BBC offering all 9 Beethoven Symphonies for FREE! [Archive]

Ugg

Jun 12, 2005, 10:22 PM

Guardian article (http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/news/0,12597,1505191,00.html)

The iPod generation is to be given the chance to enjoy a more enriching download diet: Beethoven's entire collection of nine symphonies. Following Radio 3's Beethoven marathon, which ended at midnight on Friday, the BBC is making the complete cycle of the composer's symphonies - more than six hours of listening - available for free.
Listeners can visit the Radio 3 website and download as mp3 files the complete set performed by the Manchester-based BBC Philharmonic under the direction of its principal conductor, Gianandrea Noseda.

Pretty cool if you like Beethoven. The series is getting great reviews as well.

Also, The Guardian lists MacRumors at the bottom of the page as a useful link for iPod info.

Loge

Jun 13, 2005, 08:03 AM

Note the downloads are only available for a limited time. For instance 1 and 3 have to be downloaded TODAY.

See link here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/beethoven/downloads.shtml

Great idea though. I hope they do more of this.

jsw

Jun 13, 2005, 08:13 AM

Nice... but download speeds are reminiscent of the 9600-baud modem era.

Loge

Jun 13, 2005, 08:29 AM

Yup, me too. :( Hopefully they'll extend the time limit, given it looks like their server is overloaded.

jrv3034

Jun 13, 2005, 08:29 AM

Nice... but download speeds are reminiscent of the 9600-baud modem era.

Yeah, really. It says "3 hours 51 minutes" on my Symphony #3 download, and I'm on cable modem!

Savage Henry

Jun 13, 2005, 08:38 AM

I hope it includes duh-duh-duh-duuhhh ... it rawks!!

But enough ghastly contemporary parlance, I hope to remember this when I get to my home mac; the speeds a re far greater than this guff-line at work.

edit:Beethoven's Symphonies 1 & 3 are available to download here until 5:30pm today Looks like I have to get it here afterall ... at the moment it's downloading the 80megs at about 10k per second :eek: Somedays I really just give up with technology .....

Loge

Jun 13, 2005, 10:54 AM

I guess it goes to show

Number of Guardian readers >> Number of Radio 3 listeners. :p

PlaceofDis

Jun 13, 2005, 11:10 AM

another good find, im downloading one through five right now, hopefully i won't forget to get six through nine :o

whfsdude

Jun 13, 2005, 11:40 AM

Nickygoat

Jun 13, 2005, 12:06 PM

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/radio3/symphony1_beethoven_radio3.mp3
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/radio3/symphony2_beethoven_radio3.mp3
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/radio3/symphony3_beethoven_radio3.mp3
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/radio3/symphony4_beethoven_radio3.mp3
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/radio3/symphony5_beethoven_radio3.mp3

Here are the direct links because they "removed" 1 and 3.
Cool - thanks - I missed the first ones. Horrible download speeds but then BT have "upgraded" my line to 1MB and I'm now getting between 76Kb/s and 220Kb/s :eek: so it's going to take me a while

garybUK

Jun 13, 2005, 12:43 PM

Oooooh from the bridgewater :P not far from me at all.

jestershinra

Jun 13, 2005, 12:50 PM

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/radio3/symphony1_beethoven_radio3.mp3
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/radio3/symphony2_beethoven_radio3.mp3
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/radio3/symphony3_beethoven_radio3.mp3
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/radio3/symphony4_beethoven_radio3.mp3
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/radio3/symphony5_beethoven_radio3.mp3

Here are the direct links because they "removed" 1 and 3.

Don't work- they removed the files. I could host the files for a while if someone has them (should be faster, too :P). If you want, give me a PM.

dejo

Jun 13, 2005, 12:59 PM

I missed 1 and 3 also. Who's got 'em?

wilmor42

Jun 13, 2005, 01:01 PM

yeah i wouldn't mind them too.. if anyone's feeling nice, im happy to host also..

