John Field

Nationality: Irish

Born: Dublin, July 26^th 1782

Died: Moscow, January 23^rd 1837

Type of music: Piano music

Main works: 18 Nocturnes

John field seems to elude the classical music repertoire today, especially in the concert format. It seems unjust, as he is one of the very first romantics, and would be influential to many composers after him.

He learned piano reluctantly with instruction from his father, a violinist at a Dublin theatre, but would make significant progress under Muzio Clementi, who also employed Field as a piano salesman in his showrooms.

Until Field, Composition was restricted to coercive form, but he introduced a new writing style, which consisted of single movement pieces. He is credited as the first composer to publish a new type of piece called a “Nocturne”. These are single movement pieces rich with feeling and emotion.

Field's 18 Nocturnes are lyrical and melancholic, a reflection of his own weak disposition and character. He was not confined to the service of the church or the nobility and disregarded fame, so his Nocturnes were a means to express his emotions to himself and for himself. It is said he would practice with coins on the back of his hands to perfect his gentle playing style that was required for these pieces. The Italian school believe the Nocturnes of the romantic period were inspired by the 'Notturno', an Italian song with a grander character and lavish melodies, so when John Field played his Nocturnes for the aristocratic audiences of Milan, Venice and Naples in 1832, they were left somewhat disappointed by his delicate touch and melancholy.

Nocturnes are synonymous with the composer Frederic Chopin, who played Field's Nocturnes in his own public performances. Chopin admired this new style of composition and would set out to develop it to his own taste. The two sets of Nocturnes still share many similarities.

Many other composers of the romantic era owe thanks to John Field's new style of writing, as it opened the opportunity for such pieces as Lieder ohne worte, impromptus, ballads and other types of lyric pieces.

"I am a pianist” - Field

Spotify link for the Classical Cafe playlist:

https://play.spotify.com/user/1146446707/playlist/722kiKqGuaxYnbQqnjifAr

 

Ludwig Van Beethoven

Nationality: German

Born: Bonn, Baptized December 17^th 1770

Died: Vienna, March 26^th 1827

Type of music: Symphonies, String quartets, Piano concertos, Piano sonatas

Main works: 9 symphonies including no.6 (Pastoral), 32 piano sonatas including no.8 (Pathetique), 5 piano concertos

While Mozart lived under the constraints of the classical period, Ludwig Van Beethoven came of age during the French revolution. This was a time of vast social changes and political unrest, which would shape Beethoven's work immeasurably. He worked with the classical traditions but remained an individual in a changing world. The Romantic era was coming.

Beethoven was born into a musical family, although by around the age of 9 or 10 he was taught by the organist Christian Neefe, who helped him write and publish his very first compositions, a set of keyboard variations which were published in 1783. In 1787, Neefe also sent Beethoven to Vienna to have lessons with Mozart and in 1792, He travelled to Vienna again for lessons with Haydn, and he settled there.

Beethoven quickly made a name for himself and by 1795 he had given his first public concert, during which he played a newly composed piano concerto of his own. A year later he had composed and published a set of piano trios and three piano sonatas. Although Beethoven was using classical traditions, his music was emotive and full of passion, seen his first symphony composed in 1800.

By 1802, Beethoven came to terms with his hearing loss and would eventually become deaf. His romantic nature would make him continue to compose and achieve as much as possible in his lifetime. His anguish and despair seems to be apparent in his work, for example in symphony no.3, which contains a funeral march.

Beethoven composed one opera, 'fidelio', a story of the French revolution, although after it's debut in 1805, Beethoven continued composing instrumental music due to it being unsuccessful.

In 1808, Beethoven's symphonies no.5 and no.6 were premièred at the same concert. Symphony no.6 was innovative for its programmatic content, as it depicted various scenes in Austrian country life. This was a trait that would help define music in the romantic era.

Unlike Haydn, Beethoven was not employed under the service of one family, but he did have many patrons to gave him financial security. The famous 'emperor' piano concerto no.5 is dedicated to one of these patrons, Archduke Rudolph.

By 1818 Beethoven was withdrawing himself from public life, after becoming completely deaf. He continued to compose. Some of his most introspective and emotive work appeared after this time, including his last three piano sonatas. Between 1822-24, Beethoven composed his infamous Choral symphony, which was unique for the vocal setting in it's final movement.

