# What's your favourite Beethoven symphony? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 27, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247 "2010-09-27T17:36:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247/1 "2010-09-27T17:36:22Z")
There will be a poll if I can work out how to make one. If you’d like to share favourite recordings or performances, that could be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247/2 "2010-09-27T17:49:03Z")
I’ll go with the 9th, in the 1963 Karajan/Berlin recording. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247/3 "2010-09-27T17:52:39Z")
I agree about the Von Karajan/Berlin recording (I have the set on CD and vinyl, and listen to them all), but my favorite is still the 5th, followed by the 7th, 6th, and 9th. I also have an affection for the “10th”, but that doesn’t really count. I think I like it just because it _is_ obscure. > **[Symphony No. 10 (Beethoven/Cooper)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._10_%28Beethoven/Cooper%29)** > > Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 10 in E♭ major is a hypothetical work, assembled in 1988 by Barry Cooper from Beethoven's fragmentary sketches for the first movement. All the sketches assembled were clearly intended for the same symphony, which would have followed the Ninth, since they appear together in several small groups, and there is consensus that Beethoven did intend to compose another symphony. Cooper's score was first performed at a concert given in 1988 by the Royal Philharmonic So... ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247/4 "2010-09-27T17:54:22Z")
9th, then 5th, 6th, 3rd, 7th. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247/5 "2010-09-27T17:56:49Z")
Have to be the 9th, then the 7th, 3rd, and 5th ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247/6 "2010-09-27T18:02:22Z")
I might be tempted to vote for 9th as “greatest work of human art in all of history”. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247/7 "2010-09-27T18:04:53Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Have to be the 9th, then the 7th, 3rd, and 5th Were his even-numbered ones just _practice_ symphonies? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247/8 "2010-09-27T18:05:11Z")
9th, but I am very fond of 5 and 6 too. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247/9 "2010-09-27T18:05:49Z")
The greatest is, of course, the 9th. But you’re asking for our “favorite,” and that would be the 7th. George Szell, Cleveland Orchestra. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247/10 "2010-09-27T18:13:02Z")
I voted for the 9th, but also have fondness for the 5th, 7th, 3rd, 6th, and 8th in that order. The 4th is okay but not as inspiring or amusing as any of the above. The 2nd sometimes sounds like it wants to be the 9th, but Beethoven hasn’t got there yet. And the 1st is forgetable–I know I’ve heard it several times, but I couldn’t hum any piece of it if you asked me. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247/11 "2010-09-27T18:31:54Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > > [@RealityChuck](#): > > > > Have to be the 9th, then the 7th, 3rd, and 5th > > Were his even-numbered ones just _practice_ symphonies? 😃 The 2nd is far better than the 1st, but otherwise… ---
**Author:** ![Sonnenstrahl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Sonnenstrahl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sonnenstrahl)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247/12 "2010-09-27T18:34:23Z")
The 9th is probably the greatest, but I listen to the 5th and 6th the most. I think the second movement of the 5th is my favourite thing that Beethoven wrote. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247/13 "2010-09-27T18:39:21Z")
From the way the poll results are shaping up, you’d think that Beethoven’s Symphonies are like the inverse of Star Trek movies --only the odd ones are good (as **Juggernaut** has already noticed). Except that, as I’ve said, the 6th is really great. And I love the 8th, too. They just don’t seem to be #1 on anyone’s hit parade. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247/14 "2010-09-27T18:55:32Z")
I think the sixth is the real masterpiece. It’s perfect. It’s like a concept album, if concept albums weren’t made by idiots. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247/15 "2010-09-27T18:56:51Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > The 2nd is far better than the 1st, but otherwise… > [@CalMeacham](#): > > the 6th is really great. :smack: How did I totally forget the wonderful 6th? ---
**Author:** ![ErinPuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@ErinPuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ErinPuff)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247/16 "2010-09-27T18:59:53Z")
My favorites are 3, 5, and 7. I’m a TA for a “classical music for non-music majors”-type course this semester, and we’re covering the 3rd this week, so I’ve been listening to it a lot, and I just never get tired of it. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247/17 "2010-09-27T19:40:57Z")
I voted for 8 because I figured it needed the love, though on another day I might’ve said 9, 6, or 5. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247/18 "2010-09-27T19:50:37Z")
The 6th, far and away. Probably because of Fantasia. But the 9th and 5th are very close behind it. I can’t even remember how the 7th goes; I’ll have to check that out again. ---
**Author:** ![Figaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ea666f/32.png) [@Figaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Figaro)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247/19 "2010-09-27T20:00:17Z")
I couldn’t vote for #8 given my love for 5, 7, 9, etc., but it is by far the most _humorous_ Beethoven symphony. Wonderful. This thread raises a question in my mind: have I ever heard Beethoven 2? I really can’t remember… ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247/20 "2010-09-27T20:36:10Z")
9th, then 5th and 3rd, with a special mention to the last movement of the 4th. Not that I don’t listen to 2,7 and 8 over and over also. The first is good, but clearly the work of someone just beginning. The 6th never did it for me - it seems Beethoven felt he had to do program music for once. BTW, you can get DVDs of Karajan and the Berlin doing the symphonies. I’ve seen the 9th, 2nd and 3rd, and have the one with the 4th and 5th at home. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-beethoven-symphony/555247.md?page=2)