Introduction:
In the classical period most people only described the 18th century music as classical music (style) but it was carefully divided between 3 main styles namely the Gallante style, the Empfindsam style and Sturm und Drang and finally the Classical style. Later during the 17th century the music styles became more important and because of the large number of instrumental players in the orchestra and most of the growth took place in the orchestra field. The first genre that came to rise was the style gallant around the 1720s to the 1770s it was also known and described as “sophisticated” and elegant (Burkholder, Grout & Palisca 2010).
2 composers came to rise early in their lives during the Classical period, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
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But what was known, was that Haydn and Mozart helped create the classical style by developing elements from other styles and enriching them. The music became more serious and formal.
Mozart being one of the composers considered in the “classical” style, he used a lot of information from other composers to use in his compositions. All the knowledge and ideas he got from Haydn, Beethoven, Bach and many more stayed with him through his life, all the new techniques “growing in his head and later further use them. In most of his works, like his sonatas, concerto forms, piano concertos and so on, you can see many influences from all the known composers. (Burkholder, Grout & Palisca 2010). Some techniques he learned from other composers include his piano sonatas (K. 309 - 311) where he shows many techniques like a wide variety of key changes, content and form he learnt from Schobert.
Opening of Mozart’s Piano Sonata in F Major, K.
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He started to compose them in a three-movement form, but later he used the standard four – movements. According to Burkholder Mozart’s symphonies “served as models for the older composers”. (Burkholder, Grout & Palisca 2010:559).What made Mozart and Haydn’s symphonies similar, they both were more serious in their music and with the complexity and the climatic ending made Mozart’s music more popular and in high demand for public concerts. The difference between these two great composers was the fact that Haydn’s finales left the audience with a more cheerful mind than Mozart. (Gretchen:1991 and
String Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 33, Russian, No. 2, Hob.III:38, Joke
Haydn was referred as the father of string quartets and this particular one, String quartet in E-flat major, Op.33, composed in 1781, shows great examples of all the different element he used in his string quartets. The name, The Joke originated because of the fact that Haydn replaced the normal minuet into a scherzo, which meant playfulness. (Gretchen:1991)
In this composition, he introduces the theme several times, which played in his advantage, because it would help the audience remember the theme. And his dance – like rhythm and pulse was regular and he used abrupt changes in his meter, tempo and dynamics.
Both Haydn and Beethoven are known as two of the greatest classical/romantic composers in the history of music. Haydn is identified as the father of modern symphony, as well as the father of the string quartet. He has played an essential role in developing the piano trio and the sonata form. Beethoven is also a widely recognized composer in Western music, his style joined the lull between the Classical and Romantic eras. Beethoven traveled to Vienna when he was young to study under Haydn. However, due to disputes and differences between the two composers, lessons only lasted for a little over a year. The teachings, if only for a short period, left a mark on Beethoven, and can be observed in his compositions.
Beethoven does not introduce too many structural changes to the traditional sonata form, which he learned from Haydn, in the first
Haydn has a special preference for writing music in a bundle of six. Each of the six pieces has its individuality while sharing many common features at the same time. Haydn’s solo keyboard sonatas show striking diversity in type and style. They often could be categorized by their style periods and each of them reflects a corresponding social background.
