Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C Minor – 1st Movement (Allegro con brio). This iconic opening movement begins with the dramatic four-note motif - “short‑short‑short‑long” - often called “fate knocking at the door.” It forms the unstoppable rhythmic engine that drives the entire sonata‑form structure: exposition, development, recapitulation, and an extended, thunderous coda. With its relentless energy, dynamic contrasts, and concise thematic material, it captures Beethoven’s bold transformation of Classical form into emotionally charged, heroic expression.
