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Ludwig van Beethoven — Symphony No.5 - Allegro Con Brio
Album: Herbert Von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic
Avg rating:
9.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3513









Released: 1808
Length: 7:15
Plays (last 30 days): 0
(Instrumental)
Comments (764)add comment
What an absolutely awesome segue from Jean-Michel Jarre to Beethoven.
Thank you Bill for yet again reminding me why RP remains the soundtrack of my life!
Would love to see more piano based classical pieces on RP and less violin / strings classical pieces. 
 Edweirdo wrote:


Before Beethoven he gave us Bach, in my view the greatest composer in the Western canon.


My favorite may be Tchaikovsky, but I like them all.
 unclehud wrote:

This is Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
The repeated motif at the beginning of this movement: dit-dit-dit-dah.
Morse code for the letter V is dit-dit-dit-dah.
The Roman numeral for 5 is V.

Coincidence? NO! 

It's proof that aliens were around in Beethoven's time and influenced him to write this symphony with a message (using a code that had not yet been developed by humans) to those that can see the truth!

<insert sarcastic, cynical smiley>



In spanish speaking countries this piece is know as "Para papá"  For your father... guess why?  
An oldie but a goodie alright
 IvanTheMediocre wrote:
And xylophone! <grin>


It doesn't quit work without a Didgeridoo.
 ImaOldman wrote:



Thank god it's not the letter "Q"...

Why?
Is 'Q' the Roman Numeral for 'pi' 

Da, Da, Dit, Da, doesn't sound unfamiliar.. where've i heard that before?


PS - wait a minute, i think i've got it -
Da Da Dit Da is that the Wedding March, or the Funeral one? always struggled with knowing one from the other   He, He, He.
Van Karajan, a Nazi. 
 huib wrote:

A little more cowbell wouldn't harm.

And xylophone! <grin>

A little more cowbell wouldn't harm.
 unclehud wrote:

This is Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
The repeated motif at the beginning of this movement: dit-dit-dit-dah.
Morse code for the letter V is dit-dit-dit-dah.
The Roman numeral for 5 is V.

Coincidence? NO! 

It's proof that aliens were around in Beethoven's time and influenced him to write this symphony as a coded message to those that can see the truth!

<insert sarcastic, cynical smiley>




Thank god it's not the letter "Q"...
 dwlangham wrote:
Like U2 and Cold Play, entirely overrated. Insufferable and bloated. An oboe solo? Seriously? What a pretentious jerk off.





Too funny 
Like U2 and Cold Play, entirely overrated. Insufferable and bloated. An oboe solo? Seriously? What a pretentious jerk off.


GODLIKE!!!  Especially when he played with Led Zeppelin!
 seethedolphins wrote:

Beethoven, and his music, convinces me that God exists.  The fact that He deigned to give us only one Beethoven makes me think He is not that nice.


He (or SHE) did give us Mozart and Bach also...
The first record I bought at 15.
I know it’s cliché but this is a manifestation of the beauty in the world that can never be articulated.
 freddyfender wrote:

27 people who should all be banned from this station!


Agreed.
I heard it on NPR
 sramsay wrote:

I will never, ever understand the adulation for Herbert von Karajan -- particularly as an interpreter of Beethoven.  It's like he's rushing to get through it, and there's no real phrasing to speak of.  There must be a dozen recordings of the symphonies that are more interesting, and yet this has somehow become the "canonical" recording.  I'm just not hearing whatever "genius" everyone else is.

The symphony itself is, certainly, godlike.



Con brio, my son, con brio.
 sramsay wrote:
I will never, ever understand the adulation for Herbert von Karajan -- particularly as an interpreter of Beethoven.  It's like he's rushing to get through it, and there's no real phrasing to speak of.  There must be a dozen recordings of the symphonies that are more interesting, and yet this has somehow become the "canonical" recording.  I'm just not hearing whatever "genius" everyone else is.

The symphony itself is, certainly, godlike.
 
I had the von Karajan, and could distinguish his version from another that I owned.  Listening to the last chords this evening, it DID sound rushed, and, how to say, bangy.  Not strong and thunderous, which would be better.  I'll go listening for another rendition that handles the strong moments better.
 unclehud wrote:

This is Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
The repeated motif at the beginning of this movement: dit-dit-dit-dah.
Morse code for the letter V is dit-dit-dit-dah.
The Roman numeral for 5 is V.

Coincidence? NO! 

It's proof that aliens were around in Beethoven's time and influenced him to write this symphony as a coded message to those that can see the truth!

