Reading and Quizzes

notesLinks to an external site.

Haydn Seek

Step 1

• What are the instruments used in a string quartet?

  • cello, viola, 2 violins

• Describe the tempo & form characteristics of a string quartet

  • Movement I: fast/moderate; sonata form
  • Movement II: moderate tempo; minuet
  • Movement III: fast/very fast; sonata form or variations

• Describe musical elements heard in this movement from Haydn's String QuartetLinks to an external site. Op. 20 no. 5

  • This piece begins with a short monophonic idea in the violin, which quickly lead to a polyphonic section with the violins and viola. The viola had a repetitive rhythm in a lower pitch. The cello soon joined in, repeating the original theme heard at the beginning by the violin before beginning its own counterpoint melody. The tempo is within the allegro range, and the mood, although it begins upbeat, turns rather solemn around one-and-a-half minutes. At this point there is a ritard, a pause, and then the tempo kicks in faster than before with a sense of anxiety. Another point of slowing with legato bowing at 2 minutes and thirteen seconds is followed by the loudest and fastest section which is a reflection back to the original A section. Another slow section emerges, this time extremely quiet. Then, finally, a final loud section ending with two chords and a clear cadence end the piece, 

(Musical Elements; Pitch, Rhythm, Dynamics, Tempo, Texture, Timbre, Form, Purpose, Harmony, Melody, Expression, Mood, Language, Style, etc.)

 

Step 2

• What is an Oratorio?

  • A composition for orchestra and voice; typically it is a narrative on a religious theme done without theatrics. 

• What language is used for Haydn's Oratorio, The Creation?

  • German

• Describe the shifts in tonality(major/minor) and dynamics heard in The Heaven's Are TellingLinks to an external site. Links to an external site.from the Creation

  • At 45 seconds you begin to hear a melody in the strings that contrasts the joyful melody in the vocals. Then the vocalists melodic tonality switches to match this. (Major --> Minor) 
  • At 56 seconds the soft minor section is interrupted with a very loud major section in the home key. The volume decreases to about mf for the next verse. 
  • At 2:24  the section at 54 seconds returns, extremely loud, and interrupts the last chord of the verse. 
  • At 2:42 there is a shift in tonality from c to a, resulting in a major --> minor shift. This leads into a counterpoint section in which the volume is about mf and it resolves to a major chord. 
  • At 3:35 the original theme returns in the home key. The instrumental accompaniment is louder and grander than it was previously. 
  • At 4:16 a crescendo begins while each voice enters on the theme at different times.  

Step 3

• Provide the following trivia regarding this excerpt from Mozart's Eine Kleine NachtmusikLinks to an external site.

1. Translation of the title 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik'

   1. "A little night music" or "a little serenade"

2. Instrumentation Used

   1. two violins, viola, cello, and double bass

3. Movement Format - four movements

   1.  Allegro- sonata form
   2.  Andante- romanze/rondo form
   3.  Allegretto- minuet trio
   4. Allegro- rondo form

 

Step 4

• Provide the following trivia regarding this excerpt from Mozart's opera Don GiovanniLinks to an external site.

1. Brief plot synopsis

   1. (I really like the Wikipedia synopsis which is "Don Giovanni, a young, arrogant, and sexually promiscuous nobleman, abuses and outrages everyone else in the cast until he encounters something he cannot kill, beat up, dodge, or outwit.") 
   2. My synopsis: 
      1. Giovanni's servant can't wait to be free of Giovanni, and he tells us this while Giovani is trying to rape/seduce the Commendatore's daughter.  The Commendatore catches Giovani but Giovani kills him. The daughter makes her fiance, Don Ottavio, swear that he will kill her father's murderer (Giovani was wearing a disguise). 
      2. We learn Giovani is a player and sleeps with a lot of women. 
      3. The daughter realizes Giovanni was her fathers murderer. 
      4. Giovani followed Zerlina, even though she wasn't into him 
      5. Giovanni tried to assault Zerlina but she screamed for help. After other events (involving him saying his servant was the assaulter), Ottavio points a gun at Giovani but he gets away. 
      6. Giovanni, digressed as his servant, avoids being killed and beats some people up. 
      7. Leoprello is almost killed because he was dressed like Giovanni but he got away. 
      8. A graveyard scene involving a statue. They invite the statue to dinner. 
      9. Ottavio and his fiance (the daughter) get into a little fight but they are still in love. 
      10. Giovanni complains about hearing Mozart's aria everywhere (haha good one Mozart). The statue shows up and so do demons and Leoprello was really scared. Giovanni is dead. 

