"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
Author: ethanlitwin
Life-long New Yorker. Graduate of Duke University and Georgetown Law. Solicitor of England and Wales. Recognized by Chambers & Partners, The Legal 500, Global Competition Review, Super Lawyers and others as one of the leading antitrust litigators in the United States. Former Chairman and current Board member of Gingold Theatrical Group. Former Young Patron Board member at the Met Opera.
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)
Interlude: Transitional Figures at the Side of the Road
From time to time, I've gone back to highlight the work of composers who have been (un)fairly (depending on your point of view) neglected in this history. Today, I am pausing to recognize the important work of a group of 18th century composers who between, roughly, the 1740s and 1770s were part of the so-called … Continue reading Interlude: Transitional Figures at the Side of the Road
Introduction to the Classical Period
It is a gross simplification to say that Bach died, the Baroque Period ended, and the Classical Period was born. Some scholars place the start of the Classical Period some years before the death of Bach; some don’t start it until 1775 or so. For me (and I’d venture for most musicologists), the Classical Period … Continue reading Introduction to the Classical Period
A Gertus History of Music 