Richard, I am a one-time music theory student whose dreams of teaching supremely rigorous counterpoint class to generations of awe-struck students on some leafy campus in Germany or New England got waylaid by a career in science writing. Music and science, especially math, are not as distantly related as most people think; Pythagoras, Boethius, Kepler, Rameau, Bach, Euler, Borodin, Einstein, Bohr, Stockhausen, John Cage, Terry Riley and many other gymnastically intelligent characters in history had one foot, and ear, in both worlds. My point is simply one of deep gratitude to you, for not only making the math/music complement a regular discussion in your analyses but also giving counterpoint--the central nervous system of Western Music--its due. And wow--I go gaga for that sweet, only-from-Mozart child-genius melody at 12:47. The first time I heard that deliriously happy, skipping-to-Elysium theme about 47 years ago I felt like Mozart broke my heart, ripped it out and implanted a new one. Ever since I've been a forever-changed man (short of breath, emotionally congested and hideously scarred, but certainly changed).
@@Richard.Atkinson you gave us a closer look at your incredible knowledge and love for subject matter. Also, on an unrelated note, whenever I see a new upload it instantly becomes a top priority. Love what you do man🙌🏻
@@Richard.Atkinson Privet! Answering your original remark... Think of it this way. There are those that launch amateur rockets, not understanding Rocket Theory & Physics, but by purchasing pre--assembled parts of a rocket (List of emotions and Tonal colors Movie Directors requires by scenes) , they take a scematic (Templates, presets by trained musical geniuses, providing untrained users with all kinds of music theory tricks & shortcuts resulting in only *one* solution to the many posibillities theoretical knowledge will provide) and assemble the parts of the Rocket (Score on DAW: Adding parts - Template, VSTs [rocket motor], and "Drag & Drop" pre-composed musical phrases on to score at appropriate scenes, "Drag & Drop" percussion loops onto score and repeat "Paste" the number of bars required. Even Choirs can now be added with words...) and ONLY requiring the Skill of user, not Composer, that amateur rocket can closely resemble the Saturn V rocket! Now, you understand how Phillip Sparks are able to "compose" weekly episodes of TV shows only having 2-3 days to come up with a score and granted, music sounds good! Until I realised he purchased VST with 1000s of pre-recorded, 16-32 bar composition phrases of various Ensembles, by adjusting envelopes instrument's Tonal Colors ie waveforms can be altered, Brass' velocities can bet set to 120+ to make them sound real "brassy" etc. And you know WHAT? Movie directors are fooled when that cheap rocket Flies! Thus, educated Musicologist's futures (John Williams becoming an extingt career), are basically limited to Academia and Composing for VST creators. One might even be lucky and get movie contract. BUT, it is OUR fault agreeing in the first place selling our "birthright (God-given Talent) for bowl of lentle-soup (Steinberg VST development)" and many other Sampler creators! BUT, I detect revenge on the horizon... You scheming users' days are numbered as well, for I saw presentations where AI can detect a scene, and Director provides "Mr. AI Mikhail Rimsky-Korsakov" with additional properties and PRESTO... (not 3-4 WEEKS), but few hours ENTIRE High Budget Film's Score is COMPOSED within 3-4 Hours! Hiehiehieieeeee! Enjoy while it lasts, for We can still educate others, but YOU????...... LOL! С уважением, Mikhail Rimsky-Korsakov MRK Music Studio & Sheet Music Publisher
@@Richard.Atkinson Actually? How can you do that? I tried singing the first Movement of Mozart's C Minor Concerto, but not only I couldn't control the pitch, I kept whistling one NOTE.
This is great! Not to boss you around, but we now need: 1. The third movement of the 19th piano concerto 2. The 1st movement of the 38th symphony 3. The overture to Die Zauberflöte 4. All the movements to all the piano concerti 5. All the movements to all the string quintets. We believe in you, Richard!
I got hooked on Mozart when I was 10 and first heard the Jupiter symphony. Now I'm nearly 40 and barely a day has passed without listening to his music. These videos bring an extra dimension to my appreciation of his music. The Jupiter symphony still is my favourite and the finale still gives me goosebumps.
i can totally relate to you...i have all of his music on CD's, even the most obscure pieces, some kind of obsession i guess...i felt in love when i was 17 yo or so. For me, Mozart is the most gifted human being ever lived.
@@prager5046 it makes me sad that he died at 35, such an injustice, imagine what he would have composed as the romantic era dawned. Imagine what his sons would have composed with their dad as their teacher. Music history would have been completely different. There's something very special about mozart's style, I think it's a perfect balance between the emotional and intellectual that no other composer has equalled. Its the most human of all musical styles.
Your encyclopedic knowledge of Mozart and Haydn's catalogues is astonishing! I'd be very interested to see a sonata-off, but I can't think of anyone who could properly match your enthusiasm or dedication!
I thought that the quote from the always brilliant scholar Richard Atkinson was very insightful -- it's something that I've long noticed: whereas Haydn strives for terseness in the sonata form's expositions, Mozart goes in the opposite direction, compiling as much diverse material as possible. The fact that Mozart's expositions do not crumble under the weight of so much diverse material speaks to his great genius. In the hands of a lesser composer such diversity would render an exposition incoherent, but that's never the case with Mozart. What I find particularly interesting is that having studied with Haydn in his youth, Beethoven clearly adopted for the most part the approach to sonata-form expositions of his teacher, and arguably took it a notch further in their terseness. Consider the exposition of the Appassionata Sonata's first movement, for example, where the secondary theme is clearly derived from the primary theme but still manages to create a contrast with it. Or consider the first movement of this 5th Symphony, where that famous 4-note motif is so pervasive that it is used to build a bridge to the secondary theme and even permeates the latter. What do you think, Richard?
"As a teenager I had the totally normal hobby of cataloguing all my favourite differences between exposition sections and recapitulation sections." I feel obliged to say, and I mean this with the greatest respect ... nerd! 😁
This is the first symphony I ever played in an orchestra. I remember almost every single note and always like to come back to it and listen to recordings of this masterpiece!
Dear Mr. Atkinson. I thank you for your analysis of M 36. I have seen yours on M 41 finale. I have no formal education in music, but have been listening and going to concerts for almost 60 years. You have enriched my understanding.. Einar Iceland
At first glance I read this as "Most Brilliant Liszt Symphony Finale". Anyway great video and I love all your effort as it makes me discover new music I never knew I could like!
Richard, your reputation with me grows with every video you make. If we were to hang out, and I had lost my personal stereo, and wanted to hear any classical music, I would just get you to whistle it for me. Your whistle is that good. Fantastic evaluation of this complex symphony: I always think I know Mozart, but after your instruction I realise I know very little. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your magnificent work! I'm so jelaous because of your Austrian journey and all the places you saw. I once visited Vienna with a group of tourists (not the thing I like) and on my insistance we visited Mozarthaus near the cathedral. My group saw and felt nothing special but I was so thrilled walking the same corridors, being in the same rooms and between the same walls Mozart himself did. It was only 2 hours but I don't hesitate to consider those 2 hours one of the best in my entire 30 years of life. Thank you once again, Mr Atkinson!
