listen and know inside out Beethoven's 9 symphonies.

Saw my college orchestra perform the second movements of 5 and 7 last night. It’s nice to get more familiar with these second movements which are often overshadowed by the first. (Especially in the case of the fifth symphony!)

ok im getting to know 2!8 next

I THINK I SHOULD DO THE EROICA TOO

ok 2 and 8 now-i also bought the score for 1

Well thats those two down. i find dictating the main melodic themes in each mvt really helps the memory bit, and the critical listening which familiarises myself with the work to a deeper degree. ok,beethoven 1 here i come!

i’m starting with the 5th and 6th-only 2 i have onc d-what a scandal i meant to be a music student!lol.k i recognise 1st and sec.mvts of 5th,also the last mvt. recognise the first and 3rd of pastoral(cos i dont like the 3rd!lol)phew.will report back when i can sing em all off.then it’l be 2 down,7 to go!whats the most important beethoven symphony 2recognise,besides the 5th and 6th?

...and then go find something to do, because it’s going to take a while. In between distance and demand, it looks like the First is going to take 3 hours to download. I wrote a script to start on the Second once that’s done, and so forth—through the Fifth.

On Monday, they start disappearing (from the BBC web site, anyway), and there will be two weeks before the Sixth through the Ninth get posted.

...but I would like to recognize and distinguish them when I hear them, and understand the story and unique musical value of each piece.

I’m using the BBC’s Beethoven Experience as an excuse to get on with this. They will be broadcasting each of the nine symphonies next week, and giving away the recordings as MP3s on their web site. If that catches on as a trend, perhaps it could do something to stir up interest in classical music in the MP3 generation.

I will be supplementing my listening with reading from this book.

I have already started by the 7th, which has been my favourite till now. Any ideas?