The Emotional Ranges of Mozart's and Beethoven's Music
With the tempering of emotions, Mozart's music could express great joy on the positive
side, but Beethoven's music could very high exuberance and spiritual exhilaration.
(e.g. the "Ode to Joy" in the final movement of the 9th symphony).
In negative emotions, Mozart expressed melancholia, sadness, sorrow, and occasionally
In negative emotions, Mozart expressed melancholia, sadness, sorrow, and occasionally
even grief. But Beethoven often expressed much darker emotions like anxiety, anger,
or even rage.
Expressing Classicism and Romanticism in Music
Towards 19th Century Romanticism (c. 1802 - 1830)
After 1800 composers began transitioning away from classicism towards romanticism.
he most important composer of this period was Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1826).
Beethoven never became a fully romantic composer. But his explorations of subjective
emotions, his increased use of minor keys, dissonance, sudden volume changes and
dramatic silences opened new doors for the early Romantic composers who followed
him. Beethoven also greatly increased the technical aspects of piano playing that would
be very important to Chopin, Robert Schumann, and Franz Liszt in the 1830s.
Mozart - Sonata No. 9 in D major, K 311 (1777) - Daniel Barenboim, piano
What is classical here? First, it a cheerful and confident piece. Then notice how the
music's pulse does not speed up or slow down, but remains constant throughout any
one passage, as does the volume level. This emphasizes the ideals of stability and
control. And notice how the logical and organized design of the piece is prominent.
The piece has one (fairly) simple, clear melody at a time and it has a dignified elegance.
The music is emotionally positive (and very peppy). It sounds confident and self assured.
Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 ("Appassionata") (1805) Mvmt 3
Claudio Arrau, piano
Expressing Classicism and Romanticism in Music
Towards 19th Century Romanticism (c. 1802 - 1830)
After 1800 composers began transitioning away from classicism towards romanticism.
he most important composer of this period was Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1826).
Beethoven never became a fully romantic composer. But his explorations of subjective
emotions, his increased use of minor keys, dissonance, sudden volume changes and
dramatic silences opened new doors for the early Romantic composers who followed
him. Beethoven also greatly increased the technical aspects of piano playing that would
be very important to Chopin, Robert Schumann, and Franz Liszt in the 1830s.
Mozart - Sonata No. 9 in D major, K 311 (1777) - Daniel Barenboim, piano
What is classical here? First, it a cheerful and confident piece. Then notice how the
music's pulse does not speed up or slow down, but remains constant throughout any
one passage, as does the volume level. This emphasizes the ideals of stability and
control. And notice how the logical and organized design of the piece is prominent.
The piece has one (fairly) simple, clear melody at a time and it has a dignified elegance.
The music is emotionally positive (and very peppy). It sounds confident and self assured.
Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 ("Appassionata") (1805) Mvmt 3
Claudio Arrau, piano
No comments:
Post a Comment