@@Richard.Atkinson Felt that way listening to a string quartet perform in the Mozarthaus, and especially in St. Marks in Venice... Monteverdi, Vivaldi, Gabrieli, so many!
Hi Richard, thank you for the video! I love the Linz Symphony and I also like the piano sonoata K.V. No. 333 (No 13.) very much. I always thought there must be a connection between these both when I play the sonata, but not because of the part you mentioned (this I didnt notice before), but later in the movement, close to the end of the exposition, there is a part that reminds me pretty much of the fugato part. (eighth rest followed by three eighth notes in the left hand & half notes in the right. Then hands switched and this time the three eighths with octave jump). I bet you already noticed this too.
And I thought I was the only one who made lists of how the recapitulation was different! I fell in love with this symphony after playing it with my local community orchestra, there is so much energy in this symphony! Would definitely like to hear your take on symphony 35 as that symphony has always fascinated me. Great video, Linz looks like a beautiful place!
Fantastic video all around! Such a great explanation and examples from other works. I'm a conservatory student studying organ/composition/improvisation and this video gives great insight into the genius of Mozart. Thanks from Rhode Island!
My favorite Mozart symphony! Have played it multiple times in my spinning class ... makes a great spin! Especially ... at the end of the first Recap ... you hit the double bar and finish it again!
A necessary and insightful commentary on one of my all time favorite finales. The fugato section in the expo. Always struck me as the strangest passage in all Mozart. In fact it so threw me I didn't even know it was a fugato! Thanks for clearing that up. Keep up thesr great videos.
I should add that what helps me somewhat is my rudimentary ability to follow a score, gained many years ago partly during my piano studies and partly by partaking in singing choral works in my school's choral society
Thanks for this Richard. The „Linzer Sinfonie“ as we say, is in my mind in the Interpretation of Karl Böhm. I would not say, that this is the "best" one, but i am used to it, listening since decades - perhaps I should look for another one. Carlos Kleiber did a beautiful recording with the Wiener Philharmoniker, conventional but nice. :-) Anyway, it is truely a joy for me to listen to your explanations. Greetings from Frankfurt am Main - Andreas
My favorite Mozart symphonies growing up were No. 33 & 39. I feel they are underappreciated. No.39 always seemed tome to be 20 years ahead of its time. Would be cool to do a review of how Mozart closes out his symphonies with a flair for the dramatic. Especially the Paris symphony. He really was a superb showman.
Once again I found your talk illuminating Richard. Not having actually studied music it took quite a lot of concentration, an effort largely rewarded by the insights gained. Many thanks! I'm a subscriber
Bravo! Your lessons get better and better--more complex and interesting, with more context. As far back as I can remember I've been whistling melodies, mostly classical. You're much better at it than I, though.
I love your thinking and I love Mozart! I also like using his music as a springboard for my thoughts to take flight in the descriptive mode. With Mozart the meanings are so palpable that sometimes a description, concrete or abstract, just appears. Like I was listening to the Et Incarnatus of the Great Mass in C minor and the first 11 bars of it suggested the following to me: “The sighs in the opening become more and more weary but as it moves to the IAC in the dominant the last two sighs become more and more like sighs of contentment. Then the rising line in the flute that reaches to the 6th/3rd scale degree (this terminus seems like less uplifted and solid ground than our hearts expected) then the oboe line comes in and we drift into a melancholy, then the bassoon joins and the by now burning passion is transfigured to the clear and inquisitive space of the half cadence. This sense of destitution that is infused with and ultimately won over by light, then the disquietude which too overcomes the capture of self-absorbed passion and ends in clarity. He’s showing this to us twice in a row, with the opposite forms of suffering: Dejection and Angst (both the passive and active). It’s _that_ (process of transfiguration into freedom) which we do momentarily experience, but hardly ever see it clearly as a process and so never realize how utterly miraculous and precious it is.” I’d love to know if you see the passage the same way!
Great analysis, as usual, Richard! I'm hoping that one day you will analyze one of Brahms' four symphonies (specially the 4th with its unusual passacaglia finale). By the way, your whistling prowess is simply amazing. You can whistle a melody or theme better than I could ever hope to sing it! Some advice from a seasoned world traveler: if you ever find yourself in a similar situation where you have to drag your luggage around there's two options you have to avoid that hassle: 1) You can always leave it at the railway station either at a luggage locker or at the luggage office for a small fee. 2) Stop at any cafe or restaurant to order a sandwich or a light meal and then ask the owner if they can keep your luggage for a couple of hours; they will always agree to to do so according to my experience.
Always a pleasure to receive a lecture on a piece by you. Thank you so much! you also made me laugh throughout the video. Very grateful to be able to consume this precious content. This will probably be now one of my favorite Mozart’s symphony movements.
Mozart: utterly singular and brilliant!! To compose something so complete in short order is utterly worthy of awe. Still, we have Bach’s Leipzig cantatas. Well recognized amongst musicians, but not so much amongst the listening public. Now those are masterpieces composed at unimaginable breakneck speeds! As always, Mr A, excellent content!
I was astonished to hear that Richard Atkinson took nearly thirty years in his studies of sonata movements. Judging from his appearance in the video, I would have guessed him to be in his early thirties, hardly old enough to have completed such a task.
I would be interested in analysis videos on opera. You could look at the formal structure of Bel Canto works, such as the finely crafted ensembles of Rossini and Donizetti, or maybe discussing how Verdi played with the typical operatic structure. Do I even need to suggest Wagner? Maybe analyzing how themes adjust throughout the opera, for example, the way Puccini uses the love theme of madama butterfly in various modulations and orchestrations to show how the characters' relationships have changed over the course of the opera
I'm not a huge fan of opera (besides Mozart and Wagner), but I almost started a video on the overture and opening number from "Lo Sposo Deluso" (K. 430), one of my favorite Mozart masterpieces that almost nobody knows.
Have always loved this symphony finale. Especially the second theme in c major in the recapitulation section. Especially towards the end when in the so called "coda" it rises high aloft up to the E above the stave in the perfect c major chord, I do feel as if I am lifted up to the Elysium, I touch heaven just for a moment then soon get back to earth. This earth is made an even lovelier place to live because of the existence of Frau Musik and above all Mozart and Bach.
Thanks for making this - I am very familiar with this symphony and really appreciated having this movement analyzed in such detail. The reference to the other pieces was really fascinating - I certainly hadn't picked those out before. The advice to read Rosen and the complete works of Haydn did make me laugh but I know exactly where you coming from. Keep up the good work with these videos - if I was director general of the BBC I'd be airing content like this unedited daily.
I really appreciate the amount of work you put into making this great musical content! It’s very exited to follow the score and get to know the piece in another way. Thank you very much! 😃👍🏻
Amazing video as always, Richard. I’m at a loss as to why you have only 36 thousand subscribers! May I suggest that you could do a video on The Immense First Movement of Mozart’s 39th?
