Download Classical Music - Nutley Public Schools

Classical Music
Historical Context/Influences
Beethoven
• Born in Bonn
• Bonn Period
– 40 Works, 10 were written as an adolescent
– Initially criticized as a composer
– Wind Octet
– 12 Lieder
– Concertos, notably Bb Concerto for Piano
• Vienna Period
– Moved to Vienna as young adult
Haydn
W. A. Mozart
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1756-1791
Born in Salzburg
Lived and died in Vienna
Father was Leopold, a well-known musician
– Recognized young Mozart’s talent and promoted concerts all over
Europe for Wolfgang and his sister Nannerl
• Was inspired by his travels
– Composed based on the tastes of the country he was in
• Enjoyed moments of success, but often overindulged and spent his
money as it came in
• Court musician in Salzburg
• Worked for Emperor Joseph II in Vienna
• Died before completing his Requiem
Mozart’s Instrumental Works
• Composed wide variety of musical forms
– Symphonies, concertos, secular vocal music, Masses, piano
sonatas and concertos, chamber music
• Dedicated 6 string quartets to Haydn, who was a strong
influence on his compositional style
• Clarity and beauty of melodic content was important
• Piano Concerto #24, K271
• Symphony #29 #31, #38, #40
• K (stands for Kerschel) refers to catalog number
• Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Mozart’s Operas
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Wrote 22 Operas
Apollo et Hyacinth—wrote at age 11
Most were in the Italian tradition
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Seria
Buffa
Collaborated with Da Ponte (librettist)
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Commissioned by Imperial German Theater
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Features “pants role” of Cherubino
Don Giovanni
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Abduction from the Seraglio
Marriage of Figaro
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Marriage of Figaro
Cosi fan Tutte
Don Giovanni
Based on legend of Don Juan
Classified as a buffa, but combines drama and supernatural elements
Cosi Fan Tutte
The Magic Flute
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Characters include Taomino, Pamina, Sarastro, Papageno (bird-like man)