Beethoven and Math

[db05]

I read an section in CC Chang's Book, Fundamentals of Piano Practice. It says Beethoven used group theory type concepts to write his famous Fifth Symphony (first movement). I find it interesting and I want to look more into this and draw my own conclusions. I searched on the internet today, and found no sites to support this idea. (There is even one file I looked at that said there is no mathematical pattern to the music.) I tried then, to look for a detailed structural analysis. There was none. (I know it's a great piece of music and it's in sonata form, thank you.) Short of getting the score sheets and analyzing it yourself measure by measure (please, don't go that far for me), can someone here please help me?

[3htohn]

I thought it was just someone (or something) knocking at his door (he thought of).

Энтони.

[quantum]

You may need to check journals for this kind of stuff.  If your library has access try searching International Index to Music Periodicals, Music Index Online or RILM Abstracts of Music Literature.

For an analysis of the symphony you may wish to check out the ETA Hoffmann Review of the 5th Symphony.  It is a historical landmark for such type of analysis.  The edition I have is contained in E. T. A. Hoffmann's Musical Writings: Kreisleriana, The Poet and the Composer, Music Criticism, published by Cambridge University Press.

As for group theory, you may wish to look up Gestalt theory.  This article may be of interest to you: https://psy.ed.asu.edu/~classics/Wertheimer/Forms/forms.htm

[db05]

Journals. Hoffman. Gestalt theory.
Thanks a lot!