This was incredible...I am very new to classical music. However, your references to other lesser-known works of Haydn and Mozart is really helping in expanding my listening possibilities. Really looking forward to the video on the Haffner symphony finale! Also, it would be great if you could do a video on the modified sonata form that Mozart designed for the purpose of first movements of his piano concerti so as to balance the soloist and the orchestra. Any first movement would hold for that purpose. But I would like it if you choose the first movement of the C minor concerto K.491with its expanded piano exposition and incredible woodwind passages! Anyways, keep making such videos...they are wonderful!
I have been listening to Haydn piano sonatas every morning for about a year now, and I have come across a few pieces that seem to be in the same italianate style as Bach's keyboard works; Are they? The reason I ask is because the rhythmic of instability of that style seems to be less annoying for some reason when Haydn does it.
@@Richard.Atkinson In my view, "Death and Transfiguration" is a good choice. This piece was composed during the first phase of Strauss's symphonic poem period, and it could be your very first analysis video of Strauss's piece combine with Schopenhauer‘s philosophy. (It means maybe you have a logical reason to make more Strauss's videos which include his development of both alterations of technique(thematic development or orchestration) and philosophy (from Schopenhauer to Nietzsche)). And Don Quixote could become your second analysis of Strauss's video(or the Hero's Life or Also Sprach Zarathustra or Symphonia Domestica damn I hate my greed lol. And by the way, your videos are so exquisite and I am going to recommend it to my students!
what a well planned and well tempered video with useful knowledge. i am a composer who better understands music thanks to the detailed explanation you provide. please continue your beautiful work and as long as it is this well crafted , you can always find people like us to enjoy your work. oh and keep dem mozart symphonies comin🙌🏻
Hello again Mr. Atkinson! Fantastic work here. I particularly loved your inclusion of similar themes from other Mozart/Haydn works, as I always find myself making such connections. Also, whistling that tune while being in Linz at the cafe would be something I definitely would have done! However... I feel the need to call out one thing that you mentioned at 16:57, which is that it is atypical for Mozart to use the primary theme as a closing theme. Here are a few non-monothematic examples: The first and last movements of the Prague symphony K504, the first movement of Symphony 40 K550, the first movement of the 2nd Piano Quartet K493, the first movement of the Clarinet Quintet K581, one of the closing themes in the first movement of Symphony 35 (the Haffner) K385, the first movement of the String Quintets no 4 K516 and no 6 K614, the first movement of the "Dissonance" Quartet K465 and the first movement of Quartet 21 K575, the first movement of the Violin Sonata in E minor K304, the first movement of Piano Trio no 7 K548, definitely to some degree in the first movement of Piano Concerto 24 in C minor K491. And those are just of Mozart I am familiar with! You are right about Haydn, however, who doesn't do it often.
Haha, it looks like you're as much of a nerd as I am! (I can see myself writing a comment like this) Yes, there's a large list of Mozart sonata forms that do this, but I think it's still correct to call it "atypical" since it doesn't happen most of the time.
I keep thinking of how Monteverdi's vespers would fit very well with you video analyses. Perhaps some specific movements like the magnificat, nisi dominus or others. Anyway, i'm just excited to see two videos out so quickly.
Excellent presentation, thank you. The Development shows how important is the rhythmic disposition of thematic material. (the First theme and the Dev. theme share the main rhythmic message, It would have been much more difficult and less successful to come up with the development of the First theme: here the harmony goes through the whole cadence, while the Dev. theme simply swings between two harmonies that allows the yourney through the circle of fifths: Thus, Mozart used the same rhythm in two different ways, thanks to his creative play in harmonic flow. Brilliant.
Excellent video! One of my favorite symphonic finales. I had a question and was wondering what you think of Mozarts K. 546 Adagio and Fugue in C minor, as well as his other fugues and various “Bach-y” works, have you considered making a video on one of them?
Richard, would you do any videos on Mozart's early Salzburg catholic music? such as the triple fugue of the Gloria of Missa longa K.262, where Mozart introduces a new subject "Cum sancto spiritu" to combine with the two subjects of the original material of Gloria (each sung in "Amen") to form the three themes of the fugue? Or the fugue of et vitam venturi, with its catchy dissonances? Or the large Pignus futurae gloriae double fugue of Litaniae de venerabili altaris sacramento K.243, which sounds quite "distant" from Bach that it gives us an idea how contrapuntal choral music developed and flourished in 18th century south Germany separate from Bachian influence?
I might, although I'll probably only do them after I'm done analyzing all of Bach's cantata choruses. In my last video (Grosse Fuge) I mentioned the Warren Kirkendale book that talks about the same phenomenon in chamber music that you're talking about in choral music ("Fugue and Fugato in Rococo and Classical Chamber Music").
I do appreciate your fantastic analysis of this movement, yet, I wanted to share my musical/emotional experience i have with this specific first movement. I know, some people might think that i am exaggerating, still, in my opinion, this movement is the most impressive symphonic movement ever composed...Mozart wrote more creative melodic inventions in his other compositions, however, what I find in this specific movement is something behind music. There is a total cosmic wisdom ( yes, it sounds corny ) There are so many events going on in this movement, twists and turns, fugal occurrences are suddenly popping up out of nowhere and then disappearing, questions and answers/solutions, tense and releases etc etc...The slow introduction is not actually an introduction but almost a movement by itself. Therefore, this symphony must be played with all of its repeats as Mozart demanded. There are so many things going on here that you must have the repeats in order let this vast landscape to sink into our consciousness. I honestly can listen to this movement everyday and discover new elements. I am attaching a link to one of the best renditions of this movement with all the repeats = about 18 minutes, versus about 11 minutes without the repeats. ruclips.net/video/IpZfrupGHjA/видео.html
Great video and your love of Mozart is truly inspiring. It took me many years to realize Mozart's the greatest composer of all. I wonder if what you call the K595 theme isn't closer to the theme (beginning at measure 60) of the last movement of the great E-flat string quartet K428 (of the same period) in spirit and tempo. Just a thought.
Nice! Didn't really expect you to make an analysis of the Linz symphony of all things. But I have long thought that K. 425 is the first of Mozart's great symphonies - great in the sense of being on pair with his other great works, the piano concertos, the late concertos, the late operas, etc. I mean, if you consider how many symphonies Mozart and Haydn wrote and then compare these high numbers with the number 9 when it comes to Beethoven or the number 4 when it comes to Brahms, you recognize, of course, that these are different types of symphonies. And I always thought that the Linz Symphony is the first "great" symphony on pair with the symphonies of Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler, etc. (Although I also love K201. Not so much the little- g-minor, though. Anyway, thanks for the video and the upload! Love to see professionals give us some serious analysis of Mozart's works - many other such channels often just seem to focus on modern composers, Bach, or Beethoven, etc.
Das atmende Klarsein I always thought that the first Mozart Symphony on par with Beethoven is Symphony no. 40 with its motivic similarities to Beethoven’s Fifth and its more Romantic dissonance treatment.
Yes, people keep asking, and I think after 4 years of doing this for free, I'll probably create a Patreon page very soon, although I'll certainly keep making the videos even if nobody donates!
Really nice video. Would be nice if you are familiar with it, the theories of Heinrich Christoph Koch which reflect the way that 'sonata' form was viewed within the 18C since there was both a distinction between a symphonic form and for example, a piano sonata at a time when 'sonata form' didn't exist.