2. Original language of the Opera

   1. Italian

3. Musical elements used to enhance the plot in this scene

   1. The main overture is played, but new harmonies are added. These harmonies are diminished sevenths, and most definitely do not make the listener feel joy. The persistent rhythms create a sense of anxiety that is perfectly matched with the high chords followed by low chords in strong hits. While Giovani is refusing to repent, the instrumentation gets louder and louder. A small sense of calm occurs before fast descending lines lead up to the peak: when the demons arrive. The intense brass timbre and fast string/upper woodwind runs make the listener feel the anxiety and tension in the scene. All begins to calm once Giovani is finally dead. 

(Musical Elements; Pitch, Rhythm, Dynamics, Tempo, Texture, Timbre, Form, Purpose, Harmony, Melody, Expression, Mood, Language, Style, etc.)

The Mozart Effect

Step 1

• In addition to Chapter 14 and independently explored internet resources, use the following resources to answer the questions located in step 2

 

Step 2

1. List 2 bits of trivia portrayed in the play/movie Amadeus that are factual.

•  Mozart loved billiards!
• Mozart did not get along with the Archbishop of Salzburg.

2. List 2 bits of trivia portrayed in the play/movie Amadeus that are fictional.

• Constanze did not attend Mozart's funeral due to her distraught state. 
• Mozart had six children, not one. 

3. What is a Requiem Mass?

• A mass for the dead. It lacks certain elements of a typical mass which are substituted for new sections (eg. Dies Irae substitutes Alleluia). 

4. Why did Count Walsegg commission Mozart to compose a Requiem?

• He wanted to commemorate his wife's death (on the 14th of February). 

5. What 4 details from the Requiem Timeline(Wikipedia Link)interest you most?

1.  Mozart believed he was writing the Requiem for his own funeral. 
2. The man who commissioned for this Requiem, Count Walsegg, planned to take credit for the work.
3. When commissioned he received half of the payment, so when Mozart died his wife hired other composers to finish the work so she could receive the other half. 
4.  Mozart had asked Constanze to have composers finish the Requiem based on "paper scraps" in his desk, but it is unknown if these scraps were used or even found at all. 

6. What posthumous diagnosis(Wikipedia Link) do you think is most believable?

•  I believe that he had the Requiem score brought to him. Not only did two sources have this in their descriptions, but Mozart was no doubt obsessed with finishing it and I wouldn't expect anything less than him dying with it.  

7. After listening to Dies Irae, how did Mozart musically capture the meaning of the text?

• Through the chromatic scales, fast tempo (that feels like it is rushing forwards), and high pitch vocals of the first section, Mozart definitely captures the day of wrath. The slower tempo section is a warning about the coming trembling, and the back and forth feeling (high voices to low voices, one pitch to another, loud to soft) most definitely conveys a feeling of anxiety of what is to come. Also, this back and forth is sort of a treble in itself. "When the judge shall come" is when the tempo picks back up, and at this point the instrumentals are going crazy, and the feeling of anxiety sky rockets. 

8. How does Mozart change the musical feeling in Confutatis for “Voca me cum benedictus”?

• The initial feeling you get when listening to Confutatis is, as it says in the vocals, are "flames of woe". It is fiery and angry. However, when the high voices take over with "Voca me cum benedictus" the mood changes to a slow tempo and a dreamy, heavenly sound. The lyrics are "call me among the blessed", which match the quick break of peace we feel. The wicked are confounded, but the high voices are blessed, and therefor not punished by flames of woe. 

9. Translate the Latin for  'lacrymosa' and explain how Mozart conveys this musically.

• The literal definition of lacrymosa is "tearful". Mozart conveys this through his use of slow tempo, minor key, and the strings playing repeated variations of ascending or descending notes. The breaking apart of words and space between syllables, along with the slow melismas, add to the sorrowful tone. 

10. In what ways does the Queen of the Night aria portray ‘magic flute’ like sounds?

• At about forty seconds in the vocalist has a (very high) riff that resembles a flute in terms of timbre and agility (it's easier for a flute instead of a vocalist to play jumps that fast). In terms of timbre, the vocalist has a slight brightness to her voice that resembles a flutes tone in that register. Also, the air attacks (lack of syllable) used by the vocalist resembles a flute's sound. At two minutes another riff occurs. 

