What is Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 (Pastorale)?
Q: What is Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 (Pastorale)?
A: Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 (Pastorale) is a symphony composed by Ludwig van Beethoven and was first performed in Vienna, Austria on 22 December 1808.
Q: When did Beethoven begin making sketches for the symphony?
A: Beethoven began making sketches for the symphony in 1806.
Q: Where was the symphony completed?
A: The symphony was completed in 1808 in the village of Heiligenstadt northwest of Vienna.
Q: How many movements are there in the symphony?
A: There are five movements in the symphony - allegro ma non troppo ("Joyful Feelings Upon Arriving in the Country"), andante molto mosso ("By the Brook"), allegro ("Peasant Merrymaking"), allegro ("The Thunderstorm"), and allegretto ("The Shepherd's Song After the Storm").
Q: What form is used for the first movement?
A: The first movement is in sonata form and it depicts the composer's feelings as he arrives in the country.
Q: What bird species does Beethoven identify within his score?
A: Beethoven helpfully identified nightingale (flute), quail (oboe) and cuckoo (clarinet) as bird species within his score.
Q: How does Beethoven depict a thunderstorm within his fourth movement?
A: The fourth movement depicts a violent thunderstorm, starting with just a few drops of rain and building to a climax with thunder, lightning, high winds, and sheets of rain included within it.
