Beethoven's Nine Symphonies

    Beethoven is considered the greatest composer of symphonies.  Five of his nine symphonies placed in the top 20 symphonies ever in a poll of 150 international conductors, including Symphony No. 3 in first place and Symphony No. 9 in second place.  The other three were symphonies 5 (11th), 6 (19th), and 7 (16th).  All five of those symphonies have links to essays about them on classicalnotes.net in the entries below.  It is recommended that you learn about those five symphonies if you don't have time for all nine.

The nine symphonies are listed below.  Each has a short description as to the symphony's importance in Beethoven's output.  The following book on the symphonies is highly recommended for understanding each symphony.

     Lockwood, Lewis.  Beethoven's Symphonies: An Artistic Vision  (2017)  307 pages

     A link to list of live Beethoven symphony performances on youtube



    Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21

                                           Composed:  1795 - 1800,  Premiered:  April 2, 1800,  Published:  1801





    Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36

                                           Composed:  1795 - 1800,  Premiered:  April 5, 1803,  Published:  1803






    Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Opus 55  "Eroica"    Essay

                                           Composed:  1802 - 1804,  Premiered:  April 7, 1805,  Published:  1806






    Symphony No. 4 in Bb major, Op. 60

                                           Composed:  1806,  Premiered:  March ?, 1807,  Published:  1806







    Symphony No. 5 in C minor. Op. 67   Essay

                                           Composed:  1804 - 1808,  Premiered:  December 22, 1808,  Published:  1809




    Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68   "Pastoral"    Essay                                 

                                           Composed:  1802 - 1808,  Premiered:  December 22, 1808,  Published:  1809


           Beethoven named Symphony No. 6  "Pastoral Symphony, or Reflections on Country Life"





    Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92    Essay

                                           Composed:  1811 - 1812,  Premiered:  December 8, 1813,  Published:  1816







    Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93

                                           Composed:  1811 - 1812,  Premiered:  February 27, 1814,  Published:  1817








    Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125  "Choral"   Essay

                                           Composed:  1822 - 1824,  Premiered:  May 7. 1824,  Published:  ????