Chicago Symphony Orchestra Performance

Due to my work schedules and bad timing of concerts I sadly was not able to enjoy a live rendition of a concert. So, I have instead decided to view an online video by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and their rendition of Ludwig van Beethoven’s 9th Symphony in D minor. The performance was conducted by director Riccardo Muti, and was played in the Chicago Symphony Center. Before the performance there was a small but meaningful moment of dedication for a young individual named Charlie, who would have been nineteen on the date of the performance. To celebrate the joy and love this individual brought everywhere they went their family bought seats for people filming the performance to share it, and for people who otherwise could not have afforded

The second movement begins after a short pause after the first movement, which showed some very interesting details about how a live performance works. There was no clapping or no noise. Just silence as the performers wiped their brows and took a drink as they needed. They quickly picked the second movement up with quick successful crescendos that lead up to the main theme of the second movement. However, there was something different about the second movement than the first, and that difference is that there were three trombones of varying types added. During the movement, the dynamics of this piece caught my ear as you could hear them building up to moments where the entire ensemble would play then one instrument at a time they would back off in a crescendo and decrescendo style. Around the middle of the movement the movement fell into a more cheery and light melody than the earlier first movement, allowing instead to imagine the first spring day after a long winter in the house. The harmony between the instruments in this section bring forth a more childlike tone, which reminds me of the work “Sumer Is Icumen In.” This movement was much nicer to listen to than the previous through its mixtures of melody and dynamics. The soft melody throughout the piece between the crescendos of the ensemble made this my second favorite movement in Beethoven’s

(Beethoven)” This movement was my personal favorite out of the four due to the explosive feeling the vocals combined with the symphony leave you with. The movement begins with an explosive beginning, combining sharp crescendos that lead down in a step style. The movement quickly descends into a subtle melody, but as the movement continues you can hear a blend of all the different movements in this one piece. The movement quickly picks itself back up into a powerful and exhilarating movement. The harmony of all the movements alongside the chorus makes this movement sounds extremely powerful. Combine the harmony with the dynamics Beethoven chose to use throughout this movement gave the overall piece the finale it dutifully deserved. Overall the fourth movement is known around the world just for its name for good reason. This movement combines such grace and skillful vocals alongside a range of musical virtuosos to give Beethoven’s 9th a perfect closing