"Nature would burst should she attempt to produce nothing save Beethovens” - Schumann

Spotify link for the Classical Cafe playlist:

https://play.spotify.com/user/1146446707/playlist/722kiKqGuaxYnbQqnjifAr

 

 

Mozart

Nationality: Austrian

Born: Salzburg, January 27^th 1756

Died: Vienna, December 5^th 1791

Type of music: Symphonies, Opera, piano concertos, string quartets

Main works: Marriage of Figaro (1786), Don Giovanni (1787), 41 symphonies, 24 string quartets, 21 piano concertos, 17 masses

Mozart is one of the most recognised names in western classical music, if not the most. He may not be seen as a revolutionary as Beethoven is, but among his works are some of the most emotive pieces of music in the classical repertoire, particularly his operatic works. Unlike any other composer, Mozart wrote in all the styles of the time and was successful in each genre he composed in.

Mozart's family, (particularly his father Leopold) were key to his success as a musician. Leopold was a court musician for the Archbishop of Salzburg, and from an early age he showed of Mozart's talent for keyboard playing to members of aristocracy in Europe. In 1763, Mozart and his family travelled to Paris and London where Mozart would play for the monarchy, and it was in London that Mozart wrote his first symphonies.

In May 1769, Mozart's first opera, 'La finta semplice' was performed at the Archbishop's palace. Leopold then took Mozart took Italy, the birthplace of opera, and he received his first full opera commission for 'Mitridate, re di ponto' which had it's debut in 1770. Mozart's last trip away was to Paris where he wrote Symphony no.31 and a concerto for flute and harp. The Parisian audience were uninterested and when Mozart's mother died suddenly, he returned home.

Mozart carried on writing music for the court, including sacred music, symphonies, serenades and piano concertos. In 1781, Mozart ended his engagement with the Archbishop and stayed in Vienna, where he composed, taught music and gave concerts. In his first years there he composed the opera 'Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail' and several piano concertos.

In 1785, Mozart began composing his most famous Opera 'The Marriage of Figaro'. It is based on a French play by Pierre Beaumarchais but Mozart's literary collaborator for this was the Italian poet Lorenzo Da Ponte, who also wrote the librettos for 'Don Giovanni' and 'Cosi fan tutte'. Surprisingly, Figaro failed to impress the audiences in Vienna, and in 1787 the opera was taken to Prague, a city which fell in love with the masterpiece.

Mozart's 'Don Giovanni' was even less well received than Figaro and Mozart began struggling financially as well as experiencing ill health. In 1788 he composed his last three symphonies, including no.41 (Jupiter) in the space of a few weeks.

In 1791, he was commissioned to write his infamous Requiem Mass. By this time, Mozart's health was rapidly deteriorating and he died in December 1791. His Requiem was finished by his own pupil, Franz Sussmayr. Mozart's financial affairs means he was laid to rest in an unmarked grave.

"Mozart is sunshine” - Dvorak

Spotify link for the Classical Cafe playlist:

https://play.spotify.com/user/1146446707/playlist/722kiKqGuaxYnbQqnjifAr

 

Joseph Haydn

Nationality: Austrian

Born: Rohrau, March 31^st 1732

Died: Vienna, May 31^st 1809

Type of music: Symphonies, String quartets, Opera, Oratorios

Main works: 104 symphonies, 15 operas, 12 masses, string quartets, Violin concertos, keyboard concertos

Haydn is arguably the most important composer of the 18^th Century. He personally made one of the biggest contributions to the development of different forms of classical music, including the symphony, concerto, string quartet and sonata. His work would also influence future greats such as Mozart and Beethoven, who was a pupil of Haydn. Haydn stands in a pivotal moment in music history due to the fact he was one of the last composers to be in the service of aristocracy. He sought freedom from this and managed to do so near the end of his career.

His talent was recognised at the early age of 6 by his family, and after he turned 8, he became choirboy at St Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. After leaving the choir in 1749, he worked as a music teacher in Vienna over the next 10 years, until he became engaged in the service of the Esterhazy family.

He took up this post in 1761 at Eisenstadt, and was required to train the choir and orchestra there, and also compose music upon request. Some of the first works composed here were the 3 symphonies, 'Morning', 'Noon' and 'Night'. Haydn's musical output grew significantly when he began serving under Prince Nikolaus, and they moved to Eszterhaza in a new summer palace where Haydn wrote approximately 25 operas for performance. Haydn wrote the 'Farewell Symphony' in a plea to move back to Eisenstadt as the court musicians had families in Vienna. This symphony among others was written in the 1770's and exhibited a wide range of emotions and styles. This literary inspired work also influenced both his string quartets and piano sonatas that he wrote around this time.

His fame eventually allowed him to compose music for other patrons and also get his scores published. In 1790 prince Nikolaus died and he also became free to travel, which included a visit to London. In 1791 Oxford University awarded in an honorary doctorate in music.

