Classical Music / Minimal Music
Spiegel im Spiegel ('Mirror in the Mirror') is a piece of music written by Arvo Pärt in 1978, just before his departure from Estonia. Simply, the piece is in the tintinnabular style of composition, wherein a melodic voice, operating over diatonac scales, and tintinnabular voice, operating within a triad on the tonic, accompany each other. It is about ten minutes long.
Arvo Pärt (pronounced: 'Arvo Pært') is born on September 11, 1935. He is an Estonian composer of classical and sacred music. Since the late 1970s, Pärt has worked in a minimalist style that employs his self-invented compositional technique, 'tintinnabuli.' His music is in part inspired by Gregorian chant. One of his most famous works include Spiegel im Spiegel (1978).
Suggested Listening:
Spiegel im Spiegel, performed by Sally Maer (Cellist) and Sally Whitwell (Pianist). Accessed September 11, 2011 Note: Sept 11, 2025. Sorry, the live video is no longer available. I'm providing a link of the recording, uploaded by Sally Maer -- HERE.
Here's another interpretation. Spiegel im Spiegel for Cello and Piano (Arvo Pärt) Youtube, uploaded by Leonhard Roczek. Accessed September 11, 2011.
Spiegel im Spiegel was originally written for a single piano and violin – though the violin has often been replaced with either a cello or a viola. The piece is an example of minimal music. It's in F major in 6/4 time, with the piano playing rising crochet triads and the second instrument playing slow F major scales,
alternately rising and falling, of increasing length, which all end on
the note A (the mediant of F). The piano's left hand also plays notes, synchronized with the violin (or other instrument).
In German, "Spiegel im Spiegel" can literally mean both "mirror in the mirror" as well as "mirrors in the mirror", referring to an infinity mirror, which produces an infinity of images reflected by parallel plane mirrors: the tonic triads are endlessly repeated with small variations as if
reflected back and forth. The structure of melody is made by couple of
phrases characterized by the alternation between ascending and
descending movement with the fulcrum on the note A. This, with also the
overturning of the final intervals between adjacent phrases, contribute to give the impression of a figure reflecting on a
mirror and walking back and towards it.
Resources:
Arvo Pärt. en. wikipedia.org. Accessed September 11, 2015.
Spiegel im Spiegel. en.wikipedia.org. Accessed September 11, 2015.
(c) 2015. Updated September 11, 2025. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
Showing posts with label Classical Composers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Classical Composers. Show all posts
Johann Dussek
Mozart Contemporaries / Johann Dussek
Jan Ladislav Dussek (more known as Václav Jan Dusík) (Feb 12, 1760 - Mar 20, 1812) was a Czech composer and pianist. He was born at Caslav, Bohemia (now Czech Republic).
The Dussek family has a long history as professional musicians, starting from Jan Ladislav's grandfather, and lasting into the 1970s. Jan Ladislav is often known as "Dussek the Great". His mother was a harpist, and therefore not surprisingly he composed much music for the harp as well as for the piano.
After early studies, Dussek traveled to the Netherlands and Germany, where he may have studied with C.P.E. Bach. From there, he moved to St. Petersburg in Russia, where he was a favourite of Catherine the Great for a time.
However, he fled St. Petersburg just ahead of Catherine's secret police, who accused him of involvement in a plot to assassinate Catherine. Given Dussek's lifelong royalist sympathies, his well-attested personal good looks, and Catherine's proclivity for beautiful young men, a different explanation seems more probable.
Czech composer, harpist and pianist: Johann "Jan" Ladislaus Dussek
Jan Ladislav Dussek (more known as Václav Jan Dusík) (Feb 12, 1760 - Mar 20, 1812) was a Czech composer and pianist. He was born at Caslav, Bohemia (now Czech Republic). The Dussek family has a long history as professional musicians, starting from Jan Ladislav's grandfather, and lasting into the 1970s. Jan Ladislav is often known as "Dussek the Great". His mother was a harpist, and therefore not surprisingly he composed much music for the harp as well as for the piano.