<insert sarcastic, cynical smiley>



do i need a tin foil hat too??
 Yiungdrac wrote:




oh my you need a lot of medication and a tin foil cap
 unclehud wrote:

This is Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
The repeated motif at the beginning of this movement: dit-dit-dit-dah.
Morse code for the letter V is dit-dit-dit-dah.
The Roman numeral for 5 is V.

Coincidence? NO! 

It's proof that aliens were around in Beethoven's time and influenced him to write this symphony as a coded message to those that can see the truth!

<insert sarcastic, cynical smiley>



Go see this at the full symphony orchestra. 100 musicians playing. Far better than some silly rock band. Far LOUDER too.
Saxamaphone!
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Although Alex probably would have preferred the 9th. 


Ludwig VAN!!!!
Definition of "Godlike".
I will never, ever understand the adulation for Herbert von Karajan -- particularly as an interpreter of Beethoven.  It's like he's rushing to get through it, and there's no real phrasing to speak of.  There must be a dozen recordings of the symphonies that are more interesting, and yet this has somehow become the "canonical" recording.  I'm just not hearing whatever "genius" everyone else is.

The symphony itself is, certainly, godlike.
This is definitely a 10. But the final movement of the 7th is a 12 and the ode to joy from the 9th is a 20.
 Proclivities wrote:

Yeah, it's repetitive, derivative, and it sounds vaguely like Mumford & Sons.


Mumford and Sonnnnnsssss
Mumford and Sonnnnnnnnnsssss
(I'll never not hear that now)
 bluematrix wrote:

Apologies ahead of time, but for some strange reason I feel compelled to tell a joke from my early childhood which I'm sure most of you have heard already. But for some reason I can't fight this strange compulsion...

What's brown and sits on a piano bench?

Beethoven's fifth movement.

I know, i know, sorry.


So that was one for all the kids and kids-in-spirit,
and here's one for all the dads and dad-souled folks:

When Beethoven passed away, he was buried in a churchyard. A couple days later, the town drunk was walking through the cemetery and heard some strange noise coming from the area where Beethoven was buried. Terrified, the drunk ran and got the priest to come and listen to it. The priest bent close to the grave and heard some faint, unrecognizable music coming from the grave. Frightened, the priest ran and got the town magistrate.
When the magistrate arrived, he bent his ear to the grave, listened for a moment, and said, "Ah, yes, that's Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, being played backwards."

He listened a while longer, and said, "There's the Eighth Symphony, and it's backwards, too. Most puzzling." So the magistrate kept listening; "There's the Seventh... the Sixth... the Fifth..."

Suddenly the realization of what was happening dawned on the magistrate; he stood up and announced to the crowd that had gathered in the cemetery, "My fellow citizens, there's nothing to worry about. It's just Beethoven decomposing."
always expecting the Beatles to kick in...
Although Alex probably would have preferred the 9th. 
Check out this version of the 5th: 

Ekseption - The 5th (1969) - YouTube

I love this one :-)
For fun, listen to Peter Schickele's New Horizons in music appreciation here:

https://youtu.be/f0vHpeUO5mw

"And we're off!!"
The Morse code thing is interesting except for the fact that this symphony was composed in 1808 and the Morse code wasnt developed until 30 years later. I like the idea though.
This Beethoven guy is  pretty good, he'll go far.
 admascott wrote:
whoever rated this a 1 should not be listening to music
 

They're not...
 Proclivities wrote:

Yeah, it's repetitive, derivative, and it sounds vaguely like Mumford & Sons.
 
ELO did it better?!
 seethedolphins wrote:
Beethoven, and his music, convinces me that God exists.  The fact that He deigned to give us only one Beethoven makes me think He is not that nice.
 

He also gave us Mozart!
Beautiful.  Simply, beautiful.
At the beginning, I'm waiting for the Chuck Berry guitar riff to play and then I look up and see it's the whole Beethoven and I'm bummed.
RP making a mockery of all the FM “variety” stations 😁.
Overrated!!!
Karajan  tends to 'blend it all together' giving the effect he just wants to get the performance over with using the bare minimum of pauses. He also ups the tempo just to piss off  the violins I figure :)
 unclehud wrote:
This is Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
The repeated motif at the beginning of this movement: dit-dit-dit-dah.
Morse code for the letter V is dit-dit-dit-dah.
The Roman numeral for 5 is V.

Coincidence? NO! 