Savage Henry

Jun 13, 2005, 01:45 PM

I missed 1 and 3 also. Who's got 'em?Nah, I missed them thanks to my steenkin slow connection at work ... to hall wid de yoosless eejots
:mad:

2,4 and 5 now downloading via a proper connection at home. yay. :D

katie ta achoo

Jun 13, 2005, 10:55 PM

I also missed one and three.

I played them a few years ago, and I haven't really thought about them.. I'd love to give them a listen!
If anyone does have them hosted, please PM me. I'd really really like them. :)

This is so cool.. The bbc is spreading awareness of classical music! ROCK!

I really REALLY hope they have Mendelssohn week!! Hahaha

legacyb4

Jun 13, 2005, 11:25 PM

Good stuff. I don't mind hosting segment 1 or 3 to help ease the pain a bit too (PM me if you have either that I can help host since I don't have them yet).

Anybody want Yahoo 360 (http://360.yahoo.com) invites?

ravenvii

Jun 13, 2005, 11:45 PM

Got 2.4, and 5. Decent download speed too. Maybe I'll give them a listen someday, never heard Beethoven before. Haven't heard much music though.

If someone hosts 1 and 3 that'd be nice too.

katie ta achoo

Jun 14, 2005, 12:39 AM

Anybody want Yahoo 360 invites?

I just read the website and have NO idea of what a yahoo 360 is.
I'll take one, but explain what is! I'm confused by this!

garybUK

Jun 14, 2005, 01:49 AM

It should be fast enough getting it from Auntie, I maxxed out my connection (380kbps) downloading the files.

They have a good enough network: http://support.bbc.co.uk/support/network/

Loge

Jun 14, 2005, 02:04 AM

Yes, I managed to get 2, 3 and 5 at a decent speed. They'd had some issues earlier in the day with higher than expected demand I guess.

Applespider

Jun 14, 2005, 03:47 AM

Yes, I managed to get 2, 3 and 5 at a decent speed. They'd had some issues earlier in the day with higher than expected demand I guess.

Mine was still slow out last night. The 3 30MB files took 2-3 hours to download!

aswitcher

Jun 14, 2005, 03:48 AM

Thanks. Nice to have.

katie ta achoo

Jun 14, 2005, 12:27 PM

UPDATE:
I'm a goobtard and forgot that I had the Eroica Symphony on my HD already. It isn't by the BBC Phil, but it is still really really nice.
The horns don't crack any notes! ;)
If any of y'all want to host it, PM me and I'll get it over to ya.

Stampyhead

Jun 14, 2005, 12:36 PM

If anyone can host #1 and #3 for those of us who missed them to download, I would really appreciate it.

FoxyKaye

Jun 14, 2005, 01:16 PM

That's... really... cool.

Thanks Ugg!

dejo

Jun 14, 2005, 01:29 PM

Either my downloads messed up or these are not entire symphonies.

Symphony No. 2 - 4.9 MB - 5:25 (of which the first 2:09 is narrative)

Symphony No.4 - 6.3 MB - 6:57 (1:19 of narrative)

Symphony No.5 - 6.3 MB - 6:54 (1:11 of narrative)

All three seem to just cut off at the end. Anyone else in the same boat as me?

P.S. I have The Beethoven Adventure 5-CD box set and Symphony No. 5 is four movements of 8:36, 10:59, 6:17, and 9:28 in length, respectively, for a total of 35:20.

Applespider

Jun 14, 2005, 02:02 PM

Either my downloads messed up or these are not entire symphonies.

They're messed up. They're all at the 30MB mark. Mine stopped about those points on the first try but worked next time round.

katie ta achoo

Jun 14, 2005, 03:24 PM

Wow, it's so interesting to hear the interpretation of the piece as played by the BBC versus what I've played before.

I have a recording of my symphony doing it, and I'm listening to both the BBC and my symohony, currently.

