Symphony No. 2

Beethoven was 22 years old when he moved to Austria’s capital, Vienna, in 1792. It didn’t take long for him to establish his reputation as a pianist—he quickly became regarded as one of the greatest pianists and improvisers of all time. He also began to cultivate his prominence as a composer. Less than 10 years after arriving in Vienna, he had written 15 sonatas, 2 piano concertos and his first symphony. 

Sadly, his hearing started to decline in 1797. But this didn’t keep him from composing: “I live only in my notes, and with one work barely finished, the other is already started; the way I now write I often find myself working on three, four things at once,” he wrote. During this intense period, he began his second symphony, immediately after the premiere of the first.  

Steeped in the tradition of Haydn and Mozart, his Symphony No. 2 maintained the joyful mood of the first. The orchestration is typical of the Classical period, featuring strings, two woodwinds, two horns, two trumpets and two timpani. It follows the traditional structure of four movements. However, there are some early elements of Beethoven’s signature style that will be developed further in his coming symphonies, such as dynamic contrast, surprising modulations (key changes) and forward momentum. 

Despite its Classical style, Symphony No. 2 still managed to ruffle some feathers at its premiere in 1803. It was called a “crass ogre” and compared to a “hideously wounded, writhing dragon that refuses to die.” Beethoven’s innovations were evidently ahead of his time! In 1806, the composer did his own arrangement of Symphony No. 2 for piano, violin and cello, which helped cultivate greater appreciation for the piece.