Beethoven's Heroic Symphony

Beethoven's Third Symphony was written as the classical composer was struggling with his advancing deafness. Meant as a celebration of Napoleon's victories, the four movements reflected Bonaparte's courage and heroism. But soon after Beethoven completed the work, he discovered Napolean's treachery in declaring himself Emperor of France, and the composer considered destroying the composition. Instead, The Bonaparte Symphony was later renamed the Eroica, or Heroic Symphony.