Symphony No. 7: Allegretto, theme

Ludwig van Beethoven · Level 4 (Intermediate) · Classical · Piano

The second movement of the Seventh Symphony (1812), in A minor: first the famous ostinato rhythm (long–short–short, long–long) in chords, then the cellos’ great melody singing above the theme, now in the left hand. Heard in The King’s Speech (2010) and Irréversible (2002).

▶ Play this piece with the interactive score

How to practise it

• Listen first: the site plays it while the score scrolls.
• Wait mode: the score waits for you at every note, at your own pace.
• Tempo challenge: play in time, with a score and a map of the bars you got right.
• First part: rhythm is everything. One quarter and two eighths, then two quarters; keep exactly the same very steady pulse, almost a march. The right-hand chords barely change from bar to bar: find the note that moves and bring it out. Second part (bar 17): the right hand sings legato while the left hand takes over the theme’s rhythm, more softly.

More pieces by Ludwig van Beethoven

• Sonata Op. 49 No. 2: I. Allegro ma non troppo
• Sonata Op. 49 No. 2: II. Tempo di menuetto
• Minuet in E-flat major WoO 82
• Sonata Op. 49 No. 1: I. Andante
• Prelude in F minor WoO 55
• Sonata No. 25 (1st Movement: Presto alla tedesca) (Op. 79)
• Sonata Op. 79: II. Andante
• Sonata Op. 2 No. 1: III. Menuetto

Source : Arrangement Note after Note d’après la partition d’orchestre (Litolff), Mutopia Project n° 595 · Public Domain