IX. Classical Chamber Music

1. IX. Classical Chamber Music

2. Classical Chamber Music • Designed for intimate setting of a room in a home or palace, rather than for a public concert hall • 2-9 musicians, one player to a part • Lighter in sound than classical orchestral music

3. It’s intended to be pleasurable for a performer as well as the listener. • The group is a team- each individual part is essential! • There is NO conductor needed- each individual needs musical sensitivity • String Quartet: 2 violins, 1 viola & 1 cello.

4. String Quartet: 2 violins, 1 viola & 1 cello. • … Is usually in 4 movements: • 1) fast • 2) slow • 3) minuet or scherzo • 4) fast • Other types of chamber music: • Sonata for violin and piano • Piano trio (violin, cello, piano) • String Quintet (2 violins, 2 violas, cello)

5. X. Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

6. Haydn • Born in Austria • At a young age he was sent to live with a relative who gave basic music lessons for 2 years. • Age 8- went to Vienna where he became a choirboy in the Cathedral of St. Stephen. • His voice changed and was kicked out. Struggled for years giving lessons and teaching himself composition.

7. Haydn • Age 29 (1761)- he entered the service of the “Esterhazy’s” (richest and most powerful of the Hungarian noble families). • Highly skilled servant • Composed all the music requested by his patron • Conducted the orchestra of about 25 players • Coached singers • Oversaw the condition of instruments and operation of music library

8. Haydn • He was unhappily married, even though, he was good-humored and unselfish. • Very conscientious about his professional duties, he cared about the personal interests of his musicians. • Met Mozart in early 1780’s and became close friends • Prince Nicholas Esterhazy died and Haydn went to London

9. Haydn • He was very successful in London. Aristocracy wined and dined him and he was even given an honorary doctorate at Oxford. • Returned to Vienna in 1795 to work for Nicholas II. Nick only liked religious music so Haydn composed masses and oratorios for him.

10. Haydn • Haydn died in 1809 (77 years old), while Napoleon’s army was occupying Vienna. • His wide recognition was obvious in a memorial service held for him. Joining the Viennese were French generals and an honor guard of French soldiers.

11. Haydn’s Music • A pathfinder for classical style. A pioneer in the development of thesymphony and string quartet. • Mozart and Beethoven both influenced his style. • Many of his works have a folk-like flavor due to his exposure to peasant tunes and folk music his father would sing when he was a young child.

12. Haydn’s Music • He was a master at developing themes. • Wrote 104 symphonies, 68 string quartets, oratorios, piano sonatas, piano trios, divertimentos, concertos, operas, and masses!

13. Symphony No. 94 (The Surprise) • Remember… Movement 2 is widely known for its use of “Theme and Variations” • (Could this be on the test? Yes…)

14. XI. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756- 1791)

15. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart • Born in Salzburg, Austria • Child Prodigy • Age 6- could play harpsichord and violin, improvise fugues, write minuets, read music perfectly at first sight • Age 8- wrote symphony • Age 11- wrote an oratorio • Age 12- wrote an opera

16. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart • His father, Leopold, was a court musician. He liked to show off Mozart. • During Holy Week in Rome they heard the Sistine Chapel performing a treasured work that was their property • Anyone caught copying was to be punished by excommunication • Mozart (14) heard it once, copied it perfectly. • He escaped punishment and was knighted by the pope for his musical accomplishments

17. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart • The irony is that Mozart had more acclaim as a boy wonder than as an adult musician. • He began his professional life as an international celebrity, pampered by kings. • 1781- 25 years old- traveled to Vienna to become a freelance musician.

18. Freelancing in Vienna • His first few years were successful. • Popularity began to decline when he began using dissonance more. • During his last year, he was happier and more successful- wrote The Magic Flute • A stranger visited him asking for a requiem (a mass for the dead) • He died on Dec 5, 1791, of rheumatic fever at only 35. • He did not finish the requiem, Franz Sussymeyer, one of his pupils did.

19. Mozart’s music • Most versatile of all composers, wrote masterpieces in all the musical forms of his time. • He believed that music “must never offend the ear, but must please the hearer, or in other words, must never cease to be music”. • His compositions sound effortless

20. Mozart’s music • Wrote more than 600 compositions, catalogued during 19th c. by Ludwig von Kochel (K. #’s). • Master of opera- few composers have matched his ability to coordinate music and stage action (both serious and comic). • Influenced by Italian opera and J.C., J.S. Bach, and Haydn

21. C MozartT Requiem in D minor K. 626; Dies Irae • D 1791 • S Orchestra, Choir • H D minor • M • R Duple • F Requiem • T Homophonic/ Latin “Day of Wrath”

22. The Magic Flute • Was working on this at the same time an anonymous letter came in the hands of a stranger, asking to commission a Mass for the Dead, The Requiem Mass. • Working on several things at once, became overwhelmed and died of Rheumatic Fever on December 5th, 1791. • “Die Zauberflote” was wildly successful! • Too little, too late.

23. XII. Ludwig van Beethoven 1770-1827

24. Ludwig van Beethoven • Born in Bonn, Germany • Came from a family of musicians • Age 11- served as assistant to the court organist • Age 12- had several piano compositions published • Age 16- went to Vienna to improvise for Mozart • Mozart said, “Keep your eyes on him, someday he will give the world something to talk about”.

25. Ludwig van Beethoven • Returned to Bonn, his mother was ill and died. Father became an alcoholic and was dismissed from the court choir. • Beethoven became the legal guardian of his two younger brothers at 18.

26. Age 21- left Bonn to study with Haydn in Vienna • Stayed in Vienna the rest of his life • First 7 years brought hard work, growing confidence, and public praise. • He rebelled against social convention, saying an artist deserved as much respect as the nobility • This worked for him, not Mozart.

27. Ludwig van Beethoven • Age 29-felt the first symptoms of deafness • (Very detrimental to him- in a letter to his brothers, he wrote that he would have ended his life, but it was only his art that kept him from it.) • His victory over despair is reflected in his compositions- new power and heroism in his works

28. The mystery man • Self-educated and widely read in Shakespeare • Very weak in elementary arithmetic • (Claimed the highest moral principles) • (But was often unscrupulous in dealing with publishers.) • Orderly and methodical when composing… …but dressed sloppily and lived in incredibly messy apartments • (Lived 35 years in Vienna, he moved 40 times.)

29. Orderly and methodical when composing… …but dressed sloppily and lived in incredibly messy apartments • (Lived 35 years in Vienna, he moved 40 times.)

30. Ludwig van Beethoven • He fell in and out of love with several women, mostly of noble birth, never forming a lasting relationship • As his hearing weakened, so did his piano playing and conducting • By 44 he was forced to stop playing in public, however, he insisted on conducting his orchestral works. • The performers would be confused about his gestures and it would become chaotic

31. Ludwig van Beethoven • His sense of isolation grew with his deafness. • People would communicate through an ear trumpet and during his last 8 years, he would carry a notebook with him for people to write on.

32. Ludwig van Beethoven • His brother died, and he got custody of his son. • Problem child, attempted suicide, and shattered Beethoven’s world • People talked about Beethoven losing it and never composing again. • He proved them wrong by composing some of his most outstanding works in total deafness. • Ninth Symphony & Missa solemnis

33. C BeethovenT Symphony No. 5 I Mvt; Allegro con brio • D 1808 • S Woodwind, Timpani, Strings • H C minor • M A Section- Famous melody B Section- Horn solo, lyrical strings • R Duple 2/4 • F Sonata • T Polyphonic

34. SYMPHONY NO. 9 (Ode to Joy) • Leonard Bernstein conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in this video clip…