Beethoven’s Fives

Show & Culture

On NASA's Voyager Golden Record is the brilliant first movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, whose famous four-note motif reappears in different forms throughout the piece. Symbolizing adventure and new beginnings, the number 5 is significant in Beethoven’s work. Nicknamed "Emperor", his Fifth Piano Concerto stands out for its remarkable freedom and for its lively sense of creativity and joy.