Test 2 part 2 – Here we have a progression of Symphonies from Vienna. Haydn and Mozart’s last symphonies. Beethoven and Brahms’s first symphonies and one of the last symphonies of Mahler and the only Symphony of Anton Webern. Using the questions below compare and contrast all the works. You may do this assignment in essay form or present it in a graphic way listing movements but also answering the questions with full sentences. Include a portrait of each composer in your work. For example, the Beethoven – Haus in Bonn Germany has an amazing digital archive of images. https://www.beethoven.de/en/archive/list
The assignment is free form – past students have done this assignment as a spread sheet. Make your work chronological and do it in an organized way. I suggest you start out your research with a list of the works, dates and movements and go from there. As usual if you have questions please don’t be afraid to ask me for ideas and advice. The assignment is due August 2rd by end of day.
Haydn – Symphony 104
Mozart – Symphony 41
Beethoven – Symphony 1
Brahms Symphony 1
Mahler Symphony 7
Webern Symphony Op. 21
What are the dates of composition for each piece? The premier of the work and also when they started composing that piece?
How long did it take for the composers to write the pieces?
What are the dates of birth and deaths of each composer
How many movements does each piece have? – note differences and similarities –
What are the tempo markings for each movement of each piece? tempos (fast or slow) note differences and similarities
What are the forms of each movement of each piece? Sonata allegro – theme and variation – rondo – something else? – Note the differences and similarities.
Which one of these composers is known as the father of the symphony?
Which three of these composers knew each other?
Which one of these composers was afraid to write his first symphony because he knew he would be compared to Beethoven?
Which one of these composers was afraid to write his 9th Symphony because Beethoven and also two other Viennese composers (Schubert and Bruckner) died after writing their 9th symphonies?
Do all the symphonies have something in common?