Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in C minor is one of the best-known works in classical music, famous for its opening four-note motif of three short notes followed by a long one. The symphony moves from struggle in the minor key to triumph in the C major finale, a journey that was seen by later listeners as a victory over adversity. It was first heard in Vienna in a long concert at which several of Beethoven's works were performed, and it was dedicated to two noble patrons, Prince Lobkowitz and Count Razumovsky. The story that Beethoven described the opening as fate knocking at the door comes from his early biographer and is doubted by scholars. During the Second World War the motif was used by the Allies, because its rhythm matched the Morse code letter V for victory.
Before and after
- from 7 November 1808 to 9 July 1809Spanish reconquest of Santo Domingo
- from 10 November 1808 to 11 November 1808Battle of Espinosa
- from 20 December 1808 to 20 February 1809Second Siege of Zaragoza
- 29 December 1808Birth of Andrew Johnson
- 1809Symphony No. 5
- 1809Lamarck proposes the first theory of evolution
- 4 January 1809Birth of Louis Braille
- 15 January 1809Birth of Pierre-Joseph Proudhon
- 19 January 1809Birth of Edgar Allan Poe
More in Art, literature & culture
- 10 August 1793Construction of Louvre Museum
- from 18th century to 19th centuryRomanticism
- 1 November 1800Construction of White House
- 1886Statue of Liberty
- c. 1900sRise of modernism
- 1907Rise of cubism
The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 19th century.