English Commentary by Sergio Cánovas 

Beethoven’s Symphony No.6 was composed along with his fifth between 1807-8, being premiered at the Theater an der Wien on December 22 of 1808. Subtitled by the composer as «Pastoral», the work expresses his love for nature and life in the countryside. More than a landscape description, Beethoven wanted to express sensations and feelings. The work would become one of the sources from which modern programmatic music would be born, reaching its zenith with the symphonic poem during the middle-late romantic period.

The first movement is structured in sonata form. It begins with a lyrical melody on the cellos, which becomes the basis of an expansive first theme, depicting the composer’s feelings as he arrives in the countryside. The second theme is more lyrical and sustained. Then these materials are fully reexposed, as it was usual at the time. Follows a more dramatic development section, featuring sudden and unprepared modulations to far keys, as if rays of sunshine unexpectedly peek through the clouds. A climax leads directly to a brilliant recapitulation. After an expressive climax, the movement ends with a rustic coda based on the main theme.

The second movement is written in a modified sonata form. It begins with a gentle and flowing main theme presented by the strings, representing the calm stream of a brook. The second theme is more active and playful, presented through solos of the wood. Follows a varied and flowery development, with the woodwinds acquiring more presence with lyrical phrases that resemble birdsongs. The main themes are referenced in what could be considered a new part of the development or a very varied recapitulation. Close to the end we find a cadenza for the woodwinds that directly imitates bird calls: nightingale (flute), quail (oboe), and cuckoo (two clarinets). A calm coda ends the movement.

The third movement is a scherzo in an expanded ternary form (A-B-A’-B-Coda). It opens with a peasant dance theme, probably a parody of rustic bands the composer had heard in Viennese taverns. The woodwinds appear in several solos ornamenting the theme. The trio depicts a joyous Austrian country dance, rising in a boisterous climax. Then the scherzo is resumed, followed by the trio. When it seems that the scherzo is going to be recapitulated once more, an abrupt transition takes us directly to the next movement.

The fourth movement is very free in form, depicting a violent thunderstorm. Opens with a tense motive presented by the strings over tremolos, leading to a massive orchestral outburst. The motif is fleshed out into a full menacing theme. We can see the light from the clouds with a dancing motive presented by the strings, which is destroyed by a powerful attack of the storm’s theme, which leads to another catastrophic climax. The storm slowly subdues as the music goes into piano. The clarinet introduces the sketches of a lyrical theme while the storm is still present in the background. An ascending scale of the flute directly leads us to the final movement.

The fifth movement is structured in a sonata-rondo form. The clarinet presents a lyrical pastoral theme from the previous fragments, depicting the image of a cheerful shepherd gathering his joyous flocks after the dark thunderstorm. The strings take and fully expose it, reaching a passionate climax. The second theme is more rhythmic and active in contrast, derived from the main one. Follows an emphatic development section. The recapitulation is varied, leading to joyous climaxes. The main theme reappears on the cellos in a delightful variation, which concludes with a massive climax. The main theme is then calmly restated. Two firm chords conclude the whole work. In the manuscript of the symphony Beethoven wrote, “We give thee thanks for thy great glory.” His pantheistic philosophy consistently found proximity to God in nature. Picture: «Beethoven and Nature» (1919) by American illustrator N. C. Wyeth. Musical analysis partially written by myself. Source: https://bit.ly/3HbPZd1 To check the score: https://t.ly/Q2H7o