Ludwig van Beethoven composed his sixth symphony between the years 1807 and 1808, when he was about 38 years old. In the program for its premiere, which took place on December 22, 1808 at the historic An der Wien theater in Vienna (Austria), it appeared as: ‘Memories of life in the country’, in F major. The concert lasted four hours, although the piece lasts 40 minutes.

The musician worked on his sixth symphony at the same time as the fifth and the premiere was also simultaneous, as explained from History of the Symphony.

In what is known as “Pastoral Symphony”Beethoven expresses his love for nature and life in the countryside. She does it by trying to transmit sensations, rather than as landscape descriptions. That is, Beethoven He does not want to make a simple painting of the countryside, but rather to bring forth feelings in the listener.expressing sensations through music.

Why Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony is important

Beethoven’s sixth symphony is important, among other things, for being considered the origin of programmatic music, from which during romanticism the so-called symphonic poem

The programmatic music It is one that seeks to evoke ideas and images in the listener’s mind, musically representing a scene, image or state of mind. On the contrary, the absolute music that which is appreciated for itself, without any particular reference to the world outside the music itself.

The work consists of the following movements:

  • Allegro ma non troppo: Awakening of happy feelings when finding yourself in the countryside.
  • Andante molto mosso: Scene by the stream.
  • Allegro: Lively meeting of farmers.
  • Allegro (very short): Lightning. Storm.
  • Allegretto: Anthem of the shepherds. Joy and feelings of gratitude after the storm.

Beethoven does not make a painting of the countryside, but rather makes feelings reborn in the listener, expressing feelings in music.