Nielsen, Beethoven and Repeated Notes

Abstract

Arising from a re-reading of Nielsen’s thoughts on Beethoven and on the ethical qualities of musical intervals, this article probes his use of repeated notes in all six of his symphonies. Initially arising from his close study of the first movement of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, he became fascinated by the potential of repeated-note motifs to create a characteristic repertoire of themes, perhaps more systematically so than any other symphonist since Beethoven’s time. Furthermore, these themes carry ever sharper semantic associations, heightening the impact of whichever themes they form part of.