Let’s get this out of the way—pretty much everything you know about Mozart from the movie Amadeus is a lie. Here’s what the movie gets right: There was a guy called Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He was a child prodigy and a remarkable composer. He lived most of his adult life in Vienna, where he composed … Continue reading Classical Music II: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Month: May 2022
Interlude: The Other Haydn at the Side of the Road
In 1783, Mozart visited Salzburg with his wife Constanze. While there, he dropped in to see his good friend, Haydn, who was in trouble. Haydn had a commission due for the Archbishop--a set of six duos for violin and viola. Four were already completed, but Haydn had taken ill and was unable to complete the … Continue reading Interlude: The Other Haydn at the Side of the Road
Haydn: The Symphonies and The Creation
"Papa" Haydn earned his sobriquet for his generousity with his students. But it could equally refer to his status as the Father of the Symphony and the Father of the String Quartet. Haydn was already well-established when Mozart came on the scene; he died six decades later during his student Beethoven's second period. In between, … Continue reading Haydn: The Symphonies and The Creation
Haydn: Chamber Music
Haydn is the Father of the String Quartet. He did not compose the first one, however. That honor likely goes to Alessandro Scarlatti, who composed six works called Sonata a Quattro per Due Violini, Violette e Violoncello, senza Cemballo (i.e., a quartet comprised of 2 violins, 1 viola and 1 cello, without keyboard). While Haydn … Continue reading Haydn: Chamber Music
Classical Period I: Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Haydn was not the first classical composer. As noted last week, Bach's son, CPE Bach, Antonio Salieri, and Christoph Gluck, among many, many others, pioneered the slow movement away from the Baroque. Some of these efforts were well underway prior to 1750 and some of these early classical composers--Salieri in particular--continued to soldier on into … Continue reading Classical Period I: Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
A Gertus History of Music 