Power Point 18. The Classic Era: Haydn and Mozart

1. Franz Joseph Haydn
(1732-1809)
•born in Austria
•most of career as composer at court
of Esterházy in Hungary
•end of career in Vienna and London
•did not concertize—wrote works for
others

2. Humor in Haydn
• melodic character
• false starts
• pizzicato
• half cadences (where full is expected)
• abrupt, unexpected conclusions
• String Quartet in E flat, Op. 33, no. 2, Hob. III:38, “The
Joke” mvt 4
• Symphony no. 94 in G, Hob. I:94, “Surprise” mvt 2

3. structure of symphonies and string quartets
• Mvt. I
– sonata allegro
– long, slow intro to 1st movement
– development throughout
– long coda
– distant and sudden modulations
– larger scale
– distributes themes among all
instruments
– stile galant
Symphony no. 92 in G major, Hob. I:92 “Oxford”
• Mvt. II
– slow
– Empfindsamer stil/Sturm und
Drang
• Mvt. III
• scherzo
• “joke”—humorous
• faster and lighter in mood than
minuet
• Mvt. IV
• sonata or sonata-rondo

4. important works
• string quartets
• piano sonatas
• over 100 symphonies
– later symphonies—large orchestra
– false recapitulation
• Lord Nelson Mass
• The Creation, Hob. XXI: 2, oratorio
– SATB soloists, 4-part chorus, full orchestra—3 trombones & timpani, basso continuo
harpsichord
– musical imagery and text painting
• Concerto in E flat for Trumpet, Hob. VIIe:1
– written for Weidinger, inventor of E-flat trumpet
– 5 keys played w/LH (trumpet held in RH)
– chromatic
– extreme range
– trumpet not only military, but virtuoso, lyric
keyed trumpet

5. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
• b. Salzburg, Bavaria (Austria)
• composing by age 5
• training from father, Leopold
• age 6—harpsichord virtuoso,
also played organ and violin
• could replay a work after
hearing it only once
• age 11—wrote first full-length
opera
Childhood

6. •later works influenced by music he heard
–England
•heard music of J.C. Bach: stile galant
•Mozart: Concerto in A Major, K. 488 (1786)
–Italy
•influenced by Sammartini: sonata form
•Piano Sonata in F Major, K. 332
•Mozart: Symphony no. 41 “Jupiter”, K. 551, mvt. 4
(1788)
–Vienna
•heard Haydn quartets op. 17, 20
•Mozart: “Haydn” quartets, K. 387-465 (1782-5)
European Tour 1762-1773

7. Salzburg 1773-1781
•1773-1777—Salzburg court
•1777—released from court
–tour to Munich,
Augsburg, Mannheim,
Paris
•1778—mother dies
•1779—Salzburg court
•1781—in Munich
–released from Salzburg
court

8. Vienna 1782-1791
•1782—married Costanze Weber (sister of woman he was in
love with)
•1784—Freemason
•1787—Gluck dies, Mozart named Imperial Chamber Music
Composer (@ small fraction of Gluck’s wages)
•1791—dies

9. Instrumental Works
• incorporate aspects of stile galant, empfindsamer
stil, and sturm und drang
• 41 Symphonies
– #40 g minor
– #41 C Major “Jupiter”
• Piano Concertos
• Violin Concertos
• Violin Sonatas
• String Quartets
• Masses
• Requiem Mass
• Operas
Vocal Works

10. Mozart opera types
•Opera Seria
–Idomeneo combines Opera Seria and
Reform Opera
•Opera Seria:
–castrato in principal role
•Reform opera:
–recitativo accompagnato
–choral scenes
–ballet
•Opera Buffa
•The Marriage of Figaro
•Singspiel
•German light opera
•spoken dialogue
•influenced by commedia dell’arte
•The Magic Flute
•Dramma Giocoso
•Don Giovanni combines Opera Seria and Opera Buffa