Transcript Vienna: An Informational Kiosk

Vienna
The City Of Classical Music
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Vienna, Austria is known for being
rich in art, culture, and especially
music. Every night in Vienna
around 10,000 music fans are
treated to live classical music,
something that is simply unheard of
in any other city in the world.
Not only is Austria known for its
musical scene, but it is especially
known for its brilliant musical
history. Music scholars and
enthusiasts flock to Vienna to
experience what is arguably the
most musical city in the world.
Vienna is most notably remembered
for hosting four of the most
important and prolific composers of
the Classical Period.
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The Classical Period in music spans
from 1750 to 1830. Classical Music
is characterized by an increase in
the importance of melody over the
Baroque style that preceded it, as
well as by the emergence of new
genres of instrumental music
including the symphony and the
string quartet.
If one were to attempt to determine
the top ten classical composers in
history, the Viennese Classical
period would present a special
challenge. If such a list is to be at
all diverse and comprehensive, how
could 4 of the 10 slots go to
composers — Haydn, Mozart,
Beethoven and Schubert — who
worked in Vienna? What on earth
was going on there to foster such
achievement?
Continue to learn more about these Viennese composers--essentials in any
account of the history of Western music.
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“The Vienna Four”
Haydn
Beethoven
Mozart
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Schubert
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Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn, the son of a
wheelwright, was born in lower
Austria in 1732. But by the age of
8 he was a choirboy at St.
Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna. He
was booted out of the choir when
his voice changed in his late
teens, and he became a freelance
composer, performer and teacher.
So during his childhood and
young adult years, Haydn was
immersed in the greatest music of
Germanic culture.
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St. Stephen’s Cathedral
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At 29 he went to work for
Prince Paul Esterhazy, who
died in 1762 and was
succeeded by his brother
Nikolaus, a passionate
music lover. Haydn spent
nearly 30 years presiding
over the musical activities at
the prince’s palace 30 miles
outside Vienna as well as at
the summer residence over
the border in Hungary. Still,
during these decades Haydn
was a regular visitor to
Vienna, where he presented
his works, soaked up
musical life, made friends
(with Mozart, among others)
and joined a Masonic lodge.
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In 1790, the prince having died, Haydn moved back to Vienna, a beloved master and popular composer.
Haydn moved into a large house near the center of Vienna in a suburb of Gumpendorf. It was at this
time that Haydn began teaching composition to the young Ludwig van Beethoven. He turned to the
composition of large religious works for chorus and orchestra, which he focused on until illness left him
physically unable to compose in 1802. He passed away in 1809, honored with a memorial service held in
the Schottenkirche, at which Mozart’s Requiem was performed.
Haydn is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his
important contributions to these forms. He was also instrumental in the development of the piano trio
and in the evolution of sonata form.
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Haydn’s 76th Birthday Celebration held at the Old
University Hall in Vienna. Haydn is pictured sitting in
front of the crowd.
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Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart
Mozart, born in 1756, began to receive his musical
education from his father at the early age of four. At
the age of five he was presented as an infant prodigy
and performed his first musical tour through Europe.
Mozart's career was closely linked to the city of
Vienna. At age 6, he performed for the Austrian
royals at the Hall of Mirrors at Schloss Schönnbrunn
and enchanted Empress Maria Theresa and her family
with his talent and his liveliness. On this tour through
Europe it became clear that Mozart was not only an
excellent performer, but was also interested in
composing music. In 1765, his first sonatas were
published in Paris.
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Mozart moved to Vienna in 1781 at age 25 after
having a disagreement with his previous
employer, the Archbishop of Salzburg. Mozart
resigned his secure employment at Salzburg and
opted for a freelance career in Vienna.
Mozart's first months in Vienna were spent in a
small pension in the direct vicinity of St. Peter's
Church, a beautiful baroque church in the first
district. There, the composer fell in love with
Konstanze Weber, daughter to the establishment.
The success of his opera The Abduction from the
Seraglio enabled him to marry - at St. Stephen's
Cathedral. Two years later, Mozart and his family
moved into the "Mozarthaus,” now a major tourist
attraction for the city of Vienna. Mozart was
respected and successful as a musician and
happy in his marriage. His years at “Mozarthaus”
would be the most productive period in his life.
