Allegretto [CF:YAS254]

At the 1813 premiere of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, the audience was so enthralled with the mysterious second movement, they clamored for an immediate encore at the concert’s conclusion. This now widely-recognized Allegretto was written at a time when the composer was struggling with his hearing loss. The solemn opening ostinato is joined by a graceful sustained melody. Layering countermelody over melody, the movement develops harmonically and dynamically, crescendoing to a forceful forte before dropping back to a quiet piano conclusion.