I really enjoy your videos since I have great respect for the craftmanship these composers showcased. I was wondering if you were familiar with Anton Reicha and that I recommend looking into his 36 fugues for piano. I would be interested in hearing your opinion on them.
Second movement of Pianoconcerto nr. 18. The quintets, yes! The piano quartets. And yes, the overture to K. 620. Some people like his own arrangement for string quintet of the serenade for winds in C minor. And it is well worth studying and has its advantages. Strings sound more homogeneous and it becomes more intimate with a smaller ensemble. However, the orchestral texture gets lost and the shadow-like structures between the winds doesn't come thru in the same way. There are many passages that are orchestral at their nature and I can't help finding some of them very strange in a chamber setting like that since the principles collide. I would say that in addition to the doubling of the outer voices it is to a large extent the horns that really makes it possible for an almost symphonic touch by Mozart in many passages. Horns are so rich! But how he orchestrated the minuet in canon I also find interesting. Counterpoint with only a few real voices for orchestra has its own problems. You don't want to fill in with unnecessary accompaniment since this will make the counterpoint super-flues. But on the other hand you may need to make full chords to get that full orchestral sound. But how to do it? Should you double the voices where there are pauses in the real voices? Should you make the rest independent and not care about parallels - orchestral thinking - or should you ad voices to the polyphonic texture? There are several ways to go about the problem, I think.
Richard Atkinson I happen to be writing a piano duet arrangement of Wind Serenade in C minor. I find that Mozart and Haydn both have that balance between simplicity and complexity that makes arranging for piano duet very easy. Beethoven though, I have never arranged for piano duet because of the powerful complexity of his works, especially those composed from 1808 onwards starting with his fifth symphony. My minimum ensemble size so far for orchestral works by Beethoven is a sextet composed of 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, and piano.
I have fallen in love with sonata form. Perfect balance of melody (themes) and harmony (modulating bridge and development section). Balance of diversity (contrasting themes) and unity (all themes are linked together by transitional music and motivic development. Nothing is abrupt or illogical). Balance of absolute music (music must makes sense in of itself) and narrative and implied programmatic music (sonata form follows a three act structure and is essentially an instrumental opera. Even if there is no written program notes there is an implied story with every well written sonata form music). I sometimes feel that music would be better if everything is in sonata form
Thank you so much for the analysis of these great contrapuntal works. Would you consider analyzing some piece by Schoenberg or any other 12-tone work? I think it would be very interesting considering the extremely complex counterpoint in these works.
I think the finale of the Jupiter symphony is still a level above this. Especially the only 40 secs long double fugue at the end. Maybe you could do a video on that on too ;)
@@Richard.Atkinson Nice. btw, I think the 38 and the 40th have "unifying factors" across their movements. For the 38th, 1st movement (the chordal introductory section) - 3rd movement (the development section). For the 40th, 1st movement (the descendning chromatic fourth, "G-F#-F-E-Eb-D" in the second thematic section) - 2nd movement (the same descending notes of chromatic fourth in the 2nd violin's cadence of the theme) - 3rd movement (the same descending notes of chromatic fourth in the final chromatic melody of the minuet section, played by the bassoon, just before the trio section) - 4th movement (the same descending notes of chromatic fourth in the second thematic section). What do you think?
I've enjoyed your videos and analyses for a while now, but I've noticed that you haven't talked much about Russian composers, like Tchaikovsky or Rachmaninoff...I would love to hear your "Favorite/Most Badass Passages" from all of Tchaikovsky's or Rachmaninoff's symphonies (+ concerti/symphonic poems/choral-symphonic or a capella choral works if the need arises for more pieces to talk about)! I personally think Rachmaninoff's underrated counterpoint and thematic transfigurations are definitely worth talking about.
Richard, I am a one-time music theory student whose dreams of teaching supremely rigorous counterpoint class to generations of awe-struck students on some leafy campus in Germany or New England got waylaid by a career in science writing. Music and science, especially math, are not as distantly related as most people think; Pythagoras, Boethius, Kepler, Rameau, Bach, Euler, Borodin, Einstein, Bohr, Stockhausen, John Cage, Terry Riley and many other gymnastically intelligent characters in history had one foot, and ear, in both worlds.
My point is simply one of deep gratitude to you, for not only making the math/music complement a regular discussion in your analyses but also giving counterpoint--the central nervous system of Western Music--its due.
And wow--I go gaga for that sweet, only-from-Mozart child-genius melody at 12:47. The first time I heard that deliriously happy, skipping-to-Elysium theme about 47 years ago I felt like Mozart broke my heart, ripped it out and implanted a new one. Ever since I've been a forever-changed man (short of breath, emotionally congested and hideously scarred, but certainly changed).
Richard flexed hard on us this episode, i like it.
Not sure what that means!
@@Richard.Atkinson you gave us a closer look at your incredible knowledge and love for subject matter. Also, on an unrelated note, whenever I see a new upload it instantly becomes a top priority. Love what you do man🙌🏻
@@Richard.Atkinson Privet! Answering your original remark... Think of it this way. There are those that launch amateur rockets, not understanding Rocket Theory & Physics, but by purchasing pre--assembled parts of a rocket (List of emotions and Tonal colors Movie Directors requires by scenes) , they take a scematic (Templates, presets by trained musical geniuses, providing untrained users with all kinds of music theory tricks & shortcuts resulting in only *one* solution to the many posibillities theoretical knowledge will provide) and assemble the parts of the Rocket (Score on DAW: Adding parts - Template, VSTs [rocket motor], and "Drag & Drop" pre-composed musical phrases on to score at appropriate scenes, "Drag & Drop" percussion loops onto score and repeat "Paste" the number of bars required. Even Choirs can now be added with words...) and ONLY requiring the Skill of user, not Composer, that amateur rocket can closely resemble the Saturn V rocket! Now, you understand how Phillip Sparks are able to "compose" weekly episodes of TV shows only having 2-3 days to come up with a score and granted, music sounds good! Until I realised he purchased VST with 1000s of pre-recorded, 16-32 bar composition phrases of various Ensembles, by adjusting envelopes instrument's Tonal Colors ie waveforms can be altered, Brass' velocities can bet set to 120+ to make them sound real "brassy" etc. And you know WHAT? Movie directors are fooled when that cheap rocket Flies! Thus, educated Musicologist's futures (John Williams becoming an extingt career), are basically limited to Academia and Composing for VST creators. One might even be lucky and get movie contract. BUT, it is OUR fault agreeing in the first place selling our "birthright (God-given Talent) for bowl of lentle-soup (Steinberg VST development)" and many other Sampler creators!
BUT, I detect revenge on the horizon... You scheming users' days are numbered as well, for I saw presentations where AI can detect a scene, and Director provides "Mr. AI Mikhail Rimsky-Korsakov" with additional properties and PRESTO... (not 3-4 WEEKS), but few hours ENTIRE High Budget Film's Score is COMPOSED within 3-4 Hours! Hiehiehieieeeee! Enjoy while it lasts, for We can still educate others, but YOU????...... LOL!
