through

When listening to classical symphonies, it is a luxurious problem everyone experiences to find themselves nodding off from comfort when the slow second movement begins. However, the Adagio of this Fourth Symphony makes you feel from the bottom of your heart that it would be a waste to fall asleep. It holds a beauty so breathtaking.

Against a backdrop of a heavenly melody in E-flat major, a dotted rhythm of 'ta-ta-ta-ta...' is persistently tapped out. This pulse, which sounds like a quietly beating heart or perhaps the footsteps of a loved one, gives the entire movement a mysterious sense of forward momentum.

As you are captivated by this beauty, you will realize you are standing on the threshold of a slumber. Yet, the desire not to miss even a single moment of the shimmering beauty ahead keeps us tethered to this music. The originality of the moment in the finale when the timpani quietly taps out this heartbeat rhythm in pp is, in a word, a masterpiece. This space, which the Romantic composer Berlioz praised as 'like the breath of an angel, not something written by a human,' offers us a time of supreme happiness.

▶️ Listen to the 2nd movement [YouTube]—Jordi Savall (conductor), Le Concert des Nations
The high-purity sound of the string instruments with restrained vibrato, unique to period instruments (instruments made to the specifications of the time they were composed), embodies a deep spirituality that seems to reminisce about a distant era. The way the heartbeat rhythm of 'ta-ta-ta-ta' blends with the simple, warm timbre of the wooden wind instruments is truly breathtaking.

The greatest joy that music brings

As you step into the later movements, the music increases even more in its degree of delight.

The third movement (Allegro molto e vivace) features playful accents that defy the beat. While some scores are marked Menuetto, it is essentially a scherzo with full momentum. Hemiola (a technique of mixing 2-beat accents into a 3-beat piece) and unexpected shifts in dynamics are used frequently, pleasantly toying with the listener. It is also characterized by an irregular A-B-A-B-A form, where the middle trio (Un poco meno allegro) appears twice, rather than the standard A-B-A ternary form.

▶️ Listen to the 3rd movement [YouTube]—Jordi Savall (conductor), Le Concert des Nations

And then, the finale of the fourth movement (Allegro ma non troppo), a perpetuum mobile where sixteenth notes race through the entire piece like particles of light. For the orchestra's string section, this movement is a technical touchstone as it requires playing at high speeds. At the end of the piece, a humorous highlight (a difficult passage) is prepared where the bassoon reproduces the high-speed passage as a solo, offering a glimpse of Beethoven's playfulness. The pure joy of playing music, and of listening to it, overflows here.

▶️ Listen to the 4th movement [YouTube]—Jordi Savall (conductor), Le Concert des Nations

Conclusion

Symphony No. 4 is a work that resonates from beginning to end not with the triumph that follows overcoming a heavy drama, but with gratitude for life and a sense of happiness in the here and now. There is no other masterpiece that is so radiant and yet retains such dignity. Schumann described this work as 'a Greek maiden between two Nordic giants' (Symphony No. 3 and Symphony No. 5).

If there is ever a moment in your daily life when your heart feels clouded, please take the hand of this 'Greek maiden.' There, the greatest brilliance awaits, ready to warmly illuminate us at any time.