What are the famous opening notes?

The opening is a four note motif often described as "da-da-da-DUM" or three short notes followed by one long note. This simple rhythmic pattern becomes the foundation for the entire symphony. It is the most recognizable opening in classical music history and appears throughout all four movements.

How long is Beethoven's 5th Symphony?

The Fifth Symphony lasts approximately 33 minutes. It consists of four movements that create a dramatic journey from C minor to C major, from darkness to triumph. The third movement flows directly into the fourth without pause, which was a revolutionary innovation when Beethoven composed it.

Was Beethoven deaf when he wrote it?

Beethoven was losing his hearing but not completely deaf when he composed the Fifth Symphony between 1804 and 1808. His hearing had deteriorated significantly by the premiere. He struggled to conduct the December 22, 1808 performance. Within a few years, he would be unable to hear his music at all.

What does the opening motif mean?

The four note opening has been interpreted many ways over two centuries. Some call it "fate knocking at the door," though this description came from a student, not Beethoven. During World War II, it became a victory symbol because the rhythm matches the letter V in Morse code. Ultimately, its meaning is universal struggle and triumph.

Why is the 5th Symphony so famous?

The Fifth Symphony is famous because of its instantly recognizable opening, emotional power, and revolutionary compositional techniques. Beethoven built an entire 33 minute masterpiece from four simple notes. The dramatic journey from struggle to triumph resonates universally. It remains the most frequently performed symphony worldwide, appearing in films, commercials, and popular culture constantly.

How was the premiere received?

The December 22, 1808 premiere had mixed conditions but made a strong impression. The concert lasted over four hours in a freezing, unheated theater. The under rehearsed orchestra made mistakes. Despite these problems, audiences recognized the symphony's revolutionary brilliance. Critical acclaim grew rapidly as orchestras performed it with better preparation.

What instruments did Beethoven add?

Beethoven expanded the traditional orchestra by adding trombones, piccolo, and contrabassoon in the finale. These instruments were rarely used in symphonies before. They created a massive, powerful sound audiences had never experienced. This orchestral expansion influenced all later Romantic composers and became standard in symphonic music.

December 22, 1808: Beethoven's 5th Symphony Premieres

The iconic four-note opening debuts in Vienna

On December 22, 1808, Ludwig van Beethoven premiered his Fifth Symphony at Vienna's Theater an der Wien, introducing the world to the most recognizable opening in classical music history.

Key Facts

Premiere Date

December 22, 1808

Premiere Location

Theater an der Wien, Vienna

Duration

Approximately 33 minutes

Key Signature

C minor to C major

Number of Movements

Four movements

Composition Period

1804 to 1808

Opening Motif

Four note "short-short-short-long" pattern

Concert Length

Over 4 hours total program

Concert Temperature

Freezing cold, unheated theater

Other Works Premiered

Symphony No. 6, Piano Concerto No. 4, Choral Fantasy

Beethoven's Age

37 years old

Cultural Status

Most recognizable classical symphony worldwide

Quick Stats

Attribute	Value
World Premiere	December 22, 1808
Concert Duration	Over 4 hours (multiple works)
Symphony Length	33 minutes approximately
Composition Time	4 years (1804 to 1808)
Movements	Four connected movements
Opening Notes	Four note motif (da-da-da-DUM)
Original Orchestra Size	Approximately 60 musicians
First Publication	1809 (one year after premiere)
Annual Performances	Thousands worldwide, most performed symphony

About December 22, 1808: Beethoven's 5th Symphony Premieres

On December 22, 1808, Ludwig van Beethoven premiered his Fifth Symphony at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna, introducing audiences to four notes that would become the most recognizable opening in music history. The famous "da-da-da-DUM" motif has transcended classical music to become a universal cultural symbol, appearing in films, commercials, and pop culture for over two centuries.

The Marathon Premiere Concert

The December 22, 1808 concert was an extraordinary musical event by any standard. The concert began at 6:30 PM and lasted more than four hours. The symphony's journey from darkness to triumph resonated emotionally even in that difficult first performance.

The Revolutionary Four Note Motif

Beethoven builds the entire 33 minute symphony from this brief idea, demonstrating compositional genius. This association gave the symphony political significance Beethoven never intended. Beethoven proved that profound musical architecture could be built from the most basic materials.

Beethoven's Personal Struggles

He began work in 1804, around the same time he wrote the Heiligenstadt Testament, a letter expressing despair over his increasing deafness. By 1808, his hearing had deteriorated significantly. Conducting the December 22 premiere presented enormous challenges.

Musical Innovation and Structure

The Fifth Symphony broke numerous musical conventions and established new compositional approaches. He transformed the traditional third movement minuet into a dramatic scherzo filled with mystery and tension. The addition created a massive, powerful sound that audiences had never experienced.

Critical Reception and Legacy

By the 1810s, it was recognized as a masterpiece. Brahms felt intimidated by its perfection and delayed writing his own first symphony for decades. In the 20th century, the Fifth Symphony transcended the concert hall to become part of global popular culture.

The Fifth Symphony Today

More than two centuries after its premiere, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony remains vibrantly alive in musical culture. Modern orchestras perform it with technical polish the 1808 premiere never achieved, yet the music's raw power shines through regardless of performance quality. The December 22, 1808 premiere in a freezing Vienna theater launched a musical work that has touched billions of lives across two centuries.

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Did You Know?

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The premiere concert lasted over 4 hours in a freezing, unheated Vienna theater on December 22, 1808

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Beethoven composed the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies simultaneously, creating two opposite masterworks

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During World War II, the Allies used the opening motif as a victory symbol because it matches V in Morse code

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The entire 33 minute symphony develops from just four notes: da-da-da-DUM

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The performance broke down during the Choral Fantasy and Beethoven had to stop and restart

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The Fifth Symphony is the most frequently performed symphonic work worldwide, over 200 years later

Frequently Asked Questions

Beethoven's Fifth Symphony premiered on December 22, 1808, at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna. The concert lasted over four hours and also featured the premieres of his Sixth Symphony, Fourth Piano Concerto, and other works. Beethoven himself conducted and performed despite the freezing cold theater.