After early studies, Dussek traveled to the Netherlands and Germany, where he may have studied with C.P.E. Bach. From there, he moved to St. Petersburg in Russia, where he was a favourite of Catherine the Great for a time.
However, he fled St. Petersburg just ahead of Catherine's secret police, who accused him of involvement in a plot to assassinate Catherine. Given Dussek's lifelong royalist sympathies, his well-attested personal good looks, and Catherine's proclivity for beautiful young men, a different explanation seems more probable.
Franz Joseph Haydn
Classical Music / Composers Datebook: March 31
Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent of the Classical period. He was known as the 'Father of the Symphony.'
Franz Joseph Haydn was born on March 31, 1732, in Rohrau, Austria. Along with that of Mozart, he epitomised the early Classical era. The son of a wheelwright, he went to St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna as a chorister. He was mainly self-taught in composition however gained maturity as a composer. Haydn was married to Maria Anna Aloysia Apollonia Keller (m. 1760–1800.) His younger brother, Michael Haydn was also a composer. He was known affectionately as "Papa" Haydn to his young friend Wolfgang Mozart. He was a tutor of
Ludwig van Beethoven for a brief period.In 1761, at the age of 29 (his young friend Mozart was then five years old), Haydn took employment with the Esterhazy family, a post he held for the rest of his life. On the death of Prince Nikolaus in 1790, he accepted an invitation to go to England from the impresario Salomon, where he composed many symphonies.
Joseph Haydn was a major exponent of sonata form in his numerous chamber and orchestral works having written more than 100 symphonies. He was also the first great master of the string quartet.
Haydn is famous for his oratorio "The Creation" (German: Die Schöpfung) and "The Seasons" (German: Die Jahreszeiten). He wrote many symphonies and string quartets. He was instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the piano trio. His contributions to musical form have earned him the epithets "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet". Haydn spent much of his career as a court musician for the wealthy Esterházy family at their remote estate. Until the later part of his life, this isolated him from other composers and trends in music so that he was, as he put it, "forced to become original". Yet his music circulated widely, and for much of his career he was the most celebrated composer in Europe.
Related Article:
Listening pleasure:
Pianist Martha Argerich performing Haydn's Piano Concerto in D major, Hob. XVIII:11. YouTube, uploaded by Roberto Carvalho de Magalhães. Accessed February 9, 2018. (Added info from Hyperion for those who want to know more about this concerto by Haydn - Here.)
Pianist Martha Argerich performing Haydn's Piano Concerto in D major, Hob. XVIII:11. YouTube, uploaded by Roberto Carvalho de Magalhães. Accessed February 9, 2018. (Added info from Hyperion for those who want to know more about this concerto by Haydn - Here.)
Christoph Willibald von Gluck
Mozart Contemporaries / Christoph W. Gluck
Christoph W. Gluck was an older contemporary of Mozart. In August 1782 a special performance of Mozart's Entfuhrung, which Gluck, an older contemporary of Mozart was anxious to hear, was arranged for. It delighted Gluck immensely and he invited Mozart to dinner. The following year (1783), Gluck went to Mozart's concert (March 23) and Mozart improvised variations on a theme from La Rencontre imprevue.
My primary source about Gluck is one by Alfred Einstein simply titled Gluck published by McGraw-Hill. I like this paragraph from the backcover: "It is not easy to say whether Gluck was international or German, Italian, or French, for he was an opera composer," writes Einstein of this study of the life and music of C. W. Gluck (1714-1787); yet the career of Gluck does epitomize the internationalism prevailing in the arts of his time.
