SYMPHONY SEMINAR - PREP 3

(F-09)

For Mon. Sept 28

Please read the following essays on the Mannheim orchestra and the Mannheim composers. They are posted online and also on reserve in the library.

Eugene Wolf, "Music at the court of Mannheim" and "The symphony at Mannheim" in The Symphony at Mannheim (Garland C/III), pp. xiii-xviii.

Jens Peter Larsen, "On the Importance of the 'Mannheim School,'" in Handel, Haydn and the Viennese Classical Style (1988), pp. 263-268.

W.A. Mozart, Letters of 4 Nov. 1777, and 20 Nov. 1777 [about music at the Mannheim court]

Please listen to two Mannheim symphonies, both available on Naxos. Scores are online and on reserve:

Johann Stamitz: Symphony in D, Wolf D-3 – Naxos 8.553194

Christian Cannabich: Symphony #47 in G – Naxos 8.554340

Write out brief (!) answers to the following questions:

a) What big point is Larsen trying to make in his article?

b) On p. 264 of the article is a list of supposed traits of the Mannheim symphonic style. Which do you hear in the Stamitz symphony?

c) What do you hear in the Stamitz symphony that doesn’t seem to fit with the list?

d) Which traits from the list do you hear in the Cannabich symphony?

e) What do you hear in the Cannabich symphony that doesn’t seem to fit with the list?