Trivia on Beethoven's Eroica

Hello! I'm going to talk about trivia in Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No.3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 "Eroica"

The title page of Eroica Symphony. Please notice that there is an erase dedication to Napoleon.

1. This symphony is supposed to be the milestone of the end of the Classic Period and the beginning of the Romantic Period.

2. Formerly, Beethoven wrote this song for dedication for Napoleon Bonaparte, so he titled the work "Bonaparte" because he wrote during French Revolution. However, after Napoleon's enthronement to Emperor of the French, Beethoven frustrated that his hero turned to tyrant, therefore he scratched the word "Bonaparte" with his knife and tore the title page out. Later, he named the symphony "Eroica", which means heroic. 

Luckily, Beethoven just tore the title page. If he frustrated enough to destroy his work, we couldn't listen to his elegant symphony.

3. Beethoven was asked about his favorite symphony in his eight symphonies (no the ninth symphony yet) by his friend. He said "Eroica".

Sonata

Hello! Now this article is about a kind of classical song called sonata.
Sonata has two usages: 1. The most common genre are piano solo or solo instrument, such as violin or cello, accompanied with piano. This meaning began since Classical period. 2. Baroque sonata - I'll tell about this kind of this sonata in its history.
Piano is very impressive instrument: it can be played alone so that it doesn't need other instruments to accompany. This explains why violin and others instrument should be accompanied with piano. Because their sound is not impressing so much as piano.

Forms
1. First movement - Generally sonata form.
2. Second movement - Slow movement.
3. Third movement - Dance rhythm.
4. Final movement - Sonata or Rondo form.
Three-movement sonatas have not the third movement. However, most sonatas have three movements, like all concertos. I think because music contents of sonatas are not much as symphonies.

History
This word originated from Latin and Italian word sonare, means to sound or to played, to distinguished from vocal song, cantata (means to sing).
To be specific: Symphony is "sonata" for orchestra and concerto is "sonata" for solo instrument and orchestra.
In the early Baroque, sonata had very wide meaning: it was also applied for a variety of works for solo instrument such as keyboards, violin ,etc. and for group of instruments. No definite number of movements or music form.
Sonatas in Baroque were also divided to two kind: 1. Church Sonata - focusing on contrapunctal texture, had four movements: Slow-fast-slow-fast. 2. Chamber Sonata - had minuet song.
Until the middle of Baroque, the meaning of sonata we know happened: there was a definite number of instruments and music movements. Arcangelo Corelli, an Italian musician and composer, developed sonata for three instrument called trio sonata, which was very popular in that time. Also, duo sonata, sonata for two instruments, was also popular too.
An example of Baroque sonata is Violin sonata in G minor by Giuseppe Tartini, known as Devil's Trill Sonata.
Composers who wrote many sonatas are Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. In Romantic period, sonata was still popular until 20th century.

Recommended sonatas
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 "Pathetique" by Beethoven The second movement is very famous that it is applied in modern music.
Piano Sonata No.14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 by Beethoven The very famous Beethoven's sonata, especially the first movement. I'll detail this song later.
Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, K.331(300i in the second Kochel's catalogue) by Mozart The last movement, popularly known as "Turkish Rondo", is often listened and is the one of Mozart's best known piano piece.

Concerto

Hello! This article is about concerto.
Concerto is a musical composition which one (or more) solo instrument(s) accompanied by orchestra.

Kind of concertos
1. Concerto grosso consists of two instrumental groups: orchestra, called tutti and solo instruments. No definite forms but mostly in ritonello form. In this form, orchestra and solo instruments group play alternatively.
2. Solo concerto is the form of concerto we understand. Sometimes it is called classic concerto because it became popular since Classic era. It scores a solo instrument and orchestra. More definite music form and movements.

Form
1. First movement in Sonata form, fast tempo. Most of concertos have solo-part called cadenza. This part orchestra stop, solo instrument plays with his techniques and abilities. No scores written in cadenza in classical concertos in order to make solo instrument play by improvisation. Later concertos have scored cadenza.
2. Second movement Slow Tempo
3. Last Movement
All concertos have three movements because if concertos have four or more movements, the musician and orchestra would be exhausted, also, concertos originally have three movements since Baroque era, which they originated.

History
History of concertos started form Baroque with "competition" between solo instrument and orchestra. The first kind of concerto, concerto grosso, started in this era. Later in Classic era solo concerto was popular since then. Any instrument can be scored in concerto but piano and violin are mostly scored.

Recommended concertos
The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi - Four concerto grossos, consists of La Primavera (Spring), L 'estate (Summer), L 'autunno (Autumn) and L 'inverno (Winter). Violins are solo group.
Piano Concerto No.5 in E-flat major, Op. 73 "Emperor" by Beethoven
Brandenburg Concerto by Bach

Symphony

I'm very sorry for my long absent because I had a long holiday trip.
This article is about symphony and its history.

The opening of Symphony No.5 in C minor, Op. 67 by Beethoven

A symphony is a very large musical composition in classical music, scored all kinds of instruments in orchestra and has at least one movement or more.

Form
1. First movement Always scored in fast tempo called in Italian Allegro. Some symphonies have introduction. Composed in sonata form.
2. Second movement Slow tempo.
3. Third movement Dance rhythm minuet. (in triple time such as 3/4) , traditional dances, or funny rhythm scherzo.
4. Fourth movement Sonata or rondo form.
Most symphonies have four movements. However, depending to composers, not all of symphonies accord to the form mentioned above, especially in Romantic period, which many composers expressed their feelings and emotions to songs. Example: Sibelius' Symphony No.7 has only one movement. Beethoven's Symphony No.6 "Pastoral" has five movements.

Origin

The word symphony is derived from the greek word symphonia, meaning "concord of sound". Many musicians from Renaissance through Baroque tried to developed this kind of song. They wrote symphonies by use forms of Italian-style opera overtures: fast-slow-fast. After it became popular, composers wrote overture-like form symphonies.
The instrument arrangement weren't definite until Classical period, led by Joseph Haydn, "Father of Symphonies". He developed and composed 104 symphonies. These symphonies was highly developed in the Classical.
After that, many composers like Beethoven often wrote and developed classical symphonies such as using scherzo as the third movement instead of minuet, adding instruments, and moreover, he added chorus part in the last movement of his ninth and last symphony.
Then, many Romantic composers composed very long, expressionism, and hard-to-listen symphonies, specially Mahler's. That because instruments' technologies were developed so much that composers can write very complicated symphonies. Also it depends to time or history, especially in Romantic period that composers to write songs with their feelings and ideas.

Recommended songs
Symphony No.5 in C minor, Op. 67 by Beethoven - very famous symphony in the world.
Symphony No.40 in G minor, K.550 by Mozart

Für Elise

Now this article is about very famous piano song student have to start training from - Für Elise, which is composed by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827).

Für Elise opening score (Public domain)

The real name of this song is Bagatelle No. 25 (WoO* 59) (Bagatelle is a short piece of music, typically for piano) in A minor. This song is well-known because repeating and easy playing melody. It is applied to many songs such as pop, rock, etc.
The score was not published until 1867, 47 years after Beethoven's death.
Nobody certainly knows that who was "Elise" Beethoven referred to, nor why he wrote this song. Many scholars supposed that the song name is published incorrectly and it may refer to Therese Malfatti, Beethoven's friend and student.

* WoO - Werke ohne Opuszahl (In English: Work without opus number). Used in Beethoven's compositions that were not published with an opus number)