My primary source about Gluck is one by Alfred Einstein simply titled Gluck published by McGraw-Hill. I like this paragraph from the backcover: "It is not easy to say whether Gluck was international or German, Italian, or French, for he was an opera composer," writes Einstein of this study of the life and music of C. W. Gluck (1714-1787); yet the career of Gluck does epitomize the internationalism prevailing in the arts of his time.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: A Biography
Classical Music / Composers Datebook: January 27
Mozart's Younger Years
Arguably, the greatest composer of all time, Wolfgang Mozart composed more than 600 works including: 21 theatre/stage and opera works, 15 Masses, over 50 symphonies, 25 piano concertos, 12 violin concertos (many more violin sonatas), 27 concert arias, 17 piano sonatas, 26 string quartets, concertos for clarinet and other wind instruments, chamber music, and many other pieces. Together with the work of his older contemporary he called "Papa" Haydn, Mozart's music marks the height of the Classical era in its supposed purity of melody and symmetricality of form. Since his early death in 1791, the popularity of Mozart keep soaring that even younger musicians continue to translate his music to suit their generation.
Johann Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, better known as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (January 27, 1756 – December 5, 1791) was born in Salzburg, Austria, to a musician father Leopold Mozart and mother, Anna Pertl. Of the seven children, only Mozart and his older sister (Maria Anna or "Nannerl" as family called her) survived infancy. Leopold Mozart was himself a composer and an excellent teacher. He was a court musician of the archbishop's chapel in Salzburg, and the author of a well-known book on violin-playing.
Mozart's birthplace (German: geburtshaus) was at No. 9 Getreidegasse in Salzburg. As children, Nannerl and Wolfgang showed early musical promise.
Taught by his father, Mozart was an infant prodigy. He began to play the harpsichord at the age of three, compose at the age of five, and wrote his first minuet at six. This time Mozart went on his first tour with his family. The family lived like this for years, touring and playing over Europe. Before his ninth birthday, he composed his first symphony, wrote his first oratorio at 11, and the first opera the following year.
Mozart's Youthful Years and First Love
In Mannheim, Germany, he fell in love with a young soprano, Aloysia Weber. His love was not reciprocated. A year later, in 1778, his beloved mother died in Paris. With heartache from the double loss of his mother and first love, he returned to Salzburg. He found work at the court but unhappy with the court restrictions, Mozart left Salzburg for Vienna in 1781, and decided to go solo, a freelance musician. Carl Maria von Weber
Composers Datebook: November 18
Born: Eutin,
18 November 1786
Died: London, 5 June 1826
German Composer, Master in Opera. Classical and Romantic era
Carl Maria von Weber's brief biography – his life and major works. He is best known for founding the Romantic school of opera after producing his famous Der Freischütz.
Died: London, 5 June 1826
Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1844), German composer of the Romantic era, is best remembered for establishing the Romantic school of opera with his Der Freischütz, his famous opera produced in Berlin, and recognized throughout Germany as instrumental in helping found a truly German national opera style, already challenged earlier by Mozart.
Carl Maria (Friedrich Ernst) von Weber, born on 18 November 1786, was a son of a musician. His was cousin of Constanze Weber, wife of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. From childhood, he received a strong musical education from his family-operated traveling Weber Theatre Company, his own mother performing so that by age 13, he successfully produced his opera Das Waldmadchen (The Forest Maiden.)
Suggested Listening:
Carl Maria von Weber : Der Freischutz - Overture. YouTube, uploaded by Classical Music Only. Accessed November 18, 2022.
Carl Maria von Weber: Der Freischütz (English Subtitles). YouTube, uploaded by Queen City Opera. queencityopera.org. Accessed November 18, 2022.
Der Freischütz J277 : Overture - Simone Young, conducting. NHK Symphony Orchestra. YouTube, KiatMac Pattaya. Accessed November 18, 2022.
Weber: Euryanthe – Ouvertüre ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Daniel Smith. YouTube, hr-Sinfonieorchester (Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra) ∙
Daniel Smith, conductor. Accessed November 18, 2022.
Weber - Overture to the Opera "Oberon" (Israel Philharmonic Orchestra). Barenboim, conducting. YouTube, uploaded by EuroArtsChannel. Accessed November 18, 2022.
Johann Christian Bach
Classical Music / Composer's Datebook: September 5
Brief biography of German Classical composer and performer, Johann Christian Bach, popularly called 'London Bach' or 'English Bach.'
