Music appreciation Sruvey - Book Report/Review Example

In Vienna, he started out as a student, but soon rose in the ranks. He had a terrible personality as he would not bow to the capriciousness of the rich. He wrote for himself. When people commissioned works, he did not care if they paid him or not. When he studied with Haydn, he concentrated on the classical style. He had his own style. His pieces were longer and he respected conventional form but not lengths and instrumentation. He quickly started experimenting with genres as he said he had the "maladie".

He knew as early as 1790's that he was going deaf. From the first symphony to the 9th symphony "Joy to the World", the difference in using a full choir had never been done before in the fourth movement. He heard his music in his head but could not hear people talking. Many said he didn't want to hear them. He was considered eccentric and cankerous. Art, Literature, and Music were in a transitional period. Europe was changing from the monarchial classical period to romanticism. Beethoven was almost completely early deaf in Vienna He suffered emotionally from the isolation.

He preferred long walks in the country that being among societies' elite. His deafness contributed to the beauty and innovation of the sounds of his compositions. Count Razumovsky was the Russian diplomat to the Hadsburg court in Vienna. Being an excellent musician in his own right, he had his own personal string quartet in residence in his palace. Some sources say he played violin some say he played an Ukrainian instrument. In 1806, Europe was in turmoil. France no longer had a King, Napoleon was the Emperor and conquering Europe.

The battle of Waterloo was to take place in 1815. Borders were changing. Vienna was a diplomatic center of treaties and borders. Beethoven idolized Napoleon and his music reflected historical event. The Eroica or 3rd Symphony was dedicated to Napoleon. During Beethoven's middle period, he left his classical style to experiment with sounds, rhythms and instrument combinations but he kept to the form. . The "Razumovsky Quartets Op 59" represent classical quartets of 4 movements. The instrumentation is typically classical of 2 violins, one viola and a cello.

When they were first performed, comment was made that they were not music that they were Beethoven's madness. It was uncommon that a classical quartet have a rustic theme introduced into one of the movements. His movements were twice the length of Haydn's music and the use of sound was the opposite of the classical style. High Society wasn't please but Beethoven didn't care. The first movement of the Quartet Opus 59 starts with the cello in the 5 note theme. This theme is used during the whole movement.

It was so uncommon to have a one instrument solo and to finish a movement with the same five note theme. A common movement in the classical period was approximately 5 to 6 movements. This movement is recorded at over 11 minutes. More will become clear in explaining the musical elements. The Instrumentation is completely typical for a classical string quartet: 2 violins, one viola, and a cello. The opening movement is Allegro (fast) but there are moments where it is lively (vivace). At certain points, the music actually stops which is not classical in style.

The Meter is 4 for most of the movement but Beethoven plays with the rhythm. The texture is polyphonic. There are more than two themes used at the same time. The instruments talk to each other The dynamics