HAYDN LIFE AND WORKS – PREPARATION 3

(S-11)

For Friday 23 Sept.

Please listen to the following Haydn string quartets. I've tried to choose a cross-section of my favorites through Opus 33.

Op 2/#2 in E major

Op 9/#4 in D minor

Op 17/#6 in D major

Op 20/#2 in C major

Op 33/#1 in B minor

Op 33/#2 in Eb major ("The joke")

Recordings are on reserve and also available on Naxos. Scores are in the library (pocket scores and in the complete edition) and at IMSLP.

Read James Webster's summary discussion of Haydn string quartets The New Grove Dictionary. You'll find it in "Works – chamber music without keyboard" in the library or online.

Here are some buzz words from Webster's article:

"take the soloistic ensemble for granted"

"prevailing light tone (except in slow movements)"

"instrumental dialogue"

"cyclic integration"

"combined light-serious character"

"phrase rhythm is infinitely variable"

"flexible exchange of musical functions"

"music about music"

Pick one of these buzzwords and write a short paragraph discussing how it applies to a movement you choose from one of the above quartets. The movement you choose doesn't have to be in the quartet or set of quartets that Webster is discussing when he uses the buzzword. Pick a second buzzword and discuss a different movement similarly. Two short paragraphs in all, please.

Type your answers and bring them to class on Monday. If you have any questions, send me an Email.

Online I've posted some interesting discussions of couple of these quartets. Read them if you're in the mood. In class we'll go over some of the points the authors make.

Charles Rosen, The Classical Style (1998), 111-120 (Op 33/#1);

Cliff Eisen, "Mozart plays Haydn," Mozart Jahrbuch 2006, 409-415 (Op 17/#6);

Gretchen Wheelock, Haydn's Ingenious Jesting with Art (1992), 3-15 (Op 33/#2).