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Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55

“Eroica”180450 min

This guide follows Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 “Eroica” (1804) in four parts: Allegro con brio (sonata form), Marcia funebre: Adagio assai (ternary form), Scherzo: Allegro vivace (minuet and trio) and Finale: Allegro molto (theme and variations).

Recording: Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan

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AnalysisComments
  1. I · Sonata form
  2. II : · Ternary form
  3. III: · Minuet and trio
  4. IV: · Theme and variations
I Sonata form1:01–15:30

in E-flat major, in 3/4. Two loud chords start the with no , and the cellos present the at once; a C-sharp soon brings harmonic tension. The of themes (the ) follows the . The is large and introduces a new in E minor. Just before the a horn enters a few early, which Ries remembered as an apparent error. The brings back the new .

  1. :
II : Ternary form15:50–31:36
III: Minuet and trio32:24–38:24
IV: Theme and variations38:29–50:47

Section boundaries in music are not always sharp; a transition may be felt over a pause or a held chord.

Report a timing error

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BachTrio Sonata No. 1 in E-flat major, BWV 5251730HaydnSymphony No. 1 in D major, Hob. I:11759HaydnHorn Concerto in D major, Hob. VIId:31762HaydnPiano Sonata in A-flat major, Hob. XVI:461770HaydnPiano Sonata in C minor, Hob. XVI:201771HaydnString Quartet in A major, Op. 20 No. 61772HaydnString Quartet in C major, Op. 20 No. 21772HaydnString Quartet in D major, Op. 20 No. 41772HaydnString Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 20 No. 11772HaydnString Quartet in F minor, Op. 20 No. 51772

In listening paths

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Path 05

Understanding sonata form

The form behind most first movements, heard twelve times, from a small sonata to a symphony.

Mozart → Haydn → Beethoven → Schubert → Mendelssohn → Brahms → Prokofiev

12 works · 4 h 43 min

Path 10

Beethoven's nine symphonies

From the First of 1800 to the Choral of 1824, in the order Beethoven wrote them.

Beethoven

9 works · 5 h 26 min

In the catalog

Ludwig van BeethovenSymphoniesClassical periodE-flat majorSonata formTernary formMinuet and trioTheme and variations

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