Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 ‘Pastoral Symphony’ – Ludwig van Beethoven

Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 ‘Pastoral Symphony’ by Ludwig van Beethoven

Beethoven composed his 6th symphony based on his experience the rural town of Heiligenstadt in 1802 as well as visits to other rural locations in Austria.

The work is meant to illustrate the countryside in five movements:
I. Awakening of cheerful feelings on arrival in the countryside 00:00
II. Scene by the brook 10:56
III. Merry gathering of country folk 24:09
IV. Thunder, storm 29:22
V. Sheperd’s song. Cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm 32:35

Beethoven drafted a letter to his brothers while in Heilingstadt, but it was never sent. The letter was discovered after Beethoven’s death in 1827. In this letter, he makes reference to his realisation that he was losing his hearing and how this had led to depression and thoughts of suicide.
Despite this hardship, Beethoven never lost his purpose. In later correspondence to his brother, Beethoven remarked he was determined to “seize Fate by the throat; it shall certainly not crush me completely”.

He would go on to compose three more symphonies after the Pastoral Symphony as well as several other pieces for chamber music and orchestra.