11. After seeing the Papagena/Papageno duet, what do you think they are singing about?

• I assume they were singing about each other/themselves. I believe they are in a romantic relationship due to the way they were holding each other, and I believe this song was about young love or something similar. 

12. What might lead some to speculate that the Magic Flute Opera is full of hidden meanings and symbolism relating to Freemasonry/The Masonic Temple?

• For starters, both Mozart and the opera's librettist, Emanuel Schikaneder, were devoted Freemasons. This was also at a time where Freemasonry was looked down upon/mistrusted. Many believe this opera was secretly a political statement regarding Freemasonry (the "evil brotherhood" turns out to be benign"). 

13. What is a Concerto?

• A musical composition for an orchestra with solo instrument section(s). 

14. How many movements do Concerto’s generally have?

1. Three

15. Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto is cataloged as K.622.  The Magic Flute is K.620. The Requiem Mass is K. 626.
What does the 'K' stand for and what does it indicate when cataloging the music of Mozart?

• The K stands for Köchel, in reference to the Köchel catalogue. This is the chronological catalogue of Mozart's works. The number is literally which number piece it is if you laid all of his out chronologically (K. 626 is his 626th composition). 

16. The clarinet was more or less invented during Mozart's time.  He composed the Clarinet Quintet and the Clarinet Concerto for which friend? Enjoy this Cat ConcertoLinks to an external site. by Tom & Jerry

• Anton Stadler

17. What were the results of the 1993 experiment that led to Mozart mania known as the ‘Mozart Effect’?

• After listening to Mozart's sonata for two pianos for 10 minutes, subjects showed better spatial reasoning skills than after listening to scientifically-designed relaxation instructions. Basically, they scored higher spatial IQ scores after listening to Mozart than under other tested conditions. 

18.  Give a brief synopsis of the outcome of Mozart's visit to the Sistine Chapel after hearing Allegri's "Miserere".

• To understand this outcome, it's important to note that it is illegal to transcribe "Miserere" and it can only be heard/performed at the Sistine Chapel. So at fourteen, Mozart went to hear this piece because his father was training a musical genius and a genius needs to hear these kind of things. It's a big deal to hear this piece and it's done at a very special religious service at a special time of year. But the thing is, Mozart was in fact a genius with an incredible memory. After hearing the performance he managed to go home and write the entire thing from aural memory note for note. 

19.  Explain Mozart's involvement with the Weber family throughout his life.

• Mozart eventually married Constanze Weber, but lets back up a bit. There are four Weber sisters, Josepha (who played the Queen of Night in Mozart's Magic Flute), Constanze, Aloysia. and Sophie. Aloysia studied singing under Mozart at around 1777. Mozart fell in love with her, write her a lot of music, and they almost got married. This eventually failed and they had a few brash interactions afterwards. Then, a while later, he married Constanze and employed Josepha. He held a friendship with Sophie in his later years, too. 

​

Roll Over Beethoven

Step 1

Use the Bagatelle No. 25 Fur EliseLinks to an external site. to answer the following questions

• What is a Bagatelle?

  • A light, mellow piece typically composed for solo piano. Bagatelle actually means "a short, unpretentious instrumental composition". 

• What is an Albumblatt?

  • A short, light composition for solo piano. It can be in any form. 

• Describe some unique features of this composition

• While this piece is in standard rondo form (ABACA) it has a particular contrast between the sections. This is essentially the complexity. The A theme is quite simple and any novice piano player could most likely learn it. However, the B section quickly gains technique requirements, as well as the C section. The C section specifically also has a stark contrast in terms of mood. The A section is light hearted and flowing, no matter the key it is played in (there are variations in A minor—home key— , C major, and G major) and the B section is not as delicate but still rather gentle and benevolent. On the other hand, the C section is angry, most likey upset al Elise for rejecting its marriage proposal. Also here is a fun fact! Some believe that the first three notes of the piece are intended to spell Elise. Eb is notates Es in German, meaning the notes are E (li) S E. 

