It’s No Secret: French Horns and Timpani Drums are Powerful Components of Beethoven's Music
Listen carefully, and you will hear how important they are
Published in
4 min readSep 23, 2024
The power of the first four notes — BA BA BA Bum, set the stage for Beethoven’s 5th Symphony to resonate around the world. The theme is one of the most well-known music passages.
If you are unfamiliar with or need a reminder about the musical theme, here is a link to the 5th’s first movement. As a bonus, this clip shows Beethoven’s intense use of timpani drums and French Horns.
Listen and observe. The movement is only five minutes.
When Beethoven wrote his 5th Symphony, he was inspired by the French Revolution, the early onset of his deafness, and his resolve to push the musical envelope beyond the established conservative styles of the era.
Some musicologists believe we are listening to the deep inner turmoil brewing in the Maestro’s soul.