 
Probably just means that the bloke who invented Morse Code was a fan of classical music.
Aaah Beethoven, the first Metal-head
 seethedolphins wrote:
Beethoven, and his music, convinces me that God exists.  The fact that He deigned to give us only one Beethoven makes me think He is not that nice.
 

Before Beethoven he gave us Bach, in my view the greatest composer in the Western canon.
Nice - but not common here at RP. I look forward to the day when RP can indulge us in more instrumental pieces throughout the day. There are many artists to choose from. Mainstream groups like Split Enz, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Simple Minds, The Who, and Roxy Music have done instrumentals. Maybe start with instrumental versions of the classics. Heard of Devo’s E-Z Listening Disc ? (contains an instrumental version of  Whip It, among others) Here are just a few Steves making great instrumentals: Steve Morse, Steve Coolidge, Steve Hackett, Steve Howe, Steve Vai, and Steve Hillage, etc..
When I heard the opening, I thought you were going to play the 5th Symphony Boogie, which made me smile.  So, how about it?

So, just looked it up.  It was actually called " A Fifth Of Beethoven."  

Released 1808?
Keith Richards was just a kid!
This always gives me the feeling of a crescendo moment in a National Lampoon movie. I think I'll go spark up the welder and put a bull bar on the Cadillac just in case.
I am still waiting for the extended mix.
 bluematrix wrote:
Apologies ahead of time, but for some strange reason I feel compelled to tell a joke from my early childhood which I'm sure most of you have heard already. But for some reason I can't fight this strange compulsion...

What's brown and sits on a piano bench?

Beethoven's fifth movement.

I know, i know, sorry.




This Beethoven guy is pretty cool.
 bbgun wrote:
How Bill can resist following this with ELO's Roll Over Beethoven every single time, just for the fun of it, is a mystery to me. 
 

I'm always waiting for the Joke with ELO too! Bill, please!!!
I crank the volume all the way to 11 for this, just like I do with AC/DC...thanks RP for playing both artists here...and LLRP!!
 bluematrix wrote:
Apologies ahead of time, but for some strange reason I feel compelled to tell a joke from my early childhood which I'm sure most of you have heard already. But for some reason I can't fight this strange compulsion...

What's brown and sits on a piano bench?

Beethoven's fifth movement.

I know, i know, sorry.
 

I was fixin' to unleash a whole strand of emojis... no luck. Perhaps no accidente. Recontrer Accidendente, on the buses?  I could tell you about him...
 LuvsMusic wrote:


Morse code was invented in the 1830's <insert double sarcastic upside down devil face> 
 
Invented by Beethoven and stolen by Morse?
 kazoo wrote:
Is it just me, or does the conductor look like David Byrne?
 
More likely David Byrne modeled his look on von Karajan's.
Is it just me, or does the conductor look like David Byrne?
 ImaOldman wrote:

I would take that as proof there is no God...
 
He gave us PLENTY.
perhaps the best numba played by Bill. Moonlight Sonata better, but happy for higher anything. OMG, just read down, laughing my ass off right now!
 thewiseking wrote:
Wolfgang SUCKS! Play more FLOYD!
 
Me thinks thewiseking be not so wise.
Wolfgang SUCKS! Play more FLOYD!
 seethedolphins wrote:
Beethoven, and his music, convinces me that God exists.  The fact that He deigned to give us only one Beethoven makes me think He is not that nice.
 
I would take that as proof there is no God...
 unclehud wrote:
This is Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
The repeated motif at the beginning of this movement: dit-dit-dit-dah.
Morse code for the letter V is dit-dit-dit-dah.
The Roman numeral for 5 is V.

Coincidence? NO! 

It's proof that aliens were around in Beethoven's time and influenced him to write this symphony as a coded message to those that can see the truth!

<insert sarcastic, cynical smiley>
 

Morse code was invented in the 1830's <insert double sarcastic upside down devil face> 
Apologies ahead of time, but for some strange reason I feel compelled to tell a joke from my early childhood which I'm sure most of you have heard already. But for some reason I can't fight this strange compulsion...

What's brown and sits on a piano bench?

Beethoven's fifth movement.

I know, i know, sorry.
I really don't like Karajan that much. I'd rather listen to Cluytens conducing the same masterpiece.
 bking wrote:
Fifth of Beethoven so much better than this drivel.
 
Heathen.
How Bill can resist following this with ELO's Roll Over Beethoven every single time, just for the fun of it, is a mystery to me. 
Wow, the full suite is fantastic. Usually just hear the motif.
Fifth of Beethoven so much better than this drivel.
 freddyfender wrote:

27 people who should all be banned from this station!
 If you like this listen to NPR, play Hawkwind


  I was waiting for ELO to kick it in after the first couple of bars.. 
onerb wrote:

Beethoven obviously phoned this one in...

 
Proclivities wrote:

Yeah, it's repetitive, derivative, and it sounds vaguely like Mumford & Sons.
 
This might have been the last time he could have "phoned it in" - nearly completely deaf in just a few years after this came out.....which is all the more impressive to think he was writing SYMPHONIES while deaf!  GawdDam!!  Long Live RP and keep the Classical HITS coming!!

Beethoven not only a composer but an institution. He seemingly, single handedly,  brought Europe out of a very dark period.
You just have to love RP for music like this!
 mhamann123 wrote:
@Jamus, you're quite right, it's so much better when listening to the whole Symphony, however the same could be said for any piece of music.
After Symphonies came Albums.
I feel sorry for the 'iTunes generation' that only buy individual songs and never appreciate an artist's full vision.
That said, after hearing this on RP I listened to the full album of this recording.
btw Bill, it was actually released 1963 not 1808...
 
This recording may have been released in 1963, but the 5th Symphony was debuted in 1808, hence the release date being what it is. Similar dates appear on other classical scores played on RP, Erik Satie, for example.
Got a real touch of Bugs Bunny about this...…….
whoever rated this a 1 should not be listening to music
 Love this!!!
This is Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
The repeated motif at the beginning of this movement: dit-dit-dit-dah.
Morse code for the letter V is dit-dit-dit-dah.
The Roman numeral for 5 is V.

Coincidence? NO! 

It's proof that aliens were around in Beethoven's time and influenced him to write this symphony with a message (using a code that had not yet been developed by humans) to those that can see the truth!

<insert sarcastic, cynical smiley>
 mhamann123 wrote:
Herbert Von Karajans 5th is musical perfection. I reserve my 10 ratings on RP for excellence. This is one of them.
 
And as #1356 to rate this a 10, it looks like the majority of song-raters here agree!  (THANK god for that!) Long Live RP!!
 mhamann123 wrote:
Herbert Von Karajans 5th is musical perfection. I reserve my 10 ratings on RP for excellence. This is one of them.
 
I agree

Nah, there are better covers of the fifth. LSO has quite  a good number. Bernard Haitink nailed it. 
@Jamus, you're quite right, it's so much better when listening to the whole Symphony, however the same could be said for any piece of music.
After Symphonies came Albums.
I feel sorry for the 'iTunes generation' that only buy individual songs and never appreciate an artist's full vision.
That said, after hearing this on RP I listened to the full album of this recording.
btw Bill, it was actually released 1963 not 1808...
While I applaud your initiative to introduce at least the chestnuts to RP's large audience, these little gems arrive with no context. They were written to be part of a much larger symphony - in this absence, I'm finding them too incongruous Bill.
Beethoven, and his music, convinces me that God exists.  The fact that He deigned to give us only one Beethoven makes me think He is not that nice.
Always room for more Classical on RP - IMHO.....
Thanks for mixing it up RP! 
 
Herbert Von Karajans 5th is musical perfection. I reserve my 10 ratings on RP for excellence. This is one of them.
It is this version of the 5th - von Karajan's Berlin Symphony - that I owned, and came to know so well.  At some point, I acquired the 5th by another orchestra, another Maestro. And the differences were so notable.  Not lesser, just the emphases were different.
9 -> 10 -  G O D L I K E
5th, 7th, 9th; how many of us could have done this with even total hearing...point being Beethoven was simply a genius!!! His pieces always take my breath away... 

kingart wrote:

I'm not sure, but I think Ludwig van was not quite deaf when he wrote the 5th. It has been said that the famous opening notes was the beating upon his door of the accelerating loss of hearing. He was deaf thereafter, on the 7th - 9th, the Missa Solemnis, and all else. His finest works of music were composed by a deaf man. Never fails to amaze and inspire me. 
 

 


 kingart wrote:

I'm not sure, but I think Ludwig van was not quite deaf when he wrote the 5th. It has been said that the famous opening notes was the beating upon his door of the accelerating loss of hearing. He was deaf thereafter, on the 7th - 9th, the Missa Solemnis, and all else. His finest works of music were composed by a deaf man. Never fails to amaze and inspire me. 
 

 


Nothing like a little Ludwig in the morning...followed by Jimi Hendrix!!! Love you Radio Paradise!{#Smile}
this Beethoven guy shows some pretty good potential. 
SRV opening for Beethoven...that's THAT'S a GREAT DOUBLE-BILL!
 Randy wrote:
No question, Beethoven was a genius.  He was deaf when composed the 5th.  Never gets old.   

