Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)
| Symphony in C minor | |
|---|---|
| No. 5 | |
| by Ludwig van Beethoven | |
Cover of the symphony, with the dedication to Prince J. F. M. Lobkowitz and Count Rasumovsky | |
| Key | C minor |
| Opus | 67 |
| Composed | 1804–1808 |
| Dedication |
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| Duration | 30–40 minutes |
| Movements | Four |
| Premiere | |
| Date | 22 December 1808 |
| Location | Theater an der Wien, Vienna |
| Conductor | Ludwig van Beethoven |
The Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 (occasionally known as the Fate Symphony, German: Schicksalssinfonie), is a symphony composed by Ludwig van Beethoven between 1804 and 1808. It is one of the best-known of all symphonies and one of the most frequently played. First performed in Vienna in 1808, the work achieved its strong critical reputation not long afterward; E. T. A. Hoffmann described it as "one of the most important works of the time".
The Fifth Symphony has four movements. It begins with a distinctive four-note "short-short-short-long" motif, often characterized as "fate knocking at the door", the Schicksals-Motiv (fate motif):