Both recordings are by good players, but.. the way Dr. Evans (my director) vs. Janan Dresevezedra (BBC and I'm not even close on the spelling!) interpret the length of the notes. I love hearing how things are taken in different countries. In all the American performances I've heard, it is a little more legato and connected, while British/across the pond recordings, it's shorter, more staccato...

Anyone else feel like geeking out with me? I'll send you the file of us and we can chat. :D hahaha
(OK, yeah, we're just a high school symphony, but we're "the berlin phil" of high school symphonies as our director likes to remind us... haha :rolleyes: )

x852456

Jun 17, 2005, 08:44 AM

I m already too LATE when I know the news...

Maybe I am not the only one...

I wonder if someone is going to upload the files, esp. 1 and 3...

I am waiting for the ONE~

Loge

Jun 17, 2005, 07:51 PM

Looks like these downloads were popular, probably accounts for the highly variable download times people got -

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,174-1657434,00.html

dejo

Jun 17, 2005, 07:54 PM

Looks like these downloads were popular, probably accounts for the highly variable download times people got -

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,174-1657434,00.html

Registration required.

Loge

Jun 17, 2005, 08:03 PM

Oops. It didn't ask me, I probably registered at some point and forgot. :o

It's a short article anyway -

"BBC's free Beethoven downloads see off Crazy Frog and Coldplay
By Adam Sherwin

A unique opportunity to download Beethoven’s first five symphonies has proved more popular than Coldplay and the Crazy Frog combined.
The BBC offered free downloads of the Radio 3 live concerts during its Beethoven season and was stunned to receive 657,399 download requests during the week-long trial. Live performances of the symphonies performed by the BBC Philharmonic in Manchester and conducted by Gianandrea Noseda surpassed the 464,471 sales recorded by Coldplay’s new album X&Y.

The First Symphony proved the most popular, receiving 164,662 downloads. It would have been on Top of the Pops had it been allowed into the chart. Crazy Frog recorded 72,281 sales last week to secure a third week at No 1. Beethoven downloads beat the entire legal download market in Britain last week. A total of 403,635 downloads were bought last week through iTunes and other stores."

thbodart

Jun 26, 2005, 05:18 AM

Hello,

try to download the 3e the last day, but a big rainstorm and a long power failure, then no 3e :(

Anybody can't share it, I have the 1st.

Thanks

eji

Jun 27, 2005, 06:14 AM

Can someone please host these files? I missed all the symphonies -- just read about it now -- but I'd love to have them.

If anyone's worried about bandwidth, they can send me the file (or a URL) and I'll re-post all of them to my .Mac account for everyone else's benefit.

Thanks to anyone who can help me (and others) out.

andym172

Jun 27, 2005, 10:37 AM

I'd love to download them too. If anybody makes them available please PM me :)

xsedrinam

Jun 27, 2005, 01:34 PM

I just downloaded the Pastoral (6th). Took 2min:45sec @270Kb/sec. The 7-9th are to be available the next three days. I just wanted the odds, though.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/beethoven/downloads.shtml
X

efoto

Jun 27, 2005, 03:07 PM

I just read about this today as well. If anyone feels nice enough to host them that would be great. If no one does, when I get home and can access my site (all admin stuff is blocked by work proxy :mad: ) I'll host them if someone sends them to me, I have nothing on my site anyway :p

FYI, I'm getting sym6 at roughly 62 kB/s off a French wireless connection at a friend's flat. The entire file (44.4MB) is downloading fine (at the 30.6MB mark) and entire package is taking roughly 10 minutes.

If anyone has them uploaded or wants to share for me to host, PM me in about a week (I know, can't get home before then :p ) and I'll host them for a while.

joepunk

Jun 27, 2005, 03:56 PM

Wow! I had completely forgotten all about this. Thanks for the reminder. I too would like to have Symphony 1-5, the ones I missed.

Downloading #6 at 13 minutes.