He composed many great works during his time
in Vienna, including piano concerti, numerous
chamber music works and the famous and
enduring opera The Marriage of Figaro.
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Though Mozart lived at a dozen different addresses
in Vienna, the only apartment that has survived to
this day is the “Mozarthaus”--at Domgasse number
5. The composer lived at this address from 1784 till
1787. His apartment on the first floor was positively
grand, with four large rooms, two small ones and a
kitchen.
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A year before his death, Mozart and his
family moved into another first district
apartment. In spite of his success the
family was heavily in debt and Mozart
worked frantically to earn more money.
"The Magic Flute" was composed in this
time as well as his famous unfinished
Requiem, left unfinished as Mozart
suddenly took ill and died on December 5,
1791. His remains received his last
blessings in the 'Kruzifixkapelle' in St.
Stephen's Cathedral. Parts of the Requiem
were performed for the first time during
the wake at Michaelerkirche. Then, Mozart
was buried at St. Marx Cemetery. 60 years
after his death a monument was erected at
this cemetery to commemorate the great
musician, and 100 years after his death
this memorial was moved to the “Graves of
Honor.” First district's Burggarten features
an impressive Mozart memorial.
Mozart Memorial in Burggarten
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Ludwig van Beethoven
Beethoven was born in Bonn,
Germany on December 16, 1770,
although his birthday is often
celebrated on December 17, the day
of his baptism. Like many composers
before him, his first music teacher
was his father, himself a court
musician in Bonn. Beethoven’s
musical talent manifested itself early.
His father, aware of Leopold Mozart's
successes in this area (with son
Wolfgang and daughter Nannerl),
attempted to exploit his son as a child
prodigy, claiming that Beethoven was
six years old (while he was actually
seven) on the posters for Beethoven's
first public performance in March
1778.
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Portrait of Beethoven at 13 years old
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Beethoven's childhood was difficult, and his father, an abusive alcoholic,
beat him often when he did not perform up to his standards. Still,
others soon recognized his great musical abilities, and in 1787 while in
Vienna he got the opportunity to play for Mozart. He was given a job
and music lessons by Christian Gottlob Neefe and sponsorship by the
German court to play and study music. His career was halted slightly
when he was 17, and his mother fell ill, forcing him to care for two
younger brothers. However, Beethoven’s career began in full force soon
after, with his permanent move to Vienna.
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Home of the Beethoven family in Bonn
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Beethoven’s career as a
composer is usually broken into
three periods for study. The
periods are not characterized
by descriptive names, but are
merely called Early, Middle, and
Late. These periods coincide
with changes in his
compositional styles and
priorities, as well as with some
elements of Beethoven’s life
events. Choose a period below
to learn about each one.
The Early Period
The Middle Period
The Late Period
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The Early Period
The Early period of Beethoven’s work is considered to last until 1803.
In 1792, Beethoven moved to Vienna to
train with Joseph Haydn. Unfortunately,
Haydn did not appreciate Beethoven's
unconventional music ideas and irritable
temperament and eventually stopped
lessons. Despite this minor set-back,
Beethoven quickly became known in
Vienna for being a piano genius as well
as a composer, though the composing
came much more slowly. In the 1790's,
Beethoven decided upon the career of a
freelance musician, rejecting the idea of
working for a church or a court, and
supported himself through public
performances, sales of his compositions
and grants and stipends from noblemen
willing to support his work and talent.
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Beethoven’s personal life, in general, was often troubled. During the Early period of his career
Beethoven immersed himself in the wealthy community of Vienna in spite of his own financial troubles.
He was consistently attracted to unattainable (either aristocratic or married) women, undoubtedly part
of why he never married. Around 1796, Beethoven began to lose his hearing. He suffered a severe
form of tinnitus, a "ringing" in his ears that made it hard for him to perceive and appreciate music; he
also avoided conversation. As early as 1801, Beethoven wrote to friends describing his symptoms and
the difficulties they caused in both professional and social settings (although it is likely some of his
close friends were already aware of the problems). Beethoven, on the advice of his doctor, lived in the
small Austrian town of Heiligenstadt, just outside Vienna, from April to October 1802 in an attempt to
come to terms with his condition. There he wrote his “Heiligenstadt Testament,” a letter to his brothers
which records his thoughts of suicide due to his growing deafness and records his resolution to
continue living for and through his art.