С уважением,
Mikhail Rimsky-Korsakov
MRK Music Studio & Sheet Music Publisher
In my humble opinion this is the best channel where to watch musical analysis.
I agree! There are few, if any, other channels which provide such a deep and passionate insight into great music
You could have ended that sentence after 'channel'. :)
Totally agree. 🎼❤
Came for the analysis, stayed for the story about Richard buying a sausage.
Also you got some mad whistling skillz boi
It's my primary instrument:
ruclips.net/video/O8oMMZF5WBo/видео.html
@@Richard.Atkinson I'm shook. I've always thought about writing a whistling concerto... maybe I'll send it to you when I'm done!!!
@@Richard.Atkinson Actually? How can you do that? I tried singing the first Movement of Mozart's C Minor Concerto, but not only I couldn't control the pitch, I kept whistling one NOTE.
Is that Byrd in your pfp lol
Yes, yes it is :3
This is great! Not to boss you around, but we now need:
1. The third movement of the 19th piano concerto
2. The 1st movement of the 38th symphony
3. The overture to Die Zauberflöte
4. All the movements to all the piano concerti
5. All the movements to all the string quintets.
We believe in you, Richard!
give him a break man :p Also I would prefer seeing more diverse repertoire, not just Mozart.
Apostolis Moshopoulos but...Mozart, man!
@@harryrees627 He is the One & Only.
I got hooked on Mozart when I was 10 and first heard the Jupiter symphony. Now I'm nearly 40 and barely a day has passed without listening to his music. These videos bring an extra dimension to my appreciation of his music. The Jupiter symphony still is my favourite and the finale still gives me goosebumps.
i can totally relate to you...i have all of his music on CD's, even the most obscure pieces, some kind of obsession i guess...i felt in love when i was 17 yo or so. For me, Mozart is the most gifted human being ever lived.
@@prager5046 it makes me sad that he died at 35, such an injustice, imagine what he would have composed as the romantic era dawned. Imagine what his sons would have composed with their dad as their teacher. Music history would have been completely different. There's something very special about mozart's style, I think it's a perfect balance between the emotional and intellectual that no other composer has equalled. Its the most human of all musical styles.
_Roses are red,_
_Violets are blue,_
_Mozart is awesome_
_And Richard is too_
Your encyclopedic knowledge of Mozart and Haydn's catalogues is astonishing! I'd be very interested to see a sonata-off, but I can't think of anyone who could properly match your enthusiasm or dedication!
Count me in
I just want to look into that notebook :D
@ can we vote for notebook reveal?!?!
OH MY GOSH! THX FOR USING MITSUKO'S RECORDINGS! SHES THE BEST MOZART PLAYER WE HAVE TODAY IN MY HUMBLE OPINION
FANTASTIC VID!
I thought that the quote from the always brilliant scholar Richard Atkinson was very insightful -- it's something that I've long noticed: whereas Haydn strives for terseness in the sonata form's expositions, Mozart goes in the opposite direction, compiling as much diverse material as possible. The fact that Mozart's expositions do not crumble under the weight of so much diverse material speaks to his great genius. In the hands of a lesser composer such diversity would render an exposition incoherent, but that's never the case with Mozart.
What I find particularly interesting is that having studied with Haydn in his youth, Beethoven clearly adopted for the most part the approach to sonata-form expositions of his teacher, and arguably took it a notch further in their terseness. Consider the exposition of the Appassionata Sonata's first movement, for example, where the secondary theme is clearly derived from the primary theme but still manages to create a contrast with it. Or consider the first movement of this 5th Symphony, where that famous 4-note motif is so pervasive that it is used to build a bridge to the secondary theme and even permeates the latter.
What do you think, Richard?
You are right insofar as the sonatas are concerned. But for his symphonies and concerti Mozart is the dominant model
Really insightful observation!
"As a teenager I had the totally normal hobby of cataloguing all my favourite differences between exposition sections and recapitulation sections." I feel obliged to say, and I mean this with the greatest respect ... nerd! 😁
This is the first symphony I ever played in an orchestra. I remember almost every single note and always like to come back to it and listen to recordings of this masterpiece!
Great video, now all we need is the hammerklavier!
Dear Mr. Atkinson. I thank you for your analysis of M 36. I have seen yours on M 41 finale. I have no formal education in music, but have been listening and going to concerts for almost 60 years. You have enriched my understanding.. Einar Iceland
At first glance I read this as "Most Brilliant Liszt Symphony Finale". Anyway great video and I love all your effort as it makes me discover new music I never knew I could like!
Richard, your reputation with me grows with every video you make. If we were to hang out, and I had lost my personal stereo, and wanted to hear any classical music, I would just get you to whistle it for me. Your whistle is that good.
Fantastic evaluation of this complex symphony: I always think I know Mozart, but after your instruction I realise I know very little. Thank you.
"I'm calling this the 'Haydn String Quartet, op. 9 #1 in C major, Fourth Movement"-figure." Nice name, it has a ring to it
Yeah that's one hecc of a mouthful but. C'mon. It's Richard. Don't question it.
No other upload notification gives me more joy than yours, Richard. Thank you for another fantastic video.
Thank you so much for your magnificent work! I'm so jelaous because of your Austrian journey and all the places you saw. I once visited Vienna with a group of tourists (not the thing I like) and on my insistance we visited Mozarthaus near the cathedral. My group saw and felt nothing special but I was so thrilled walking the same corridors, being in the same rooms and between the same walls Mozart himself did. It was only 2 hours but I don't hesitate to consider those 2 hours one of the best in my entire 30 years of life. Thank you once again, Mr Atkinson!
Yes, visiting these sites was a spiritual experience for me!
@@Richard.Atkinson Felt that way listening to a string quartet perform in the Mozarthaus, and especially in St. Marks in Venice... Monteverdi, Vivaldi, Gabrieli, so many!
Hi Richard, thank you for the video! I love the Linz Symphony and I also like the piano sonoata K.V. No. 333 (No 13.) very much. I always thought there must be a connection between these both when I play the sonata, but not because of the part you mentioned (this I didnt notice before), but later in the movement, close to the end of the exposition, there is a part that reminds me pretty much of the fugato part. (eighth rest followed by three eighth notes in the left hand & half notes in the right. Then hands switched and this time the three eighths with octave jump). I bet you already noticed this too.
I can’t believe I didn’t make that comparison!
And I thought I was the only one who made lists of how the recapitulation was different! I fell in love with this symphony after playing it with my local community orchestra, there is so much energy in this symphony! Would definitely like to hear your take on symphony 35 as that symphony has always fascinated me. Great video, Linz looks like a beautiful place!
10:38 "Recall the famous Richard Atkinson quote from earlier". I don't know why but I found that incredibly funny
I love how knowledgeable you are about so many Mozartean pieces. It’s truly impressive I could never!
Thank you Richard! The Linz is one of my favourite classical Symphonies, along with many other Haydn's and Mozart's
Fantastic video all around! Such a great explanation and examples from other works. I'm a conservatory student studying organ/composition/improvisation and this video gives great insight into the genius of Mozart. Thanks from Rhode Island!