Johann Christian Bach's Early Years
Johann Christian Bach, German composer of the Classical Era, was the youngest son of Johann Sebastian Bach by his second wife Anna Magdalena Bach. JC Bach, as he was commonly called, was born on September 5, 1735, in Leipzig. JC Bach studied with his father until aged 15, then in Berlin with his half-brother Carl Philipp Emanuel, considered the best musician in the Bach family that time.
In
1754 he went to Italy, abandoned Protestantism for Roman Catholicism, and became organist in Milan
Cathedral. He left for Italy
in 1754, became an organist at Milan Cathedral and converted from Protestantism
to Roman Catholicism.
JC Bach's Move to London
Johann Christian Bach went to London in 1762 and was appointed music master to Queen Charlotte Sophia, wife of George III. Since then he has been called the 'English Bach' or 'London Bach.'
In London, he became friends with the boy genius Mozart who was on his first European tour with family. He introduced Mozart to English musical society. Mozart wrote his first three symphonies under the influence of Johann Christian Bach.
JC Bach's Significant Milestones:
1762 - He was invited to London to write Italian operas.
1763 – On Feb 19, his opera Orione was performed at the King's Theatre in London. It was so successful that it continued on for three months, and was followed in May by the equally successful Zanaida.
Early 1770s was the height of his career as a performer and composer. Many of his works were published.
JC Bach's Career and Health Decline
JC Bach made London his permanent home. Sadly, his popularity faded in the late 1770s, and his health declined following financial troubles. He was soon forgotten after he died in London, 1 Jan 1782, aged 46. He was buried in St Pancras' Churchyard.
Johann Christian Bach's Musical Legacy
His music appealed to Mozart as it provided a blend of the Italian fluency and grace along with well founded German techniques.
Johann Christian Bach, sometimes regarded as hedonistic compared to his half-brother CPE Bach, produced elegant music simply suited to its social purpose.
Johann Christian Bach's Operas
Artaserse, opera 1761, he was 26 years old
Catone in Utica, opera 1761
Allessandro nell'Indie, opera 1762
Orione, opera 1763
Zanaida, opera 1763
Adriano in Siria, opera 1765
Carattaco, opera 1767
Temistocle, opera 1772
Lucio Silla, opera 1776
Amadis des Gaules, opera 1779
Johann Christian Bach's Other Works:
Symphonies
Concerti
Sextets
Quintets
Quartets
Duets for violin
Trios
Sonatas for piano and violin
Military marches
Church music
Vocal music
Image Credit:
Johann Christian Bach by Thomas Gainsborough. Wikipedia Commons. Public Domain.
Resources:
Grove Concise Dictionary of Music, edited by Stanley Sadie,Macmillan (1994)
The Chronicle of Classical Music, Thames & Hudson (2000)
(c) September 2008. Updated September 5, 2023. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved
Joseph Boulogne Saint-Georges
Composer Dateline: December 25
Chevalier de Saint-George (Joseph Boulogne), born on December 25, 1745, near Basse Terre, Guadeloue, was a contemporary of Mozart. He was a French composer and violinist, and outside music, Chevalier de Saint-George was also an expert fencer and athlete.
He played in the Concert des Amateurs (under Gossec), and later its musical director and leader. He died on June 10, 1799, in Paris.
Resources:
Note: AfriClassical.com. Thanks Bill (William J. Zick) for the information.
(c) December 2006. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
Chevalier de Saint-George
Chevalier de Saint-George (Joseph Boulogne), born on December 25, 1745, near Basse Terre, Guadeloue, was a contemporary of Mozart. He was a French composer and violinist, and outside music, Chevalier de Saint-George was also an expert fencer and athlete.
He played in the Concert des Amateurs (under Gossec), and later its musical director and leader. He died on June 10, 1799, in Paris.
Resources:
Note: AfriClassical.com. Thanks Bill (William J. Zick) for the information.
(c) December 2006. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
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