Music Title: Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67, “Fate” -  1st Movement                                        

  Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

Details of Passage Depicted

Beethoven’s 5th Theme in Ice & Snow uses an arctic landscape. The view looks directly at the attacks of the first notes in the symphony. Here the high treble notes are in front and the low bass notes are in back. The start of the symphony is on the left and later notes on the right.

Four rows show the four octaves of strings and clarinets playing the famous "Da-da-da-Daaaaaah,—Da-da-da-Daaaah" for the first time. The row of rock and snow in the bottom foreground is made up of the higher overtones.

Notes about the Music and the Portrayal

The theme from Beethoven’s 5th symphony has been played for two centuries and has been reused and rearranged hundreds of times. This theme is certainly one of the most famous musical phrases in history.

Beethoven on Picturing Music while Composing

Many composers have spoken about the relationship of visuals, architecture, and color to their music. Beethoven made a couple of specific comments on this topic.

“I always have a picture in my mind when composing, and follow its lines.”

(In 1815, talking about the "Pastoral" symphony.)

“I change many things, discard, and try again until I am satisfied. Then, however, there begins in my head the development in every direction, and, in as much as I know exactly what I want, the fundamental idea never deserts me,—it arises before me, grows,—I see and hear the picture in all its extent and dimensions stand before my mind like a cast, and there remains for me nothing but the labor of writing it down, which is quickly accomplished when I have the time...”

(1822)