Donald Satz ([log in to unmask]) wrote:

>If any significant criticism of a Beethoven symphony is warranted, it's the
>eighth that deserves it.  A great fifth, sixth, and seventh, followed by a
>very weak one, then reaching the heights with the ninth.  Even Beethoven
>had his "slump" periods.  I do emphasize that the eighth is fine on its
>own, just not in comparison to the others mentioned.

Don, I have the terrible feeling that you're not joking.  Maybe you haven't
heard the right performance yet which will "click" for you.  Beethoven
himself once grumpily remarked that of the 7th and the 8th the 8 was "of
course" the better work.  While I wouldn't necessarily go quite that far,
I certainly consider it the 7th's equal.

It's B's most humourous symphony too.

Deryk Barker
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