The Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36, is a symphony in four movements written by Ludwig van Beethoven between 1801 and 1802. The work is dedicated to Karl Alois, Prince Lichnowsky. It is one of the last works of Beethoven's early period.
Beethoven wrote the 2nd Symphony without a standard minuet; instead, a scherzo took its place, giving the composition even greater scope and energy. The scherzo and the finale are filled with Beethovenian musical jokes, which shocked the sensibilities of many contemporary critics. One Viennese critic for the ' (Newspaper for the Elegant World) wrote of the symphony, "The 2nd symphony is a crass ogre, a stabbed, unbound writhing dragon that refuses to die, and although bleeding in the Finale, angrily beats about with tail erect."
Form
This symphony consists of 4 movements:
A typical performance runs 30 to 37 minutes.
I. Adagio molto – Allegro con brio
The introduction, Adagio molto, begins in D major, changing to B major in measure 11. In measures 12 to 16, it briefly modulates to B major and immediately back to D. The exposition (Allegro con brio) begins in D major in measure 34 with the A theme, played by the violas and cellos, which lasts until measure 57.
<score sound="1">
\new PianoStaff <<
\relative c {
\clef bass
\key d \major
\time 4/4
\tempo "Allegro con brio" 2=100
\override Score.BarNumber.break-visibility = ##(#f #f #t) \set Score.currentBarNumber = #34 \bar ""
\fp d,,2. d16 (cis d e) | fis2. fis16 (e fis g) | a4-. a-. fis-. fis-. | d }
>>
</score>
A transition towards the B theme lasts until measure 72, modulating to A minor at measure 61. The B theme begins in A major at 73, moving to A minor again at 113 with a codetta from measures 117 to 136 (moving to D major in measure 120). The development uses material from the A theme, going through several modulations throughout and making use of the main idea from Theme A in sequence. At measure 216, the A theme returns in the recapitulation, lasting until measure 228. There is a transition from 229 to 244, bringing back the B theme at measure 245, this time in the tonic key. At 327, B major returns briefly, moving back to D in 334 with a Coda from measures 340 to 360.
II. Larghetto
This movement, Larghetto, is in the dominant key of A major and is one of Beethoven's longest symphonic slow movements. There are clear indications of the influence of folk music and the pastoral, presaging his Symphony No. 6 ("Pastoral").
The movement, like the 1st, is in sonata form. Franz Schubert quoted from the movement in the second movement of his Grand Duo for piano.
This movement is often used, but in F major, as the hymn tune "Alsace" to the words: "What various hindrances we meet".
III. Scherzo: Allegro
This movement, Scherzo: Allegro, encloses a melodious oboe and bassoon quartet within a typical-sounding Austrian side-slapping dance. This movement is a scherzo-trio in ternary form. This is the first time Beethoven used a scherzo as a 3rd movement of his symphonies (as opposed to the classical minuet in Mozart or Haydn symphonies). The scherzo contains many crotchet staccato figures being played by various instruments.
The contrasting trio starts with the oboe introducing a new melody:
<score sound="1">
\relative c {
\set Staff.instrumentName = #"Oboe"
\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"oboe"
\key d \major
\time 3/4
\tempo 2. = 100
\set Score.currentBarNumber = #84
\partial 4
% p again
% upbeat
(d8\p e) |
% bars 84–
(fis2. |
g2.) |
(a4 g4) fis4-. |
e4 r fis( |
g2. |
a2.) \sf |
(fis4 g4) e4-. |
d4 r |
}
</score>
This is answered by the string section which play quaver notes similar to trills. The melody then returns.
IV. Allegro molto
The 4th movement, Allegro molto, is composed of very rapid string passages. The movement is in Sonata rondo form (A–B–A–C–A–B–A). The first subject is a humorous theme that begins with a 2-note slur followed by a trill, creating a playful character.