In Haydn's later years btween 1796 and 1802 he composed 6 masses, including 'The Creation' in 1798. His last public appearance was at a performance of this mass for his 76^th birthday celebration. He died in the May of 1809 and the vast majority of Vienna's arts patrons attended his funeral. It included a performance of Mozart's Requiem.

"So far as genius can exist in a man who is merely virtuous, Haydn had it” - Nietzsche

Spotify link for the Classical Cafe playlist:

https://play.spotify.com/user/1146446707/playlist/722kiKqGuaxYnbQqnjifAr

 

Christoph WIllibald Gluck

Nationality: German

Born: Erasbach, July 2^nd 1714

Died: Vienna, 15^th November 1787

Type of music: French/Italian opera

Main works: Ofeo ed Euridice (1762), Alceste (1767)

Gluck lived in the Rococo age, which saw the transition from the Baroque era to the classical period. To pursue his musical interests, he left home at 13 and entered the service of a nobleman in Vienna. He then moved with him to Italy, where his musical career took off.

By 1744, 8 of Gluck's operas had been produced in Italy. After 1745, Gluck spent years travelling around Europe with an opera company until he eventually married and moved to Vienna in 1754. It is here he attained the post of composer at the court theatre.

Together with the poet Raniero de Calzabigi, Gluck evolved opera according to the changing tastes of audiences at the time. He wrote comic operas and also ballet's such as 'Don Juan' in 1761. This would later influence Mozart's 'Don Giovanni'. In 1762 he also composed the opera 'Orfeo ed Euridice', a setting of a tragic love story also used by Monteverdi in the Renaissance.

On the preface to the score of the opera 'Alceste', Gluck wrote that he wanted to free opera from the traits “which have so long disfigured Italian opera and made of the most splendid and beautiful of spectacles the most ridiculous and wearisome.”

"Hearing Iphigenie, I forgot that I am in an opera house and think I am hearing a Greek tragedy” - Baron Grimm

Spotify link for the Classical Cafe playlist:

https://play.spotify.com/user/1146446707/playlist/722kiKqGuaxYnbQqnjifAr

 

Jean-Philippe Rameau

Nationality: French

Born: Dijon, Baptized 25^th September 1683

Died: Paris, September 12^th 1764

Type of music: Opera, opera-ballet

Main works: Castor et Pollux (1737), Pieces de clavecin (1741)

Like Scarlatti, Rameau began his musical career as an organist and held several posts in various towns and cities in France, until he moved to Paris in 1722. In the same year he released his famous treatise on theory and harmony in music, 'Traite de L'harmonie'.

He then started to work as a harpsichord teacher, and during this time he composed numerous volumes of character pieces for keyboard, influenced by the style of François Couperin.

In 1733, Rameau's first opera 'Hippolyte et Aricie' had it's debut at the Paris opera after he became acquainted with the playwright Abbe Simon-Joseph Pellegrin, who wrote the libretto. He went on to write approximately 30 more stage works, including the ballet 'Pygmalion'.

Rameau's opera work became overshadowed by the Italian opera that had found it's way into the musical culture in France, and he was no longer popular. His work became popular again in the mid 20^th Century.

"The expression of thought, of sentiment, of the passions, must be the true aim of music” - Rameau

Spotify link for the Classical Cafe playlist: 

https://play.spotify.com/user/1146446707/playlist/722kiKqGuaxYnbQqnjifAr

 

Domenico Scarlatti

Nationality: Italian

Born: Naples, October 26^th 1685

Died: Madrid, July 23^rd 1757

Type of music: Harpsichord music

Main works: Approximately 550 keyboard sonatas

Scarlatti attained the position of organist the Neapolitan royal chapel at the young age of 16. This combined with his vast output of keyboard music has left a long standing legacy on the music world.

In 1709, Domenico served Queen Maria Casimria in Rome, where he met Handel who was born in the same year. He worked briefly as maestro di capella at the Julian Chapel in the Vatican until 1719 when he left for Portugal.

In Portugal, Scarlatti took the engagement of Maria Barbara, daughter of the king. He taught her music and then followed her to Spain in 1728 when she married the Crown prince of Spain. He remained in her service and dedicated all his keyboard sonatas to her.

The sonatas are infamous for their virtuosity and demanded a good technique. The music itself often engaged a fast tempo and numerous note repetitions. Scarlatti explored many of Spain's musical traditions in his sonatas, such as the Flamenco style.

"He had broke through all the rules of composition” - Charles Burney

Spotify link for the Classical Cafe playlist: