Conducting Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony: structural deconstruction, core emotions and their correlation with conductorial grammar

Abstract

This Thesis presents a musical analysis as well as a conducting guide on the performance and interpretation of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. The methodology follows a deconstruction of two contrasting movements of the work in an arch extending from bigger to smaller structures of form, harmony and orchestration. Each analyzed microstructure is then linked to a specific musical interpretation, and then to precise instructions concerning conductorial grammar and its correlation with core emotions.