Mozart Piano Concertos Nos. 1-4

Classical Music / Piano Concertos

Wolfgang A. Mozart's Piano Concertos Nos. 1-4

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart began his series of preserved piano concertos with these four that he wrote in Salzburg, K. 37 and 39-41, the autographs dated by his father Leopold Mozart as having been completed in April (K. 37) and July (K. 39–41) of 1767.  Although these works were long considered to be original, they are now known to be orchestrations of sonatas by various German virtuosi. The works on which the concertos are based were largely published in Paris, and presumably Mozart and his family became acquainted with them or their composers during their visit to Paris in 1763–64.

The young Mozart seems to have begun to learn how to cope with the structural problems of composing in the piano concerto form by using movement from the sonatas of other composers. It may be that his father had devised this as a compositional teaching method.


Here's a link: Mozart's Piano Concertos Nos. 1-4, K.37, 39-41. Produced by Decca in 12 videos. Artists: Robert Levin, harpsichord; The Academy of Ancient Music with Christopher Hogwood, conductor & director.  Accessed July 28, 2020.




Resource: 

Piano Concertos Nos. 1-4 (Mozart). en.wikipedia.org. 



(c) April 2018.  Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' Haydn The Creation

Choral Singing / Oratorio

Haydn's The Creation presented by the Sydney Philharmonia Festival Chorus

Date: Saturday 26 May 2018 at 5pm
Venue: Centennial Hall, Sydney Town Hall

Joseph Haydn’s visionary masterpiece depicts nothing less than the creation of the universe, in music of sublime imagination and power.


Haydn, renowned for his innovative symphonies in London, was inspired by Handel’s example to try his hand at the oratorio – but on a scale never before seen. Searching for a subject, a friend apparently pointed at a Bible and said, “Take that, and begin at the beginning.” The Creation therefore begins with a seething and dissonant depiction of chaos before light bursts out in a radiant C major affirmation of balance and order. In the stunning sequence of arias and choruses that follows we meet larks, whales, angels, tigers and the first people. Haydn’s perfectly-judged music evokes all of the events of Genesis with a winning blend of humour and sophistication – all lowing oxen and angelic choirs – that made it an overnight success, aided by being released simultaneously in both English and German.






The Creation has remained a much-anticipated highlight of choral seasons ever since, a delight to hear and to sing, resplendent with Classical optimism, grace and grandeur. As befits this expansive and festive work, the Sydney Philharmonia Festival Chorus and The Metropolitan Orchestra perform in the ornate splendour of Centennial Hall at Sydney Town Hall, with soloists led by luminous award-winning soprano Taryn Fiebig, tenor Nicholas Jones, and bass Arthur Judd.


"The Heavens are Telling!"
The heavens are telling the glory of God! 
The wonder of His works displays the firmament ...

Mozart Church Sonatas

Sacred Music  / Epistle Sonatas


While living in Salzburg, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote seventeen Church Sonatas (sonata di chiesa), also known as Epistle Sonatas, between 1772 and 1780. These are short single-movement pieces intended to be played during a celebration of the Mass between the Epistle and the Gospel.

Three of the sonatas (Nos.12,14,17), include oboes, horns, trumpets and timpani. The rest, eight of the sonatas, are scored for organ and strings (with no violas, only two violins and basso continuo), where in some of them (Nos 7-10,13-15,17) the organ has an obligato solo part, while in the other nine sonatas Nos 1-6,11,12,16, the organ accompanies along with the figured bass.

Most of these pieces would be inserted into any mass setting of the appropriate key. Those requiring more instruments than the standard "Salzburg Church Quartet" are meant to go with specific mass settings that have that instrumentation.




Other Links:

Mozart's Salzburg Church Music. www.npr.org. Accessed April 1, 2015.

Resource:

Church Sonatas (Mozart). en.wikipedia.org.  Accessed April 1, 2015.


Video Credit:

Mozart - Complete Church Sonatas. YouTube, uploaded by Jenny. Accessed April 1, 2015.





(c) April 2015. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.