Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, op. 58, was composed in 1805–1806, although no autograph copy survives. 1820 portrait by Joseph Karl Stieler Beethoven redirects here. ... Opus is a Latin word which means work (in the sense of a work of art). Some composers musical pieces are identified by opus numbers which generally run either in order of composition or in order of publication. ... 1805 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1806 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

The work is scored for solo piano and an orchestra consisting of a flute, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, timpani, and strings. As is standard for concertos, it is in three movements: The term concerto (plural is concerti or concertos) usually refers to a musical work in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra. ...

1. Allegro moderato
2. Andante con moto
3. Rondo (Vivace)

The fourth concerto was premiered by Beethoven himself at a private concert given in March, 1807 at the palace of his patron, Prince Lobkowitz. However, the public premiere was not until 22 December 1808 in Vienna at the Theater an der Wien with Beethoven again as soloist. This was part of a marathon concert which saw Beethoven's last appearance as soloist with orchestra, as well as the premieres of the fifth and sixth symphonies. Beethoven dedicated the concerto to his friend, student, and patron, the Archduke Rudolph. A review in the "Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung" (May, 1809) says that "[this concert] is the most admirable, singular, artistic and complex Beethoven concerto ever." However, after its first performance the piece was neglected until 1836, when it was revived by Felix Mendelssohn. 1807 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... December 22 is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1808 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The Theater an der Wien is a historic theatre in Vienna. ... The coversheet to Beethovens 5th Symphony. ... Ludwig van Beethovens Symphony No. ... Erzherzog Rudolph of Austria, Fürsterzbischof von Olmütz. ... 1809 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Felix Mendelssohn at the age of thirty Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, born and known generally as Felix Mendelssohn (February 3, 1809 – November 4, 1847) was a German composer and conductor of the early Romantic period. ...

The first movement opens with the solo piano, playing simple chords in the tonic key before modulating to the dominant key. Surprisingly, the orchestra then enters in B major, thus creating a tertiary chord change which then reveals itself as a motif in the opening movement. Typical fingering for a second inversion C major chord on a guitar. ... The tonic is the first note of a musical scale, and in the tonal method of music composition it is extremely important. ... In music theory, the key identifies the tonic triad, the chord, major or minor, which represents the final point of rest for a piece, or the focal point of a section. ... In music, modulation is most commonly the act or process of changing from one key (tonic, or tonal center) to another. ... In music, the dominant is the fifth degree of the scale. ... B major is a major scale based on B, consisting of the pitches B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#, and B. Its key signature consists of five sharps. ... For other uses, see Tertiary (disambiguation). ...

The second movement has a widespread association of Orpheus taming the Furies (represented by the piano and unison strings, respectively) at the Hades gates. Franz Liszt used to be thought to have first offered this image, however as musicologist Owen Jander pointed out, it was most likely Adolph Bernard Marx that was the first to introduce this association in his biography of Beethoven (1859). The movement's quiet E minor ending leads without pause to the C major chords that open the finale. The head of Orpheus, from an 1865 painting by Gustave Moreau. ... In Greek mythology the Erinyes (the Romans called them the Furies) were female personifications of vengeance. ... Hades, Greek god of the underworld, enthroned, with his bird-headed staff, on a red-figure Apulian vase made in the 4th century BC. For other uses, see Hades (disambiguation). ... Franz Liszt (Hungarian: Liszt Ferenc) (October 22, 1811 – July 31, 1886) was a Hungarian virtuoso pianist and composer of the Romantic period. ... E minor is a musical minor scale based on the note E, consisting of the pitches E, F#, G, A, B, C, D# and E . ... A one octave music scale in C major. ...

The third movement is a Rondo with a very rhythmic theme, different in its mood from the first movement, mostly dialogue-like and quiet.

References

• Freed, Richard. Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58 Accessed 1 May 2006.

May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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