The infamous opening 4-note motif of this work has become Beethoven’s signature. Beethoven’s friend and secretary Schindler described the symphony’s opening as “death knocking at the door.” This arrangement for four-part flute ensemble and piano is an unabridged transcription that is, surprisingly, not particularly difficult to play. Parts 3 and 4 are quite easy and the the lack of rhythmic counterpoint makes the work fairly straightforward for students to put together. They will have the opportunity to discover first hand how a very simple motif is used ingeniously by Beethoven to construct the entire first subject of this symphonic movement.