Concertos Flashcards
What is a concerto?
Is a work for a soloist (or group of soloists) and an orchestra, where composers exploit the contrast between the different sized groups
When were concertos composed?
Throughout the Baroque period and by the early 18th century were standardised as works in three movements: fast slow fast
What is ritornello form?
Similar to rondo form in that there is a recurring theme, but unlike in rondo form (where the theme always reappear in the same key) in ritornello the theme may return in different keys. Inbetween appearances of the theme are episodes, featuring the soloist
What did episodes allow?
Gave the soloists the opportunity to display their virtuoso skills
Who did composers write concertos for?
Towards the end of the 18th century, many composers wrote concertos for both themselves and others to play. The solo concerto was much more common than a concerto with a group of soloists
What was the most common concerto?
The prominence of the piano led to a large number of piano concertos being composed
Who was the greatest concerto composer at this time
Mozart
How did Mozart create concertos initially ?
Mozart began to explore the concerto from a young age. He took sonatas by other composers and adapted them as concertos, later writing his own
How did Mozart earn money off his concertos?
Mozart is famous for his 27 piano concertos, mostly written in Vienna. Here Mozart over that performing a piano concerto would attract a large audience and earn him a substantial amount of money. Therefore in Lent when the theatres were closed, Mozart would arrange a series of “subscription concerts” for which people would buy tickets for the series. The Concerts would include a new concerto.
Mozart also wrote concepts for wind instruments (eg bassoon, flute, oboe, clarinet) for patrons and renowned performers
Who did Mozart write 4 horn concertos for?
His friend Joseph Leutgeb
Did Mozart use virtuosity?
Mozart does write some very virtuosic passages in his concertos, however this is never purely for display or at the expense of beautiful melodies
How did Mozart write for each instrument?
Took great care to write idiomatically for each instrument. This includes giving time to breathe for wind players
How did Mozart modify the concerto?
Before Mozart, the orchestra played a purely supporting role, whereas Mozart elevated their position. Mozarts earliest concertos could be accompanied by just the string section, without detriment to the texture, but in his later concertos the wind section was increasingly important and independent
What was the concerto structure, how many movements?
Continue to use the Baroque three movement model of fast-slow-fast rather than 4 movements of string quartet and symphony. However in the first movement composers faced some difficulties
What was the problem with the initial concerto structure?
Traditionally the opening music was played by the orchestra, with the soloist entering later in the movement. However this was not compatible with sonata form. If the orchestra and soloists both presented the exposition moving to the dominant for the second subject there would be a move to the dominant twice, which would not be satisfactory harmonically. This emerged a form specific to concerto first movements: a hybrid of ritornello and sonata form. This contained a double exposition. ( rather like the exposition section of a string quartet or symphony being repeated) but with significant differences between the two exposition sections, not least the presence of the soloist in the second and the first remaining in the tonic, composers found various ways of merging the two forms