Some of the great composers during this time were Franz Josef Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart baptized as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart lived from January 27, 1756 to December 5, 1791. Mozart was a very influential and prolific composer of more than 600 works, including symphonies, concertante, chamber, piano, opera, and choral music. Regarded as a child prodigy, Mozart composed and performed in the European courts from the age of five, and was engaged at the Salzburg court at 17. Mozart’s musical style can be classified as Classical, although he learned from many of his contemporaries throughout his musical career. In order to better understand Mozart’s genius it is best to begin looking at his earliest contributions to the musical world as a child. From there, an exploration of his
Composing works derived from styles already in existence, he created an extremely unique and unprecedented genre of works. Thus Mozart became a trailblazer of the classical age. Music from this period consists largely of a lighter and clearer texture than the preceding Baroque music and is less intricate. One trademark especially evident in Mozart’s contribution to the classical period is the use of homophony. Examples of the homophonic effect are displayed in his piano concerto No. 23 and sonata No 16 in C. In these, the distinct pattern of an indubitable melody can be distinctly and easily recognized above the adjunct chordal accompaniment. Although Mozart contributed primarily to the growth of the classical era, he was also influenced by the works of Handel and Bach. Both were prominent composers of the baroque era. In some of his later works, Mozart indulged more in the incorporation of the previous baroque
This paper discusses Mozart's life, his compositions and his importance to the world and the world of music. It explains how Mozart's music is still some of the most popular classical music played today and his life is still studied because his music is so well known and liked.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven are two of the greatest composers ever to write music. Both men lived in the early 18th and 19th century, but their music and influences are still felt today. The men faced similar experiences, yet they both lead very different lives. All together the pieces that these men composed amounts to over 300 published, and unpublished works of art. The people of their time period often had mixed feelings about these men, some “complained that Mozart’s music presented them with too many ideas and that his melodies moved from one to the next faster than audiences could follow, yet the ideas themselves seem effortless and natural, clear and
He took the old methods and twisted to match his style of thinking. As mentioned before, Ludwig used a D major melody and a B minor harmony all at once. (Discuss) He then called this juxtaposed chords, which were opposing the old idea where they generally did not mix minor and major chords. If he changed the way chords were played, then obviously he changed music. Ludwig also influenced Romantic composers by changing the ideas of programmatic writing. (Discuss) He changed the idea of writing music from composing just to compose into actually creating a picture in the listeners mind. Beethoven's Symphony Number Six was the first programmatic symphony where the music was meant to paint a picture, compared to simply being a series of sounds. (Guthrie) The earlier works of his period brought the Classical forms to the highest expressive point, expanded the formal, structural and harmonic terms of his teachers Mozart and Haydn. (Guthrie) While he was influenced by his teachers, he took their old ways and transformed them into a new version of thinking to help others actually express themselves through the power of music. He changed the old methods into a new and improved version. He held onto the old culture without wearing it
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lived during a period of great change in philosophy, art, religion and music. This change was brought about by the transition from the baroque period where the Catholic Church encouraged the arts to depict religious themes and the aristocracy ruled over the artists. The populace had very little power or recognition.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is said to be the greatest genius in western music history. Wolfgang Amadeus was born in Salzburg, Austria January 27, 1756 his parents were Leopold Mozart and Anna Maria Pertl. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s father was a successful composer, violinist, and assistant concertmaster at the Salzburg court. The
In classical music, the structures emphasize more the grace of proportion and balance, moderation and control; polished and elegance in character with expressiveness and formal structure held in perfect balance. Furthermore, the forms do not vary as much as the Romantic era, they had forms like sonatas, symphonies etc. The melodic phrases are usually balanced and symmetrical made up of two phrases of the same length. For an example, in Mozart's Clarinet Quintet, the music is very symmetrical and well balanced, in a variation form. However, in Romantic music, they rather emphasize on the emotional content than trying to sound balanced and symmetrical, and expanded their use of forms and created new forms, like impromptu, ballade, etude, nocturnes etc,. Moreover, the melodies normally have either really long or short phrases, increased in range, but also increased in chromaticism. For example in Mahler's symphony no.1 in D major "Titan", we can see that except it is in a ABA form, the whole movement was not as symmetrical and well balanced as the Mozart, although it is in a variation form, the melodic phrases have increased in range, are either really long, for example in the first 18 bars, or really short, where the melody can be hardly seen in bar 134-137.
In Salzburg, Austria, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27, 1756. Wolfgang was the only son of Leopold and Maria Pertl Mozart to survive. Wolfgang began learning about music when he was three years old, watching his sister Nannerl play the keyboard. He was a musical prodigy, composing his first piece at 5, and beginning “tours” with his father at 6 years old. When Wolfgang turned 13, his father took him to Italy to show off this young boy’s talents. Before Mozart turned 21, he was appointed to be assistant concertmaster. It was at this time that he wrote his first opera. Mozart left on another tour in 1777, and then returned to Salzburg to be a court organist. He soon decided he was not so fond of this position, and resigned to become a freelance musician in Vienna. When he moved to Vienna, he married Constanze Weber, against his father’s wishes. Wolfgang lived in luxury during the beginning of his life in Vienna, he was producing popular operas. Soon, though, he began to lack money, and took loans that would leave him in debt for the rest of his life. In the final years of Mozart’s life, he was most productive, writing his most famous symphonies, The Magic Flute, and of course,
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is the composer of Symphony No. 40 in G minor. This piece was composed in 1788. Mozart overshadowed and took after his father, Leopold, who was a talented composer of the time. After his father passed, young Mozart had the opportunity to work in several different musical genres composing symphonies, string quartets, sonatas and serenades and a few operas. He developed a passion for violin concertos producing what came to be the only five he wrote.
Among the many musical types of the period, the classical period is best known for the symphony, a form of a large orchestral ensemble. The symphonic pieces generally had three movements, the sonata, the minuet and the finale. Building of the achievements of earlier composers,