Beethoven’s neglected 4th Symphony

Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony has always been overshadowed by his Third, Fifth, and Ninth Symphonies. Robert Schumann described it as “a slender Grecian maiden between two Norse giants,” insinuating that the reason for its neglect may be its unfortunate placement between the monumental Third and Fifth Symphonies.

Even during Beethoven’s lifetime, a critic noted that “the master’s [Fourth] Symphony in B-flat Major has certainly already been briefly and strikingly described several times, but has never been exhaustively reviewed. Does it deserve less than any of the others?”

Regardless of its relative neglect, the Symphony No. 4 is an excellent example of Beethoven’s style, blending the Classical style of his earlier years with the big orchestration of his later years. It is filled with musical jokes for the listener and is light and whimsical.

See if you get Beethoven’s sense of humor this weekend when the Utah Symphony performs Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4.