The focus of First Nights has shifted once again and we are now exploring the first performance of Beethoven's 9th symphony. This type of instrumental music is very different from anything that we have seen previously. The most obvious difference is the lack of words and the consequent greater focus on instruments.
I am still unsure as to how I should approach analysis of this type of music, but right away, something that stood out as something I can potentially latch on to are the changes in dynamics (louder or softer) that are much more obvious in an orchestra than in an aria or even a chorus.
Here is a sample from Beethoven's 9th symphony. The changing dynamics are very obvious (especially with the added crashing sound of the drum that comes in at 3:05). This part begins softly with only the strings and some wind instruments (flutes?) playing quietly, and smoothly become louder almost more urgent. The strings decrease in volume only to increase in volume again, this time with greater participation from the flutes.
This game of some sort continues throughout this entire piece (even including the occasional crashing sound of a drum towards the end of this segment (3:30 onwards)), pulling and letting go, growing and hushing. Keeping its audience at the edge of its seat, somehow managing a sense of tension and urgency in the louder parts and releasing that tension with the more quiet peaceful music.
The more one listens, it becomes clear that changes in dynamics are not the only tools being used to create impart feelings. The speed at which the instruments, the types of instruments playing, the interplay between the different instruments all to a large extend come together to drive this piece. I hope that i will learn how to better listen for these things. In the meanwhile, for this post, I make do with what I can hear- the change in dynamics, and amazingly this has already given me greater enjoying from this piece than when I listened to it passively.
I especially like this "dance" movement in Beethoven's ninth for all the changes in dynamics that you are talking about. I especially like how you describe it as a game. When I listen to it I can hear the game that Beethoven is playing with us by changing instruments, tempo, volume and melody constantly to keep us on our toes. I especially like the parts when the music goes from soft and soothing to booming back with drums accompanying, I think it makes it very dramatic.
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