Mr. Anderson

Jun 27, 2005, 04:16 PM

efoto

Jun 28, 2005, 01:58 AM

Damn, damn, damn!

Why did I just find out about this. Downloading #6....bleh, I'd love to have them all, but I could also pay for them. I think its just the idea of having *free* stuff, free, good stuff at that.

D

That is the kicker for me as well. I have some Beethoven already on CD somewhere, not sure which or if it is a classical compilation, but the fact that it is free and I like it is what drives me to want it so. Free stuff is always good, even better when you actually want the stuff that is free :D

rendezvouscp

Jun 28, 2005, 02:49 AM

Alright, I'm downloading #6 right now, but I'd love to get 1-5 and host them if someone could send them to me. PM me if you can! Thanks.
-Chase

thbodart

Jun 28, 2005, 05:09 AM

Hello,

for the missing symphony: post 3

http://bluesky74656.homeip.net:8080/forum/viewtopic.php?p=17279&sid=76b9b982dd7a2f870755babe0cf3877b&&DI=293&IG=604c66be56b84b5f849654b7409567b8&POS=5&CM=WPU&CE=5&CS=AWP&SR=5

Have a good day

Mr. Anderson

Jun 28, 2005, 02:51 PM

Seven is available now :D

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/radio3/symphony7_beethoven_radio3.mp3

D

efoto

Jun 29, 2005, 01:56 AM

Seven is available now :D

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/radio3/symphony7_beethoven_radio3.mp3

D

I'm pulling roughly 30KB/s at work, 38.1MB, says about 21min (total time). Is that rough speeds for everyone else or is work slowing me down?

Doesn't really matter to me, it is fast enough since I have all day but just curious what speeds everyone is getting....

Thanks for the link Mr. A, I almost forgot....again :o

Loge

Jun 29, 2005, 02:18 AM

I downloaded 6 and 7 last night and was getting 450KB/s.

xsedrinam

Jun 29, 2005, 02:32 AM

I downloaded 6 and 7 last night and was getting 450KB/s.

Ya, connection's good. I just downloaded 7 in 2min02secs. And that was only 274KB/s :eek:
X

efoto

Jun 29, 2005, 02:39 AM

Ya, connection's good. I just downloaded 7 in 2min02secs. And that was only 274KB/s :eek:
X

Haha, alright then. I'll take it work is the cause of my painfully slow download rate. It finished without hitch, and I wasn't in a hurry but even when I have all the time in the world, I just like to have insanely high download rates, just because I normally can! :D

xsedrinam

Jun 29, 2005, 03:51 PM

Haha, alright then. I'll take it work is the cause of my painfully slow download rate. It finished without hitch, and I wasn't in a hurry but even when I have all the time in the world, I just like to have insanely high download rates, just because I normally can! :D

Started the 8th @3.7K/sec=2hours10min. left=huh uh, pass :eek: Guess that's what I get for doting over a meagre 276K/sec. with the 7th. It might be a time of day thingy, so...later to download 8 :o ¡Viva la France! At least your download time is consistently.....slow :D
X

Loge

Jun 29, 2005, 04:09 PM

Download rates do seem to vary a lot. However, I've just downloaded 8 at 300 KB/s.

joepunk

Jun 29, 2005, 04:45 PM

It took me 1hr. 30min. to download #7 on my school network. While yesterday it took less than 20min. to download #6. :rolleyes:

Applespider

Jun 29, 2005, 04:58 PM

6, 7 and 8 have each taken about 10 minutes. 1 and 3 which I got via torrent took closer to 8! :eek:

Fiveos22

Jun 29, 2005, 10:05 PM

6, 7 and 8 have each taken about 10 minutes. 1 and 3 which I got via torrent took closer to 8! :eek:

Could you post the torrent?

