Music Appreciation 2 Beethoven's Fifth Part 2

Although the first four notes of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony are probably the most famous notes in music, the second movement of the symphony is transcendentally beautiful.  Watch and listen to Maestro Schwarz's presentation on it here.  The movement begins with one of the two or three most beautiful melodies Beethoven ever wrote, a lyric, quietly yearning and peaceful theme played in the cellos.  Soon it transforms into a more martial, triumphant idea in a different key, played by the entire orchestra. 

Actually, these two musical ideas--one lyric and one heroic--comprise a single theme, which features this dramatic juxtaposition.  It is followed by two variations and a resolution.  About 3/4 of the way through the movement, the tension and motion seem to drain out of the music, filed with a sense of expectation.  Suddenly we hear a final restatement of the original, lyric idea this time, though, imbued with the triumph and exuberance of the second musical idea.  

The movement is an example of "theme with variations," only on a titanic, Beethovenesque scale.  I find the beauty and resolution of this movement breathtaking. 

https://youtu.be/iFCIgn3Q9XE

Note: Don't forget that you can click on a complete performance of the piece here (about 10 1/2 minutes) and you also can find a transcript of the Maestro's comments as well.  A 10-question quiz on this presentation is here.