Ear horns used by Beethoven to
try to improve his hearing.
Beethoven’s ear horns were
designed by Nepomuk Malzel,
argued to be the inventor of the
metronome. These ear horns
can be seen in the BeethovenHaus Museum.
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During his Early period, Beethoven’s compositions and playing style reflected the greats of classical
music, including his former teacher Haydn and Mozart, while he simultaneously experimented with
new stylistic avenues and finding his own voice. It was during this time that he composed his first and
second symphonies, along with the first six string quartets, two piano concertos and twenty piano
sonatas, including two of his most famous, Pathetique and Moonlight.
Manuscript page of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata
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The Middle Period
The Early period of Beethoven’s work is began in 1803 and lasted through 1814.
Beethoven's return to Vienna from Heiligenstadt was marked
by a change in musical style, now recognized as the start of
his Middle period, sometimes called the "Heroic" period.
According to Carl Czerny, Beethoven said, "I am not satisfied
with the work I have done so far. From now on I intend to
take a new way." This "Heroic" phase was characterized by a
large number of original works composed on a grand scale.
The first major work employing this new style was the Third
Symphony in E flat, known as the "Eroica" Symphony. While
other composers had written symphonies with implied
programs, or stories, this work was longer and larger in
scope than any previous symphony. When it premiered in
early 1805 it received a mixed reception. Some listeners
objected to its length or misunderstood its structure, while
others viewed it as a masterpiece.
Portrait of Beethoven in 1804
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The final page of the “Immortal Beloved” letters.
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In the Middle period, Beethoven’s deafness settled in
in full effect. His personal life was was addled with
health issues and failed love affairs. In the summer of
1812, advised by his physician, Beethoven went to the
Czech resort Teplitz. Even though the summer spent
here didn’t have any positive influences on his state of
health, it was very fruitful in memorable and
interesting encounters. Most important is that this
summer of 1812 is when Beethoven wrote a set of
mysterious letters that created numerous
commentaries and assumptions among Beethoven
scholars. The letters are known as “The Immortal
Beloved” letters. While there are no certainties
regarding the subject, there are a number of preferred
candidates for the Immortal Beloved title. These are
Giulieta Guicciardi, Thereza von Brunswick, Amalia
Seebald and Antonie Brentano. All of these women
are known to have been the object of Beethoven’s
affection at one time or another. The letters were
found in Beethoven’s effects after his death. The
letters detail the difficulties of the couple’s love and
their inability to be together, and are concluded with
the famous phrase: ever thine, ever mine, ever ours
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Beethoven composed ambitious works throughout the Middle period, often heroic in tone,
extending the musical language Beethoven had inherited from Haydn and Mozart. The Middle
period work includes the Third through Eighth Symphonies, the string quartets 7–11, the
Waldstein and Appassionata piano sonatas, the opera Fidelio (Beethoven’s only opera), the
Violin Concerto (Beethoven’s only composition of this genre as well) and many other
compositions. During this time Beethoven earned his living from publishing and performances
of his work, and from his patrons.
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More Resources
Anthony Tommasini of The New York
Times discusses the Vienna Four in two
video installments:
Part One
Part Two
Vienna: City of Music Website. This website
contains resources about current events as
well as the past music, musicians, and
composers of Vienna.
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A transcript of Beethoven’s “Immortal Beloved”
Letters
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A transcript of Beethoven’s “Heilegenstadt
Testament”
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Statue of Mozart in Vienna
This website provides valuable information about
the composers of Vienna
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More Resources
Recording of Movement One of Beethoven’s Sonata Pathetique
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Video performance of Haydn’s String Quartet Opus 77, No. 1 (First movement)
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Video excerpt of Mozart’s Opera Marriage of Figaro
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Video performance of Der Lindenbaum from Schubert’s Song Cycle Winterreise
Click Here
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Site Map
Vienna
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Early Period
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