Nearby! (I'm in Boston)
My favorite Mozart symphony! Have played it multiple times in my spinning class ... makes a great spin! Especially ... at the end of the first Recap ... you hit the double bar and finish it again!
A necessary and insightful commentary on one of my all time favorite finales. The fugato section in the expo. Always struck me as the strangest passage in all Mozart. In fact it so threw me I didn't even know it was a fugato! Thanks for clearing that up. Keep up thesr great videos.
I should add that what helps me somewhat is my rudimentary ability to follow a score, gained many years ago partly during my piano studies and partly by partaking in singing choral works in my school's choral society
It will be a great joy...a video dedicated exclusively to K.319 B flat major...🎼❤
Your amazing knowledge combined with your enthusiasm (and whistling ability) for this music is just the best! 😊
It was so much fun following this deep dive into this definitely brilliant catchy Mozart movement!
Mozart’s 36 Symphony is one of his best and most underrated pieces.
Thanks for this Richard.
The „Linzer Sinfonie“ as we say, is in my mind in the Interpretation of Karl Böhm. I would not say, that this is the "best" one, but i am used to it, listening since decades - perhaps I should look for another one. Carlos Kleiber did a beautiful recording with the Wiener Philharmoniker, conventional but nice. :-)
Anyway, it is truely a joy for me to listen to your explanations. Greetings from Frankfurt am Main - Andreas
My favorite Mozart symphonies growing up were No. 33 & 39. I feel they are underappreciated. No.39 always seemed tome to be 20 years ahead of its time. Would be cool to do a review of how Mozart closes out his symphonies with a flair for the dramatic. Especially the Paris symphony. He really was a superb showman.
We need more of those quotes from that famous Richard Atkinson guy, I heard he's a genius!
Once again I found your talk illuminating Richard. Not having actually studied music it took quite a lot of concentration, an effort largely rewarded by the insights gained. Many thanks! I'm a subscriber
Just want to say, I have learned SO much from watching your analysis videos! Thank you.
Bravo! Your lessons get better and better--more complex and interesting, with more context. As far back as I can remember I've been whistling melodies, mostly classical. You're much better at it than I, though.
I love your thinking and I love Mozart! I also like using his music as a springboard for my thoughts to take flight in the descriptive mode. With Mozart the meanings are so palpable that sometimes a description, concrete or abstract, just appears. Like I was listening to the Et Incarnatus of the Great Mass in C minor and the first 11 bars of it suggested the following to me:
“The sighs in the opening become more and more weary but as it moves to the IAC in the dominant the last two sighs become more and more like sighs of contentment.
Then the rising line in the flute that reaches to the 6th/3rd scale degree (this terminus seems like less uplifted and solid ground than our hearts expected) then the oboe line comes in and we drift into a melancholy, then the bassoon joins and the by now burning passion is transfigured to the clear and inquisitive space of the half cadence.
This sense of destitution that is infused with and ultimately won over by light, then the disquietude which too overcomes the capture of self-absorbed passion and ends in clarity.
He’s showing this to us twice in a row, with the opposite forms of suffering: Dejection and Angst (both the passive and active). It’s _that_ (process of transfiguration into freedom) which we do momentarily experience, but hardly ever see it clearly as a process and so never realize how utterly miraculous and precious it is.”
I’d love to know if you see the passage the same way!
Great analysis, as usual, Richard! I'm hoping that one day you will analyze one of Brahms' four symphonies (specially the 4th with its unusual passacaglia finale). By the way, your whistling prowess is simply amazing. You can whistle a melody or theme better than I could ever hope to sing it!
Some advice from a seasoned world traveler: if you ever find yourself in a similar situation where you have to drag your luggage around there's two options you have to avoid that hassle:
1) You can always leave it at the railway station either at a luggage locker or at the luggage office for a small fee.
2) Stop at any cafe or restaurant to order a sandwich or a light meal and then ask the owner if they can keep your luggage for a couple of hours; they will always agree to to do so according to my experience.
Always a pleasure to receive a lecture on a piece by you. Thank you so much! you also made me laugh throughout the video. Very grateful to be able to consume this precious content. This will probably be now one of my favorite Mozart’s symphony movements.
Mozart: utterly singular and brilliant!! To compose something so complete in short order is utterly worthy of awe.
Still, we have Bach’s Leipzig cantatas. Well recognized amongst musicians, but not so much amongst the listening public. Now those are masterpieces composed at unimaginable breakneck speeds!
As always, Mr A, excellent content!
You'll be happy to know that my next video will analyze the opening chorus of BWV 77.
@@Richard.Atkinson How long do we have to wait for it Mr Atkinson? I'm probably gonna exploit that time to explore bwv 77 myself first.
Richard Atkinson oh excellent!! I love “Du Sollt Gott...” but have never studied it in depth
Thank you very much Richard! If you were a professor at a college I went to I probably wouldn't skip (many) classes...
I was astonished to hear that Richard Atkinson took nearly thirty years in his studies of sonata movements. Judging from his appearance in the video, I would have guessed him to be in his early thirties, hardly old enough to have completed such a task.
Haha, well I did start very early. I'm 41 now, but I was 39 when those photos/video were taken in Austria.
I would be interested in analysis videos on opera. You could look at the formal structure of Bel Canto works, such as the finely crafted ensembles of Rossini and Donizetti, or maybe discussing how Verdi played with the typical operatic structure. Do I even need to suggest Wagner? Maybe analyzing how themes adjust throughout the opera, for example, the way Puccini uses the love theme of madama butterfly in various modulations and orchestrations to show how the characters' relationships have changed over the course of the opera
I'm not a huge fan of opera (besides Mozart and Wagner), but I almost started a video on the overture and opening number from "Lo Sposo Deluso" (K. 430), one of my favorite Mozart masterpieces that almost nobody knows.
Have always loved this symphony finale. Especially the second theme in c major in the recapitulation section. Especially towards the end when in the so called "coda" it rises high aloft up to the E above the stave in the perfect c major chord, I do feel as if I am lifted up to the Elysium, I touch heaven just for a moment then soon get back to earth. This earth is made an even lovelier place to live because of the existence of Frau Musik and above all Mozart and Bach.
Excellent analysis as always! Thanks for making these videos!
Thanks for making this - I am very familiar with this symphony and really appreciated having this movement analyzed in such detail. The reference to the other pieces was really fascinating - I certainly hadn't picked those out before. The advice to read Rosen and the complete works of Haydn did make me laugh but I know exactly where you coming from. Keep up the good work with these videos - if I was director general of the BBC I'd be airing content like this unedited daily.
I really appreciate the amount of work you put into making this great musical content! It’s very exited to follow the score and get to know the piece in another way. Thank you very much! 😃👍🏻
Thank you for this fantastic analysis of a wonderful symphony! Particularly love the cross references to other works 👍
Why the fuck is your whistling so good oh my god
I love this channel. You should have a million subscribers
First time I saw one of the videos. Will be back. Thanks.
Amazing video as always, Richard. I’m at a loss as to why you have only 36 thousand subscribers! May I suggest that you could do a video on The Immense First Movement of Mozart’s 39th?
