The most direct inspiration for the Pastoral Symphony came from Beethoven’s deep love of nature. He wrote, “how glad I am to be able to roam in the woods & the thicket, amongst the trees, the flowers & the rocks. In the country, every tree seems to speak to me. In the woods, there is peace, an enchantment which naturally expresses all things. I am electrical by nature. Nature is a glorious school for the heart.”
