Mozart, Beethoven and Wagner - Essay Example

Ludwig van Beethoven was also a masterly composer. His compositions are grouped according to numbers, and a significant composition by him is the by opus number. The numbers were assigned by publishers, which follow the order by which his famous compositions were published, and not what they meant. By this way, he created a second theme that sounds like an outgrowth or variation of the first theme. Though it is an inadequate statement it can actually be pinned down when some of their work is compared like; the opening movement of Beethoven’s Symphony 5.

Mozart, on the other hand, was conservative and followed the rules. His music is in the confines of boundaries which he imposed on himself, yet they were still so marvelous, and he left us many incomparable masterpieces. Mozart was zealous in opera and stood unsurpassed and Wagner agreed that Mozart was a formidable competitor to him in the opera world. Mozart was also prominent in the world of composition for churches and his skills stand unsurpassed by Wagner and Beethoven. Beethoven, on the other hand, took a little touch of music from the two and them and infused his own unique personality into his music.

Mozart composed less technical music it was precise and thematic and was designed to be played by any level while Beethoven and Wagner’s music was more aggressive. The two latter wrote their music with tension this does not come as a surprise since the Mozart played for royalties while Beethoven and Wagner played for the people.. Another renowned composer is Wilhelm Richard Wagner who was German by decent. One of his compositions was the Siegfried which is the 3rd that make up ‘Der Ring des Nibelung’.

Siegfried is the third of Wagner’s operas, which he wrote, in 1851. Siegfried premiered as part of the complete ring cycle at Bayreuth on August 16, 1876 (Kivy, 2001). The three composers concentrated mostly on the classical style. It was the most popular style which both the three used alongside other styles like the romantic style. The use of sonata was the most defining characteristic of the style which was classical. Sonata was so pervasive at the time, that it invaded each and every genre of music eve church music as well as opera.

The three composers above under discussion each created compositions that are a hybrid of other forms and the sonata form. An example is the fact that they used rondo form, variation form and blended it all with the sonata form. ‘Sonata form begins with simplicity and tonal stability, builds in tension towards a middle section, and reduces complexity and tension in the last section. The climax is always in the middle. That is where the most complex textures are usually found, as well as the most far-ranging key changes, and the most agitated rhythmic patterns’ (Wolff, 26).

Beethoven liked to use a combination of Mozart’s use of multiple themes and Wagner’s monothematic technique. By this way, he created a second theme that sounds like an outgrowth or variation of the first theme. Though it is an inadequate statement it can actually be pinned down when some of their work are compared like; the opening movement of Beethoven’s symphony 5 (Wolff, 1990).