This was incredible...I am very new to classical music. However, your references to other lesser-known works of Haydn and Mozart is really helping in expanding my listening possibilities. Really looking forward to the video on the Haffner symphony finale!
Also, it would be great if you could do a video on the modified sonata form that Mozart designed for the purpose of first movements of his piano concerti so as to balance the soloist and the orchestra. Any first movement would hold for that purpose. But I would like it if you choose the first movement of the C minor concerto K.491with its expanded piano exposition and incredible woodwind passages!
Anyways, keep making such videos...they are wonderful!
I've always loved this movement and will be able to enjoy it even more now that I better understand why it is so good! Thanks :)
Thank you for bringing such profound insights into this glorious piece. Much appreciated from a 'chugging' viola player!!
really love your videos! Thanks for your sharing.
Yay!! Nailed it again. I'm so grateful for your life and dedication. Thanks!
I am glad that you are so familiar with Haydn.
I have been listening to Haydn piano sonatas every morning for about a year now, and I have come across a few pieces that seem to be in the same italianate style as Bach's keyboard works; Are they? The reason I ask is because the rhythmic of instability of that style seems to be less annoying for some reason when Haydn does it.
Another excellent video! looking forward to the analysis of Richard Strauss's masterpiece!
I haven't decided whether "Death and Transfiguration" or "Don Quixote" will be first...
@@Richard.Atkinson In my view, "Death and Transfiguration" is a good choice. This piece was composed during the first phase of Strauss's symphonic poem period, and it could be your very first analysis video of Strauss's piece combine with Schopenhauer‘s philosophy. (It means maybe you have a logical reason to make more Strauss's videos which include his development of both alterations of technique(thematic development or orchestration) and philosophy (from Schopenhauer to Nietzsche)). And Don Quixote could become your second analysis of Strauss's video(or the Hero's Life or Also Sprach Zarathustra or Symphonia Domestica damn I hate my greed lol. And by the way, your videos are so exquisite and I am going to recommend it to my students!
i like your story of your visit to Linz!
what a well planned and well tempered video with useful knowledge. i am a composer who better understands music thanks to the detailed explanation you provide. please continue your beautiful work and as long as it is this well crafted , you can always find people like us to enjoy your work. oh and keep dem mozart symphonies comin🙌🏻
Would love to see you do an analysis of Holst's The Planets
....you also whistled that piece in exactly the same key too. Well done.
That's because I was listening to that particular recording right before...
He really called out everyone about to type "actually, that's not how a sonata is..." I greatly Appreciate the video though
Hello again Mr. Atkinson! Fantastic work here. I particularly loved your inclusion of similar themes from other Mozart/Haydn works, as I always find myself making such connections. Also, whistling that tune while being in Linz at the cafe would be something I definitely would have done!
However... I feel the need to call out one thing that you mentioned at 16:57, which is that it is atypical for Mozart to use the primary theme as a closing theme. Here are a few non-monothematic examples:
The first and last movements of the Prague symphony K504,
the first movement of Symphony 40 K550,
the first movement of the 2nd Piano Quartet K493,
the first movement of the Clarinet Quintet K581,
one of the closing themes in the first movement of Symphony 35 (the Haffner) K385,
the first movement of the String Quintets no 4 K516 and no 6 K614,
the first movement of the "Dissonance" Quartet K465 and the first movement of Quartet 21 K575,
the first movement of the Violin Sonata in E minor K304,
the first movement of Piano Trio no 7 K548,
definitely to some degree in the first movement of Piano Concerto 24 in C minor K491.
And those are just of Mozart I am familiar with! You are right about Haydn, however, who doesn't do it often.
Haha, it looks like you're as much of a nerd as I am! (I can see myself writing a comment like this) Yes, there's a large list of Mozart sonata forms that do this, but I think it's still correct to call it "atypical" since it doesn't happen most of the time.
Great video like always! You are definitely one of my absolutely favorite channels. Btw, have you ever considered doing a video on Szymanowski?
I keep thinking of how Monteverdi's vespers would fit very well with you video analyses. Perhaps some specific movements like the magnificat, nisi dominus or others. Anyway, i'm just excited to see two videos out so quickly.
I went to a 400-year anniversary performance back in 2010 in New York City - I would love to make a video about them someday!
I think that closing-chord rhythm you remarked on might be related to the figure Mozart focused on in the development section.
Excellent presentation, thank you. The Development shows how important is the rhythmic disposition of thematic material. (the First theme and the Dev. theme share the main rhythmic message, It would have been much more difficult and less successful to come up with the development of the First theme: here the harmony goes through the whole cadence, while the Dev. theme simply swings between two harmonies that allows the yourney through the circle of fifths: Thus, Mozart used the same rhythm in two different ways, thanks to his creative play in harmonic flow. Brilliant.
Thanks again for this brilliant analysis.
Love Richard's work, now more on Mozart 40th
Your videos are such an inspiration.
Excellent video! One of my favorite symphonic finales. I had a question and was wondering what you think of Mozarts K. 546 Adagio and Fugue in C minor, as well as his other fugues and various “Bach-y” works, have you considered making a video on one of them?
Richard, would you do any videos on Mozart's early Salzburg catholic music? such as the triple fugue of the Gloria of Missa longa K.262, where Mozart introduces a new subject "Cum sancto spiritu" to combine with the two subjects of the original material of Gloria (each sung in "Amen") to form the three themes of the fugue? Or the fugue of et vitam venturi, with its catchy dissonances? Or the large Pignus futurae gloriae double fugue of Litaniae de venerabili altaris sacramento K.243, which sounds quite "distant" from Bach that it gives us an idea how contrapuntal choral music developed and flourished in 18th century south Germany separate from Bachian influence?
I might, although I'll probably only do them after I'm done analyzing all of Bach's cantata choruses. In my last video (Grosse Fuge) I mentioned the Warren Kirkendale book that talks about the same phenomenon in chamber music that you're talking about in choral music ("Fugue and Fugato in Rococo and Classical Chamber Music").
I do appreciate your fantastic analysis of this movement, yet, I wanted to share my musical/emotional experience i have with this specific first movement.
I know, some people might think that i am exaggerating, still, in my opinion, this movement is the most impressive symphonic movement ever composed...Mozart wrote more creative melodic inventions in his other compositions, however, what I find in this specific movement is something behind music. There is a total cosmic wisdom ( yes, it sounds corny ) There are so many events going on in this movement, twists and turns, fugal occurrences are suddenly popping up out of nowhere and then disappearing, questions and answers/solutions, tense and releases etc etc...The slow introduction is not actually an introduction but almost a movement by itself. Therefore, this symphony must be played with all of its repeats as Mozart demanded. There are so many things going on here that you must have the repeats in order let this vast landscape to sink into our consciousness. I honestly can listen to this movement everyday and discover new elements.
I am attaching a link to one of the best renditions of this movement with all the repeats = about 18 minutes, versus about 11 minutes without the repeats. ruclips.net/video/IpZfrupGHjA/видео.html
another good and 'clear' video.
If I'm remembering my trek through the Haydn Baryton trios correctly, the theme with many names appears at least twice in that collection too!
