Beethoven and Guilmant at St. Joseph Parish

We open our season in grand style with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, known as the “Eroica.” This piece- initially dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte- represents a turning point in the composer’s career and in the history of classical music- a shift from the Classical to Romantic style. The piece is followed by Guilmant’s Symphony No. 1 or Organ Sonata No. 1. It is a notable example of the French Romantic organ tradition, blending orchestral textures with virtuosic organ passages.