Rock and Romantic Comparisons

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 is a proper and exact representation of the classical period, especially because Beethoven is one of the most influential composers of all time. This symphony optimizes the Romantic Classical Period. This movement starts with a call and response between the string section and the wood section. The cellos take over a melody at piano that transition to the melody being passed between the high woodwinds and the violins. The piece moves onto a 6/8 scherzo that is a kind of military march. The main theme of the melody “Ode to Joy” is introduced by the brass accompanied by the strings in the harmony. A male soloist is the first vocal to be heard and leads into the main melody being sung by the whole choir. The first introduction from a major classical composer that adds a choir into the piece in order to create a template that helps to set the form for the symphonies of the Romantic Classical Era. The choir part turns into somewhat of a cannon. One in which they build to the climax and the reintroduction of the main melody of “ode to joy”. Throughout the piece there is several fugato type parts. A fugue is a piece of music written for 3 to 6 vocal parts. The melody presented at the beginning of the piece is relatively short, however the form of the melody sang by the choir later is much more elaborate. This follows the Romantic classical trend of repeating the melody at a different time at different lengths. The Choir soothes into the finale of the piece when the sopranos sing a repetition of the melody at allegro. The finale of the movement ends in the dynamic last few minutes with many accented attacks leading to a impassioned climax that is characteristic of the Classical Romantic symphonies.