# What's your favourite Beethoven Symphony, excluding the Fifth and Ninth? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 5, 2017, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216 "2017-06-05T20:43:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216/21 "2017-06-06T01:45:58Z")
The 6th, Pastoral, is my favorite. I like it better than the 9th, which I’ve never been able to get into. I saw _Fantasia_ as a small kid but didn’t really remember it–or maybe my faint or unconscious memories of it were what made me like it as an adult? Trinopus, I’d never heard the assignation theory but I can see why people might believe it. Here’s a great quiz, “Which Beethoven Symphony are You?” > **[Quiz: Which Beethoven Symphony Are You? | Classical Quizzes | WQXR](https://www.wqxr.org/story/quiz-which-beethoven-symphony-are-you/)** > > Celebrating Beethoven's birthday with music throughout the day and a quiz to see which Symphony you are most like. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216/22 "2017-06-06T02:40:16Z")
I can’t choose between the 6th and the 7th. It probably depends on my mood. I listen to all the symphonies – I have the complete set and often take it in the car. I’ve also loaded it onto an iPod, and can listen to it at the gym, but generally don’t choose to hear it there. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216/23 "2017-06-06T03:29:55Z")
6th, for _Fantasia_ and a children’s 45 called “The Lonesome Pine” that adapted it to the story. Then 3rd. Then 1st. It’s pleasingly simple but not too simple, and some identifiable harmonies and instrumentation show up there that he uses later. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216/24 "2017-06-06T05:29:24Z")
7th, regardless of whther you exclude the 5th and 9th or not. I’d put the 9th in second place, the 8th next, and then the 5th. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216/25 "2017-06-06T09:24:25Z")
I refuse to choose! They’re all delightful. ---
**Author:** ![D18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216/26 "2017-06-06T13:11:48Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Agreed. > > (Do you know the theory that the scene by the brook is an assignation? The way the music builds is supposed to mimic an act of love. The theory even suggests that it’s an illicit affair, because of the cuckoos, signifying cuckoldry. I think this idea is far-fetched and unlikely to be true, but I know people who strongly believe it.) Well, [Susan McClary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_McClary) infamously (or infamously in musicological circles at least) did an analysis of the Ninth which showed the recapitulation in the first movement is: > [@](#): > > . . . one of the most horrifying moments in music, as the carefully prepared cadence is frustrated, damming up the energy which final explodes in the throttling, murderous rage of a rapist incapable of attaining release. :eek: She dialed it back in a later reworking of the paper. (See the cite above for details, should you be interested). ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216/27 "2017-06-06T14:16:59Z")
Oh lordy, I’d forgotten all about Susan McClary, the Camille Paglia of musicology. That said, Beethoven certainly wasn’t above inserting narratives and jokes into his music (witness the little Janissary band that suddenly marches through the last movement of the 9th for no reason other than the sheer fun of it). I’m gonna say the 7th. The early ones, while excellent, are too Haydn-y for me to really enjoy them; Beethoven really hits his stylistic stride in the 5th and it’s all good from there. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216/28 "2017-06-06T15:07:30Z")
Another vote for Beethoven’s 7th. The third movement is merely very good, but the 1st, 2nd, and 4th movements are each amazing in their own ways. I absolutely love that symphony. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216/29 "2017-06-06T15:10:45Z")
> [@Toledo\_Jim](#): > > In general the odd numbered symphonies inspire me much more than the even numbered. I’ve heard this frequently, but the Pastoral kinda throws a monkeywrench in this, AFAIAC. How about this rule of thumb: Beethoven’s better symphonies were the ones that _weren’t_ powers of 2. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216/30 "2017-06-06T15:34:19Z")
7th, then 1st. ---
**Author:** ![D18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216/31 "2017-06-06T15:35:20Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I’ve heard this frequently, but the Pastoral kinda throws a monkeywrench in this, AFAIAC. > > How about this rule of thumb: Beethoven’s better symphonies were the ones that _weren’t_ powers of 2. LOL! Well, in the OP I mentioned my favourites were 2^2 followed by 2^3, and I’m kind of fond of 2^1 and 2^0, so, I’d say, bugger off! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216/32 "2017-06-06T19:16:06Z")
The 7th, followed by the 1st. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216/33 "2017-06-07T03:33:37Z")
Out of the revered realm of symphonies, if you appreciate other Beethoven “tunes”, you may appreciate this contemporary concert pianist who, IMHO, is among the world’s finest: _Yuja Wang_. Here she performs, [Waldstein](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTl_7ovLHJI) (first movement). Sure, not without few hiccups, but at age 8, I made more mistakes playing _chopsticks_. And here she is all grown up, playing a magnificent rendition of [Hammerklavier](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ5qJrtxWzs&t=35s). She’s nearly flawless. I really can’t fathom how such talent can emerge at such an early age and continue to improve and improve more over time. Of course this applies to the great composers/performers, as well (e.g. the 3 B’s, Mozart and company). We are the lucky recipients of their genius and hard work. BTW, Yuja’s repertoire includes much more than Beethoven. You should check it out. It’s quite impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216/34 "2017-06-09T02:30:29Z")
…and speaking of the exalted, rarefied space great symphonies hold in the public collective consciousness, sometimes the actual motifs are born of a more pedestrian, “human” nature—such as Beethoven’s “flatulent” movement: [Symphony #2, mvt. 4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M4NXNdvtAc). If, as I do, you believe musicologist, Robert Greenberg’s interpretation, this endears me even more to Ludwig’s genius…and sly wit—_hell, I can simply fart and people swoon._ ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216/35 "2017-06-09T02:38:33Z")
6th. Love the 6th. I should go listen to it now. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216/36 "2017-06-09T03:14:47Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I can’t choose between the 6th and the 7th. It probably depends on my mood. > > I listen to all the symphonies – I have the complete set and often take it in the car… Oscar Levant was once pulled over for speeding outside Los Angeles, and said to the patrolman “Officer, the Allegretto from Beethoven’s Seventh was on the radio, and I couldn’t help myself!” I’ll take the Third. Ludwig threw a shrapnel bomb right down the center lane of contemporary music with that sucker. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216/37 "2017-06-09T07:14:49Z")
His 10th was so beautiful and so sublime that it resonated across the galaxy, causing a warlike alien race to take notice of our developing civilization, travel billions of miles and enslave us all. I reluctantly teamed up with Doctor Who to go back to 1826 and stop him from finishing it. ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216/38 "2017-06-09T11:05:01Z")
Personally, leaving aside the 5th and 9th symphonies, my favorite would be the 7th, followed by the 6th. > [@gkster](#): > > Here’s a great quiz, “Which Beethoven Symphony are You?” > [Quiz: Which Beethoven Symphony Are You? | Classical Quizzes | WQXR](http://www.wqxr.org/story/quiz-which-beethoven-symphony-are-you/) Funny - I did that test and it said that I am a “6th symphony” type, and that Inwould go along well with a “7th symphony” type person ^.^ ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216/39 "2017-06-09T11:43:54Z")
Another vote for the 7th. IMO it’s better than the 5th, and the allegretto is better than almost anything, but the 9th is still the best symphony overall. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216/40 "2017-06-09T12:47:32Z")
After the 5th, the 7th is my favorite. The first recorded performance of it I ever had was by the Pittsburgh Symphony with Steinberg conducting, a terrific fast-paced version which I have not been able to find since. ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony-excluding-the-fifth-and-ninth/788216.md?page=3)