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The secrets of the world’s most famous symphony - Hanako Sawada

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Eight ferocious notes open one of the most explosive pieces of music ever composed. Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony Number Five premiered in 1808, and quickly won acclaim. Its central motif and raw emotionality have continued to resound through the ages. So what exactly makes Beethoven’s Fifth so captivating? Hanako Sawada uncovers the story behind this musical masterpiece.


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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Hanako Sawada
  • Director Yael Reisfeld
  • Narrator Jack Cutmore-Scott
  • Storyboard Artist Yael Reisfeld
  • Animator Yael Reisfeld
  • Compositor Yael Reisfeld
  • Art Director Yael Reisfeld
  • Composer Jarrett Farkas
  • Sound Designer Jarrett Farkas
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Production Coordinator Abdallah Ewis
  • Script Editor Iseult Gillespie
  • Fact-Checker Jennifer Nam
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn in 1770 and lived there until 1792. Explore this interactive website to learn more about his life. Beethoven was not even 30 years old when he started experiencing hearing loss. Consequently, Symphony No. 5 sounded like this to him. Yet Beethoven kept refining his works to communicate exactly what he wanted to express, which you can see in his manuscripts. Learn about and listen to more of his other works.

Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Hanako Sawada
  • Director Yael Reisfeld
  • Narrator Jack Cutmore-Scott
  • Storyboard Artist Yael Reisfeld
  • Animator Yael Reisfeld
  • Compositor Yael Reisfeld
  • Art Director Yael Reisfeld
  • Composer Jarrett Farkas
  • Sound Designer Jarrett Farkas
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Production Coordinator Abdallah Ewis
  • Script Editor Iseult Gillespie
  • Fact-Checker Jennifer Nam

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