Beethoven's+Ninth

Note: For the full explication assignment click here: []

Respond to each of the following prompts using the Argument, Support, Explanation format. Please post your responses on your wiki page.

1. Identify and explain how one of your pictures illustrates a concept communicated through Beethoven's music. (See example below).

2. Explain how the concept you identified in question #1 connects to one or more Romantic characteristics.

3. Identify and explain how a quotation from the text of Beethoven's choral movement illustrates one or more Romantic characteristics.

Mr. Wrights response to #1: In my response to the fourth movement the intertwining and eventual joining of colors illustrates how Beethoven presents the notes representing the concept of joy. The blue in my illustration represents the "stream of life" that all humans move along during their existence here on earth. This stream appeared in my three previous illustrations and in those illustrations the stream represents the presence of humans in the midst of the music that is playing around it. The music in the first three movements hints and suggests but never fully embraces the main theme of the symphony. In my illustration of the fourth movement I depict how the music and the stream of life converge to create the concept of joy. The yellow stream represents the brass instruments and the red stream represents the stringed instruments. These musical streams represent the successes and good fortunes that are needed to evoke the emotion of joy. At the bottom of my illustration the musical streams merge with the blue stream of life and a purple puddle is created. This represents the moment in the movement when the cello introduces the main theme of the symphony and it is where I perceive the concept of joy is presented to us through the music.