oops... I found them (http://bluesky74656.homeip.net:8080/forum/viewtopic.php?p=17279&sid=76b9b982dd7a2f870755babe0cf3877b&&DI=293&IG=604c66be56b84b5f849654b7409567b8&POS=5&CM=WPU&CE=5&CS=AWP&SR=5)...maybe I should read the posts more carefully

phatpat88

Jul 10, 2005, 09:40 PM

Does anyone have the 9th one?

u can to a torrent... host link.. whatev

or do a yousendit.com to

patrickcool1988@yahoo.com

thanks :)

sacear

Jul 10, 2005, 10:04 PM

Does anyone have the 9th one?

u can to a torrent... host link.. whatev

or do a yousendit.com to

patrickcool1988@yahoo.com

thanks :)phatpat88, check your email.

adamjaskie

Jul 25, 2005, 11:06 PM

I've got 'em all.

Eh, they aren't great. I think they seem a bit rushed. I'll stick to my Furtwangler (9th), Klemperer (5th, 7th), Bernstein (4th, 6th, and 9th), and Solti (3rd) recordings.

absolut_mac

Jul 25, 2005, 11:59 PM

Wow, it's so interesting to hear the interpretation of the piece as played by the BBC versus what I've played before.

Yup, it sure is amazing how different a piece can sound depending on both the quality of the players, and equally as important, the conductor.

I'm with adamjaskie, in that I generally tend to prefer the interpretations/performances of old.

A few of my favorite conductors for the Beethoven symphonies, all of which should be available at bargain basement prices, are Pierre Monteux, Bruno Walter, Wilhelm Fürtwangler, the earlier recordings of Herbert van Karajan, Carlos Kleiber and Otto Klemperer.

On a side note, one of the absolute best conductors that I had the privilege of seeing live was Sergiu Celibidache. Unfortunately he didn't like recording (artifically reduced dynamic contrasts was his main complaint) so his legacy of recordings is very small, but well worthwhile seeking out.

MacSA

Jul 26, 2005, 04:48 AM

Could you post the torrent?

oops... I found them (http://bluesky74656.homeip.net:8080/forum/viewtopic.php?p=17279&sid=76b9b982dd7a2f870755babe0cf3877b&&DI=293&IG=604c66be56b84b5f849654b7409567b8&POS=5&CM=WPU&CE=5&CS=AWP&SR=5)...maybe I should read the posts more carefully

That link doesnt work :( Where else can I find them? I only switched to broadband a week ago, so I wasnt able to download any of them until now:(

adamjaskie

Jul 26, 2005, 07:41 AM

The Furtwangler recording I have is far from the "best" from a technical standpoint. It's a live recording (Bayreuth Festival) so there is some audience noise, there are a few clams here and there, and a few other problems, but despite all the defects in the recording, it is still the CD I go back to time and time again. Furtwangler's interpretation is AMAZING, and, while the BBC Phil is probably better than the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra of 1954, it really is the conductor that is the important part of a recording.

An orchestra is really only as good as it's conductor. Heifetz once was told after a concert that his violin sounded "wonderful". He picked it up, held it to his ear, and said "Really? I don't hear anything." The orchestra is the conductor's instrument, just as the violin is the violinist's instrument.

absolut_mac

Jul 26, 2005, 10:33 AM

An orchestra is really only as good as it's conductor.

There are exceptions, but generally I do agree with you.

As long as an orchestra is reasonably competent, as are most of them today, the conductor will usually be the deciding factor in how good they sound.

There's absolutely no question, and plenty of recordings that highlight this issue, that an outstanding orchestra with a mediocre conductor will be a lot less enjoyable to listen to than a mediocre (but reasonably competent) orchestra with an outstanding conductor.

The interesting thing about recordings is that sometimes, for reasons unclear to me at least, some combinations are really just outstanding.

The Fritz Reiner/Vladimir Horowitz Beethoven Emperor concerto is one that springs to mind. I would never have guessed this to be an outstanding performance, but I have yet to hear any other performance of this piece that is as exciting to listen to as this one.