• Provide background as to the identity of "Elise"

  • Elisabeth Roeckel, known as Elise, was a romantic interest of Beethoven's. She is a possible suspect for the identity of Elise. However, Therese Malfatti has a stronger case.  Beethoven fell in love with Therese and proposed, but she rejected him. Many believe the manuscript was originally documented as "Fur Therese" but has been mistranslated since.

 

Step 2

Use Beethoven's 5th, Links to an external site. Beethoven's WigLinks to an external site. & Plink Plank Plunk Links to an external site.to respond to the following questions

• Why do you think that the 4 Note ThemeLinks to an external site. from Symphony No. 5 is so well known?

• Considering Beethoven's famous status and the fact that Symphony No. 5 was one of his most famous works, I am not surprised that this theme is so well known. In the second World War, Symphony No. 5 was known as the Victory Symphony and "V for Victory" was a common term for it "V = 5 in roman numerals". That rhythm is even the morse code for the letter V (but this could be coincidental). It's a simple phrase with a lot of power that symbolized victory during one of the worst times in world history — of course it's well known! 

• Why do you think this theme has been recycled in so many ways throughout history?

• I think it is a popular tune that carries a theme (developed by a motif, as the announcer pointed out) that other songs can tap into. Beethoven considered this motif to represent fate knocking at the door (a loud four knocks!). When other pieces of media (be it a cartoon, movie, comedy sketch, or piece of music) wish to represent "fate knocking on the door" or victory (as I listed above, it is known as the Victory Symphony), they can use this motif to convey that message. 

 

Step 3

Provide background trivia regarding Ode To JoyLinks to an external site.

• The text-origin & meaning
   Friedrich Schiller, a German poet and playwright,  wrote the ode in 1785. Here is a linkLinks to an external site. to the translated poem. My favorite line (which is the last line, which I think encapsulates the whole thing) is " Do you sense the creator, world?/ Seek him above the starry canopy!/ Above stars must He dwell."

• The context that Beethoven used it in

  • Beethoven creates it as a celebration of music and freedom. It is a protest anthem, and was used in many significant protests. It was the final (fourth) movement in his Ninth Symphony, although many revisions were made to the original text. Beethoven was not always religious, but after going deaf and sinking into a deep depression, writing a mass and delving into Catholicism saved his life. This lead Beethoven to his Ninth Symphony— the first one ever to use a chorus— set to words that honored God and brotherhood between all men. 

• Ways in which this composition has been used throughout history

  • This composition is commonly used as a protest anthem. It was conducted by Leonard Bernstein after the fall of the Berlin Wall; performed by Choir Without Borders's in 2009; and by Hong Kong Festival Orchestra in 2013. It is and will always be an anthem for freedom, performed by impromptu and scheduled performers. 

​

Step 4

Use THIS LINKLinks to an external site. or Julie Drive the access the Billy Joel/Beatles Influence interview

• Provide a summary of Billy Joel's classical composer influences

  • Classical influence was his first influence, and secondly was the Beatles. He listened to classical music — mainly Beethoven — because he never had a TV. Other classical influences were Mozart, Chopin, etc. 

• Compare/Contrast Beethoven's Pathetique. to Billy Joel's This NightLinks to an external site.

  • Well lets start with the obvious contrasts:
    • Instrumentation, tempo, vocals/lack of, key (Beethoven used C minor, Billy Joel used A major)
  • Similarities:
    • This Night uses the exact melody in its chorus as used in the beginning of Pathetique movement II! Billy Joel sings the right hand and the band plays the left hand (just a bit rearranged). I added an image to make this clearer. 

 

Step 5

Use the Piano Sonata No. 14 Moonlight SonataLinks to an external site. to answer the following

• What is a Sonata?

  • A musical composition for an instrumental soloist often with piano accompaniment. There are several movements, one or more in sonata form. 

• Provide background trivia regarding this composition's dedication

  • This piece is dedicated to Giulietta Guicciardi, a pupil and love interest of Beethoven (this is beginning to look like a pattern; why do all of these composers fall in love with their students?!). Beethoven requested to marry Giulietta Guicciardi and one of her parents gave her permission, however, the other declined. 

• What are your specific feelings or thoughts in response to this composition?

