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In 1808, the year he completed his Sixth Symphony, Beethoven wrote: "How happy I am to be able to walk among the shrubs, the trees, the woods, the grass and the rocks! For the woods, the trees and the rocks give man the resonance he needs."

Opus 68, dubbed the "Pastoral," was a celebration of nature. Even the subtitles the composer gave to each of the five movements suggest the programmatic intentions behind the piece. However, the work evokes feelings more than it paints in sound.

Under the direction of Ramiz Mailk-Aslanov, the Istanbul's National Conservatory orchestra performed Beethoven's picturesque Sixth Symphony at the 2002 Beethoven Festival in Bonn.

Deutsche Welle sponsored the orchestra's one-week residency in Germany where the young musicians had the opportunity to rehearse with famed conductors like Krzysztof Penderecki, Helmuth Rilling and Peter Gülke.

The National Conservatory orchestra was invited on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish language service of DW-RADIO.

Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony Nr. 6 in F Major, Opus 68, "Pastoral"

1. Erwachen heiterer Empfindungen bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande (Awakening of joyous feelings when arriving in the country)
2. Szene am Bach (By the brook)
3. Lustiges Zusammensein der Landleute (Happy gathering of country folk)
4. Gewitter, Sturm (The tempest)
5. Hirtengesang -- Frohe und dankbare Gefühle nach dem Sturm (Shepherd's song -- cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm)

Total length >> 33:04

Recorded in the Beethovenhalle Bonn