 
I'm not sure, but I think Ludwig van was not quite deaf when he wrote the 5th. It has been said that the famous opening notes was the beating upon his door of the accelerating loss of hearing. He was deaf thereafter, on the 7th - 9th, the Missa Solemnis, and all else. His finest works of music were composed by a deaf man. Never fails to amaze and inspire me. 
 
 Randy wrote:
No question, Beethoven was a genius.  He was deaf when composed the 5th.  Never gets old.   

 
He was impaired while composing the 5th, but not completely deaf until the incredible 9th.
 flyboy50 wrote:

Every lover of rock and pop should give Carl Orff's  'Carmina Burana' a listen.



 
Yes indeed!!
And good grief, what has this guy put out lately? Resting on his laurels.
 

Kaw wrote:
It's obviously a good symphony, but I heared it too many times. For many people this symphony has become the body of classical music. You say classical music. They say paddaddapaaam! It has become sort of cheesy to my ears.

There is a lot more crazy good classical music out there... 

 


Every lover of rock and pop should give Carl Orff's  'Carmina Burana' a listen.


I just wonder...What IF this got slipped into the poppy FM station my 12 year-old daughter listens to? Would listeners even notice? I like to think they would have a moment of pre-teen clarity. Just wondering. REGARDLESS of that silly thought as well as how many times I've heard it: Thank you Bill, for playing this. Now on to Jimi Hendrix. Got it!
No question, Beethoven was a genius.  He was deaf when composed the 5th.  Never gets old.   
 On_The_Beach wrote:

So you're essentially calling this the "Stairway to Heaven" of classical music?  {#Wink}

 
Exactly!
 Kaw wrote:
It's obviously a good symphony, but I heared it too many times. For many people this symphony has become the body of classical music. You say classical music. They say paddaddapaaam! It has become sort of cheesy to my ears.

There is a lot more crazy good classical music out there...
 
So you're essentially calling this the "Stairway to Heaven" of classical music?  {#Wink}
It's obviously a good symphony, but I heared it too many times. For many people this symphony has become the body of classical music. You say classical music. They say paddaddapaaam! It has become sort of cheesy to my ears.

There is a lot more crazy good classical music out there... 
speakers wobbling {#Dancingbanana}
SOOOOOOOOOI GOOD on a sunning morning drinking coffee. SO loud. SO good

{#Boohoo}{#Boohoo}{#Boohoo}{#Boohoo}{#Boohoo}{#Boohoo}{#Boohoo}{#Boohoo}{#Boohoo}{#Boohoo}{#Boohoo}{#Boohoo}{#Boohoo}{#Boohoo}{#Boohoo}{#Boohoo}{#Boohoo}{#Boohoo}{#Boohoo}{#Boohoo}{#Boohoo}


 steeler wrote:
How does one rate this as sucko-barfo? 28 did.

  28 people with a very narrow perspective on music


 SuperWeh wrote:
not my thing. also not into the whole "i know something about music because i listen to classical music sometimes" thing. still, a whole lot better than anything mozart put out.

 
Agree re, Mozart. Disagree re, "i know something about music because i listen to classical music sometimes". I don't care if I am classified as a musical pleb. I know what I like and I like Beethoven, Verdi, Vivaldi, Saint-Saens, Borodin and so on.
Also like Van Halen, Rolling Stones, Garth Brooks, CSNY, Dire Straits and so on.
Great to 'know' music (my son the cellist gives me an education in this respect). Much prefer to tune in and decide "yes, it is good" (as in Vivaldi or Van Halen) or "no, it is drivel" (why am I thinking U2 right now).
 Pedro1874 wrote:

{#Notworthy}{#Clap}{#Sunny} This is why we love RP.  Stevie Ray segued into Ludwig Van.  {#Yes}

 
Followed by Jimi. RP - by far the best
 Typesbad wrote:
Most famous riff of all time?

  That or Eine Kleine Nachtmusik


 msymmes wrote:
And to follow Stevie Ray Vaughan's version of Pipeline is something you won't here anywhere else {#Bananajam}{#Bananajumprope}

 
{#Notworthy}{#Clap}{#Sunny} This is why we love RP.  Stevie Ray segued into Ludwig Van.  {#Yes}
OH BILL, YOU ECLECTIC DEVIL.
Simply superb!!
Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No3 would be the cherry on top.