I. Allegro con brio

Symphony No. 5, written in 1808, was first premiered at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna, Austria. This symphony was revolutionary because of the new emotional character Beethoven brought to his music. From its famous opening to its triumphant conclusion, Symphony No. 5 offers an intense journey that mirrors aspects of Beethoven’s personal struggles. These personal struggles include mainly his impending deafness that frightened him to the core. This first movement opens with one of the most recognizable four-note motifs in the Classical canon. This motif is continuously developed and passed around between instruments throughout the entire movement. The original motif heard at the beginning reappears at the end but with almost the entire orchestra playing it. The music leads into a coda section, signifying the dramatic end to this grandiose first movement.