Dr Robert Meikle presented A new look at Beethoven's Choral Symphony.

The Birmingham University lecturer told how it took 12 years for Beethoven to compose his first eight symphonies, than another 12 to complete the ninth - the Choral.

It is his longest composition, at over one hour 10 minutes long, and researchers have always been mystified by the inclusion of a choral final movement.

Much additional research has been done over the past 50 years, resulting in new information about the composer's life and music, but Dr Meikle's "new look" at the work involved no history or personalities - just music.

Using an electric piano he played extracts, and used a recorded performance by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, conducted by Bernard Haitink, to demonstrate landmarks in the symphony - key changes, chord progression, key relationships, repeats and references to earlier passages, especially showing how earlier passages prepared the way for the choral movement.