Page:Rolland - Beethoven, tr. Hull, 1927.pdf/159

 were taken up again and worked into a Finale for this Symphony. Ten years had elapsed between the completion of the Eighth Symphony and the consummation of the Ninth, the colossal first three movements of which are on the highest plane of all music. As to the complete success of the choral numbers, opinions differ widely. The first movement, colossal in conception and dignified in tone, has moods of great passion and wonderful tenderness. The opening theme is mighty in aspiration, rugged in power.

The second movement is the Scherzo, one of Beethoven's longest, and perhaps his very finest. It is all brought about by the little germ theme of three notes, which, amongst other things, sug-