Musical Complexity Made Clear!

Here is a brief passage, consisting of seven insrumental voices,  from the second movement of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony:

The New York Symphony Playing Beethoven Symphony No. 5

Voice One: just the cellos playing pizzicato:

Voice Two: added violas three notes above

Voices Three and Four: added bassoon and clarinet octave leaps

Voice Five: added double bass melody

Voice Six: added second violin melody

Voice Seven: added first violins, completing the ensemble

Thanks to Benjamin Zander for this illuminating exercise.

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