I do not listen to as much instrumental music as I would like and when I do listen, I often have it on as background while I do something else. This makes me miss out on actually appreciating the music. I have wanted to listen to all of Beethoven's symphonies in order for a while now. What better way than to exercise to them? Since many musicologists, who are far more academically qualified than I, have analyzed these masterful symphonies, I shall give you, dear reader, my general and exercise-related impressions.
The particular rendition I listened to is Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic. I chose it because Bernstein's interpretations are legendary, as is the New York Phil. Also, it is easy to find on Spotify. The first movement has a lot of energy, but the beat was too fast to match to my jogging pace. The terraced dynamics make for interesting listening, but didn't help my energy. On a side note, I love the unsettling opening chords. It really got my attention from the beginning, especially since I was expecting a pompous "PAY ATTENTION RIGHT NOW! THE PIECE IS STARTING AND HERE'S YOUR HEART ATTACK FOR TODAY" tonic chord. The second movement created this buoyant, lovely atmosphere that made for a scenic and relaxing end of my jog. Again, though, it was just the wrong tempo for my step. A little too slow this time. Movement three came on during my cool-down walk. It is adorable and exuberant. Wrong tempo again, but fabulous if you need a short palate-cleanser in the midst of a pop playlist. Movement four has excellent, driven energy. This is a perfect addition for a long-distance jog playlist. The tempo is a tad too slow for my short-person stride, but there is so much wonderful forward momentum in the music that it would be ideal for the end of a lengthy jog. Stats: Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21 I. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio (9:09) II. Andante cantabile con moto (7:42) III. Menuetto - Allegro molto e vivace (3:18) IV. Finale. Adagio - Allegro molto e vivace (5:43) Total Time - 25:52 Verdict: Not quite right for my workout, but I enjoyed it: mezzo-piano.
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AuthorMaayan is a Manhattan-based opera singer. Archives
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