  • It is very angry, but not in direction to someone. It feels like Beethoven is quite sick and tired of being rejected by his love interests, and his has a lot of built up frustration, anger, sorrow, and desire to feel loved. It's brooding. Honestly, I love this piece and I have since I first heard it. It's relatable, I think. It, at its core, is just a desire for love; something everyone has. The second movement is rather joyful in contrast, and I like to think of it as a "ok enough sad time I need to enjoy life" but some dissonance reminds us that the sad doesn't just disappear. The third movement gives me anxiety listening to it - but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy it. It's spiraling, angry, anxiety-ridden thoughts. However, I bet this was also Beethoven trying to show off his unbeatable piano skills. 

HONORS TRACK

Can Ludwig come out and play?

Option 1

A. Highlight the contradictions that filled Beethoven's life to include

• His Father, Grandfather & Nephew Karl

  • Beethoven's Father was an average/mediocre musician, and his grandfather was a great one. His father gave him piano lessons, but was not benevolent. He often hit, slapped, and locked-up Beethoven when he made mistakes. Nonetheless, Beethoven loved music so much that it helped him through the beatings, even though it was the cause of them. However, he did become quite bitter due to his family setting and he was not always well liked throughout life. When Beethoven's brother died, he fought hard for custody of his nephew Karl. He wanted to be the father he never had. However, he was being delusional, and selfish by ripping the boy from his mother. Beethoven was a poor father, and the boy didn't like him very much. 

• His romantic interests, i.e. Immortal Beloved

  • Beethoven often fell in love with his students. Giulietta Guicciardi, the mysterious "Elise",etc. The Immortal Beloved is an anonymous receiver of a 10-page love letter written by Beethoven. After many failed marriage attempts in Beethoven's life, he turned to his Immoral Beloved. Scholars believe this beloved was either Antonie Brentano or Josephine Brunsvik. Antonie Brentano was the wife of one of Beethoven's best friends. However, her and Beethoven fell deeply in love, but she was out of his social class and the relationship ended. 

• His emotional and physical health

  • Well his physical health was not idea. Smallpox survival, deaf, and not the prettiest, he still managed to be one of the most talented men in the world. He also suffered mood swings and a hot temper, due to his past trauma from home. He became angry, physically abusive, etc. when he started to lose his hearing. He was desperate. He tried everything (everything) doctors could think of. This lead to depression stemming from embarrassment; he thought his career, and thus entire life, was over. He had a sudden burst of optimism, knowing he still had more music to give. 

• His attitude toward nobility

  • Beethoven's main philosophy was that great creators are only second to God. Great composers, painters, etc. are noble due to their talent (and he was very fond of his own). While he was a favorite of the aristocrats, he saw them as less than himself. Overall, he wasn't a big fan of aristocrats. He loved Napoleon's anti-aristocrat message, that is until Napoleon became a tyrant. I wonder if any of this dislike came from women denying him due to status? 

 

B. Describe how these contradictions influenced his compositions to include

• His musical accomplishments

  • His depression (following his deafness lead to some of his greatest works. He was writing from true roots of emotion, thus his music was incredibly moving. It is strange to think that at the worst physical and mental part of his life he created his most famous music. Another wave of fantastic composition came after the long custody battle for his nephew. He was eccentric, possibly delusional, and had a lot of music in his mind that the world is lucky to have now. Nonetheless, he stoped bathing, changing his clothes, or caring about his appearance. He seemed to be a "hobo" but was still pumping out the most incredible music. 

• His influence on other composers

  • First things first, Beethoven did things that no prior composer had ever done before. 1) He valued emotional depth over playability/ enjoyability of a piece. 2) He was rather "unlikable", "delusional","unwell" etc. but still produced amazing music.  3) He included a chorus in his Ninth Symphony. He was a major pivot point from the Classical to Romantic periods, due to his valuing of emotional depth. Without Beethoven, the culture shift would not have happened (or wouldn't have been as prevalent) and thus the Romantic era composers would have had less precedent, muse, etc. 

• Compositional connections to Napoleon

  • After going deaf, Beethoven wrote a symphony in dedication to Napoleon. He loved his anti-aristocratic message. However, when Napoleon proved to be a tyrant, Beethoven renamed the symphony after what he thought Napoleon stood for — what Beethoven stood for — "Erocia" or "Heroic". 

• Rebellion from the Patronage System

  • Beethoven dislikes the Patronage system as he believe it lead to music being a product of attempt to please. He believed that music should instead be true conveying of talent and emotion, not something easy to play/hear. (haha get it, easy to hear... not a very tasteful pun but a pun nonetheless).