Context

Question 1

what is the context of Stamitz 2?

Answer 1

-style galant (simple diatonic material, arpeggiated simple melodies)
-Mannheim style (such as hammer strokes and mannheim crescendos)

Question 2

what is the musical context of Mozart 25?

Answer 2

-sturm und drang
-return to more baroque drama
-minor tonalities, chromaticism, sudden dynamics

Question 3

what is the context of Haydn 104?

Answer 3

-subscription concerts allowing greater freedom to composers who had to entertain their audiences with looser structures, chromaticism and unexpected modulation
-folk music was also popular at the time

Question 4

what is the musical context of Beethoven?

Answer 4

-early romantic
-going away from absolute music, towards programme music (telling a story)
-more remote keys, looser structures, chromaticism
-more expression

Question 5

what is the context of Mendelssohn 4?

Answer 5

-he wrote this piece as a result of his visit to Italy in 1830 where he was inspired by the blue skies and great views
-nationalism, folk and programme music was popular at the time

Question 6

what is the context of Farrenc 3?

Answer 6

-there are Sturm und Drang sections in each movement and Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven influences
-at the time, virtuosity and programme music was popular with composers bringing pre written stories to life through music and early signs of a breakdown in harmony and tonality

Question 7

what is the context of Liszt’s Faust

Answer 7

-this symphony is programmatic exploring three different characters
-at the time, programme music and the use of preexisting art as stimulus was very popular

Question 8

what is the context of Tchaikovsky 5?

Answer 8

at this time, composers were beginning to compose alongside visual forms of art (ballet). Nationalism was also popular with whole tones, dissonance and huge ensembles

Question 9

what is the context of Dvorak 9?

Answer 9

-there are characteristics of African American/Native American music in this symphony as the piece was written in his first year in the US (pentatonic scales and syncopation)
-this links to nationalism, a popular form of music at the time, that was experimental and sought to increase a sense of national identity

Question 10

what is the context of Mahler 2?

Answer 10

-this symphony is about the struggles of peoples lives and the strength we gain from that
-this links to the idea of nationalism at the time of writing