b'LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVENSymphony No. 2 in D major, Opus 36COMPOSER:b . December 16, 1770, Bonn, Germanyd . March 26, 1827, ViennaWORK COMPOSED:1802WORLD PREMIERE:Beethoven conducted the premiere during Holy Week, on April 5, 1803, in Vienna .INSTRUMENTATION:2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani and strings .ESTIMATED DURATION:34 minutesLoversofLudwigvanBeethovensmusicBeethoven never sent the letter, which was associatethewordheroicwithhisThirdundiscovered until after his death in 1827 .Symphony, nicknamed Eroica . But BeethovensThemassiveslowintroductiontothefirst lesser-known Second Symphony displays anothermovement transitions in an instant to an intensely kind of heroism: the strength and determinationvibrant and almost aggressively cheerful Allegro, as of its composer . Beethoven brought this exuberantif Beethoven were determined to shake off his dark symphony to life while battling depression andstate of mind . In the Larghetto, Beethoven treats thoughts of suicide .the audience to a series of expressive melodies . Upontheadviceofhisdoctor,BeethovenThe serenity in this music captures the beauty of spentsixmonthsinthesummerandfallofthe Viennese countryside and Beethovens abiding 1802 in Heiligenstadt, a village outside Vienna .love of nature . The offbeat rhythms, fragmented Beethovens doctor believed the quiet life of themelodies, surprises and humor of the Scherzo and village and surrounding countryside would spareits accompanying trio might have scandalized the Beethovens hearing, which was rapidly deteriorat- Viennese audiences of Beethovens time, while ing . Unfortunately, this enforced isolation plungedtodays listeners know them as some of Beethovens Beethoven into even greater despair, as he realizedmost characteristic musical signatures . The sassy his hearing might never improve . On October 6,opening gesture of the Allegro molto, which serves 1802, unable to contain his anguish any longer,as the thematic basis for the whole movement, Beethoven wrote a letter, known as the Heiligenstadtis almost shockingly insolent . Perhaps this motif Testament,tohisbrothersCarlandJohann:reflects Beethovens rebellion against his deafness . The surge of energy generated by this movementFor six years now I have been hopelesslysuggests a defiant reaffirmation of will, a deter-afflicted, made worse by senseless physicians, frommination to produce all that I felt was within me . .year to year deceived with hopes of improvement, finally compelled to face the prospect of a lasting 2020 Elizabeth Schwartz (see bio and terms of use on page 26)malady (whose cure will take years or, perhaps, be impossible)If at times I tried to forget all this, oh how harshly was I flung back by the doubly sad experience of my bad hearing. Yet it was impossible for me to say to people, Speak louder, shout, for I am deaf. Ah, how could I possibly admit an infirmity in the one sense that ought to be more perfect in me than in others?If I approach near to people a hot terror seizes upon me, and I fear being exposed to the danger that my condition might be noticedSuch incidents drove me almost to despair; a little more of that and I would have ended my lifeit was only my art that held me back. It seemed to me impossible to leave the world until I had produced all that I felt was within me.22Santa Rosa SymphonyRESIDENT ORCHESTRA|WEILL HALL, THE GREEN MUSIC CENTER'