Great video and your love of Mozart is truly inspiring. It took me many years to realize Mozart's the greatest composer of all. I wonder if what you call the K595 theme isn't closer to the theme (beginning at measure 60) of the last movement of the great E-flat string quartet K428 (of the same period) in spirit and tempo. Just a thought.
I enjoyed this. its great working from home, where you can turn up the volume.
Great video as always! The k.595 theme could also be called the k.616 theme
Very true! I didn’t even think of that one. I think it’s just a common melodic gesture in music of that time, kind of like the millennial whoop...
Nice! Didn't really expect you to make an analysis of the Linz symphony of all things. But I have long thought that K. 425 is the first of Mozart's great symphonies - great in the sense of being on pair with his other great works, the piano concertos, the late concertos, the late operas, etc. I mean, if you consider how many symphonies Mozart and Haydn wrote and then compare these high numbers with the number 9 when it comes to Beethoven or the number 4 when it comes to Brahms, you recognize, of course, that these are different types of symphonies. And I always thought that the Linz Symphony is the first "great" symphony on pair with the symphonies of Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler, etc. (Although I also love K201. Not so much the little- g-minor, though. Anyway, thanks for the video and the upload! Love to see professionals give us some serious analysis of Mozart's works - many other such channels often just seem to focus on modern composers, Bach, or Beethoven, etc.
Das atmende Klarsein I always thought that the first Mozart Symphony on par with Beethoven is Symphony no. 40 with its motivic similarities to Beethoven’s Fifth and its more Romantic dissonance treatment.
I think the Paris and Haffner Symphonies (and also 33 and 34) are also masterpieces.
Interesting profile...
another video, and so soon!
Richard, I love your content and eagerly await new additions. Have you considered a Patreon page?
Yes, people keep asking, and I think after 4 years of doing this for free, I'll probably create a Patreon page very soon, although I'll certainly keep making the videos even if nobody donates!
@@Richard.Atkinson I'd very very very love to donate but sadly we are a poor family and every dollar is worth. Sorry :(
Really nice video. Would be nice if you are familiar with it, the theories of Heinrich Christoph Koch which reflect the way that 'sonata' form was viewed within the 18C since there was both a distinction between a symphonic form and for example, a piano sonata at a time when 'sonata form' didn't exist.
I really enjoy your videos since I have great respect for the craftmanship these composers showcased. I was wondering if you were familiar with Anton Reicha and that I recommend looking into his 36 fugues for piano. I would be interested in hearing your opinion on them.
I've been listening to him a lot lately!
I love this! Because you explain to me why I love Mozart😂❤️
I saw another comment so, I tried to write a poem myself.
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
This video is great,
and also useful.
Second movement of Pianoconcerto nr. 18. The quintets, yes! The piano quartets. And yes, the overture to K. 620. Some people like his own arrangement for string quintet of the serenade for winds in C minor. And it is well worth studying and has its advantages. Strings sound more homogeneous and it becomes more intimate with a smaller ensemble. However, the orchestral texture gets lost and the shadow-like structures between the winds doesn't come thru in the same way. There are many passages that are orchestral at their nature and I can't help finding some of them very strange in a chamber setting like that since the principles collide. I would say that in addition to the doubling of the outer voices it is to a large extent the horns that really makes it possible for an almost symphonic touch by Mozart in many passages. Horns are so rich! But how he orchestrated the minuet in canon I also find interesting. Counterpoint with only a few real voices for orchestra has its own problems. You don't want to fill in with unnecessary accompaniment since this will make the counterpoint super-flues. But on the other hand you may need to make full chords to get that full orchestral sound. But how to do it? Should you double the voices where there are pauses in the real voices? Should you make the rest independent and not care about parallels - orchestral thinking - or should you ad voices to the polyphonic texture? There are several ways to go about the problem, I think.
I definitely like the version for winds more (K. 388)!
Richard Atkinson I happen to be writing a piano duet arrangement of Wind Serenade in C minor. I find that Mozart and Haydn both have that balance between simplicity and complexity that makes arranging for piano duet very easy. Beethoven though, I have never arranged for piano duet because of the powerful complexity of his works, especially those composed from 1808 onwards starting with his fifth symphony. My minimum ensemble size so far for orchestral works by Beethoven is a sextet composed of 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, and piano.
I have fallen in love with sonata form. Perfect balance of melody (themes) and harmony (modulating bridge and development section). Balance of diversity (contrasting themes) and unity (all themes are linked together by transitional music and motivic development. Nothing is abrupt or illogical). Balance of absolute music (music must makes sense in of itself) and narrative and implied programmatic music (sonata form follows a three act structure and is essentially an instrumental opera. Even if there is no written program notes there is an implied story with every well written sonata form music). I sometimes feel that music would be better if everything is in sonata form
Thank you so much for the analysis of these great contrapuntal works. Would you consider analyzing some piece by Schoenberg or any other 12-tone work? I think it would be very interesting considering the extremely complex counterpoint in these works.
That's not really my area of interest or expertise, so probably not.
Wow, such a good whistler!
To me, the maneuver will always be the "Così fan tutte Overture maneuver".
I think the finale of the Jupiter symphony is still a level above this. Especially the only 40 secs long double fugue at the end. Maybe you could do a video on that on too ;)
Here you go:
ruclips.net/video/YTxYykhQZbI/видео.html
Lukas Gigler I was thinking just that...it would be so great to unpick that amazing movement!
Yes please Richard! That Jupiter finale needs ‘unpicking’
Richard Atkinson I just saw that you’ve actually done a video on that amazing finale. I look forward to watching and listening to it!
I think Jupiter is overrated, I prefer no 39
Do you have plans on making a video analyzing the finale of Mozart's 40th symphony?
Someday, but my next Mozart video will probably be the 1st mvt. of the Prague Symphony.
@@Richard.AtkinsonNice, I also love that piece.
@@Richard.Atkinson Nice. btw, I think the 38 and the 40th have "unifying factors" across their movements.
For the 38th,
1st movement (the chordal introductory section) -
3rd movement (the development section).
For the 40th,
1st movement (the descendning chromatic fourth, "G-F#-F-E-Eb-D" in the second thematic section) -
2nd movement (the same descending notes of chromatic fourth in the 2nd violin's cadence of the theme) -
3rd movement (the same descending notes of chromatic fourth in the final chromatic melody of the minuet section, played by the bassoon, just before the trio section) -
4th movement (the same descending notes of chromatic fourth in the second thematic section).
What do you think?
Richard... a very special thank for your great videos...maybe you and me...are the same person!😉🎼
Great work....I would request the explanation of beethoven op.106 4th movement
I've enjoyed your videos and analyses for a while now, but I've noticed that you haven't talked much about Russian composers, like Tchaikovsky or Rachmaninoff...I would love to hear your "Favorite/Most Badass Passages" from all of Tchaikovsky's or Rachmaninoff's symphonies (+ concerti/symphonic poems/choral-symphonic or a capella choral works if the need arises for more pieces to talk about)! I personally think Rachmaninoff's underrated counterpoint and thematic transfigurations are definitely worth talking about.
As far as Russians go, my favorites are Shostakovich and Stravinsky.