Beethoven: Symphony No. 5

Author

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827: German)

• father was a singer and abusive alcoholic
• moved to Vienna in 1792, studied under Haydn
• functioned under a modified patronage system: he did not work for a specific family of aristocracy, but rather was supported by the aristocracy as a whole
• went deaf later in life
  
• Wikipedia Article
  

About the Piece

(much of the description comes from elements that were brought out by Forney and Machlis, The Enjoyment of Music, and the accompanying DVD)

• Genre is symphony
• Wikipedia Article
  

First Movement:

• exposition is introduced with the "four most famous notes in history"
• first four notes establish a motive for the rest of the piece
  
• first theme is fiery, intense, and in C major
  
• second theme is sweet, lyrical and in E-flat major
• second theme builds into closing theme
  
• closing theme is energetic, faster, but still in E-flat major
• the entire exposition is then repeated
• Development plays with the established motive
• motive decreases from 4 notes to three to two to finally 1, and then reestablishes the familiar 4 note motive to lead into the recap
• recapitulation includes an unexpected solo cadenza
• this time the second theme is in C major
  
• new theme added in recap, still in C major
• ends with an extremely long coda
  

Second Movement

• smooth and soothing first theme with mostly strings opens the movement
• theme two has more "tension" before it "bursts" in the middle
• a quiet transition leads back into the smoothness of theme 1
• Beethoven plays with rhythm and timbre in the first variation
• 2nd variation is embellished with 32nd notes, lots of "filled in" movement
• theme 2 does not appear in the second variation
• transition to 3rd variation follows
  
• theme 2 then appears with its second half first
• then theme 2's second half is repeated quieter and in a minor key
• finally a more triumphant variation of theme 1 before the long coda
  

Third Movement

• rising theme (Scherzo) on the lower strings gives way to rhythmic pattern from first movement
• scherzo gives way to fugal texture, c major, more quick movement on lower strings
• sherzo returns, resulting in a ternary form, ABA
• timpani leads low thumping transition into triumphant first theme of movement 4
  

Forth Movement

• first theme is strong and brilliant, in C major and G major
• second theme is similar in brilliance, contains more triplet rhythms
• development begins with a key change
• short-short-short-long throughout development (as well as both themes)
  
• recap avoids exposition's modulation between C major and G major
• long coda finishes this movement again
• coda gains energy and builds to a triumphant, staccato ending
  

Purpose

• entertainment

Reflections

Listening to this piece gave me the clear impression that I was hearing one of the greatest works of music of all time. The interplay of emotions between loud and soft parts is stunning, and the variety of instruments used demonstrates that finally, in Beethoven's era, the symphony seems to have arrived. Beethoven almost never does exactly the same thing twice, which captivates the listener's attention. The interplay between the four movements makes for an altogether coherant and beautiful piece.

Haydn: Symphony No. 94

Author

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809: German)

• father was a wheelwright and served as the village mayor
• at age 29 he entered the service of the Esterhazys, a wealthy family of Hungarian royalty
• spent almost 30 years there
• Wikipedia Article
  

About the Piece

(much of thedescription comes from elements that were brought out by Forney and Machlis, The Enjoyment of Music, and the accompanying DVD)

• Genre is
  
• Begins with exposition of two themes, both very simple themes
  
• 4 variations in development
• Switches between C major and C minor
• several very loud accented notes (hence the name, surprise)
• calm ending
• quiet piece throughout, for the most part (excepting loud accented notes)

Purpose

• entertainment
  

Reflections

On the whole, I find this piece interesting, but not all that thrilling. The accents are quite startling, as they were intended to be, but the rest of the piece is just too quiet and simple to hold my attention (perhaps this is the composer's intent, to lull the listener to sleep and shock them awake)

Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro

Author

Wofgang Amadeus Mozart (1751-1791, Austrian)
(see previous post)

About the Piece

(much of thedescription comes from elements that were brought out by Forney and Machlis, The Enjoyment of Music, and the accompanying DVD)

• Genre is Opera buffa
• Starts with an aria by Chereubino about love, specifically love from the perspective of a young (~13 years old) boy.
• Aria takes form ABAC
• long dialogue section (recitative) next leads into a trio
• the trio is still dialogue of sorts, but much more dramatic
• several counterpunctual phrases simulate interruption in converstion
• as is characteristic of the Classical era, this piece maintains virtuosity without long single-word melismas
  

Purpose

• entertainment
• meant to be comic
  

Reflections

Once again the language barrier is an issue, though not as much in the singing sections. I find myself reading the "dialogue" (or recitative) section and hearing it in my head differently that it is being sung. But once the trio section starts, the phrases get shorter, and it gets easier to guess what words are being emphasized. Language aside, however, I like Classical opera better than Baroque because it is so much broader.

Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik

Author

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791: Austrian)

• father was a composer-violinist for Archbishop of Salzburg
  
• first started to compose at age 5
• had written sonatas, concertos, symphonies, religious works, and several operas by age 13.
• left the house of the Archbishop of Salzburg at age 25 after quarrel
  
• married in 1782
• died at age 35 of unknown causes
  

About the Piece

(much of thedescription comes from elements that were brought out by Forney and Machlis, The Enjoyment of Music, and the accompanying DVD)

• Genre is chamber music
• all in major keys
• stringed instruments only
  

First Movement:

• three themes alternate
• first theme is disjunct, ascending, has dotted rhythm
  
• second theme is more conjunct, graceful, smooth, has descending parts to it
• "closing" theme is very similar to the second; smooth, conjunct, and descending
  
• homophonic texture

Third Movement

• first theme (minuet) consists of two phrases, each repeated, AABB pattern
• minuet is fairly disjunct
• second theme (trio) is more conjunct, quieter, more expressive
  
• first theme is then repeated, this time with each phrase only once.
• homophonic

Purpose

• entertainment
• designed specifically for intimate settings, specifically for a string quartet
  

Reflections

An interesting piece, but I wouldn't say it's my all time favorite. Again it makes good "background" music, but listening attentively, I get too bored: there is too much repeating. It is also not a very virtuosic piece, so I think that plays into the fact that I don't enjoy it quite as much.