The second movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 stands on its own and is often performed that way given its enormous popularity with performers and audiences. However, unlike most arrangements of this movement, this thoughtful version goes a step further by including some of the developmental material from the movement in addition to the main theme. This gives students a better picture of the movement and remains more faithful to the original.
Beethoven was known for breaking new ground, doing the new and unexpected, and demanding things from performers that were over the top. Yet, now and then, he would write something that was, in its simplicity, both artistically great and hugely popular. This was precisely the case with the second movement of his Seventh Symphony, a movement that is frequently performed as a separate work. This arrangement for string orchestra maintains the uplifting and joyful intent of Beethoven's original movement.