Piano Sonata In The Classical Era Essay

, Research Paper

The Piano Sonata in the Classical Period

The piano sonata was an important part of music during the Classical period . It characterizes the Classical era’s new trend of musical form.

Originally, the sonata was made up of several dance movements, but then in the Classical era, it changed to a fast-slow movement style, each of the movements being composed in one of the forms popular during the Classical period. These consisted of sonata-allegro, ternary, rondo, and theme and variations. Down through history many things characteristic of the sonata have remained the same: “most sonatas have been instrumental music, without voice parts, absolute music without program; concert or divisional music, without social function; solo or chamber music for one to four players, without or multiple performance of the parts; cyclic music, in two to four movements rather than one; and broadly conceived music, exhibiting some of the most extended designs of absolute music”(Newman 479). The sonata is a genre of chamber music, which increased in popularity during the classical period. Generally, it was played by and written for amateur musicians who “practiced and performed for polite society in the comfort of their own homes”(Wright 196). Sonata means “something played” as opposed to the term cantata, which is “something sung”. Also during this time the Alberti bass developed and the keyboard sonata evolved from harpsichord and clavichord and finally, to the piano (Newman 485). The sonata was still used at court, some in the church, and barely at all in the theatre. These three functions are mainly ones of the Baroque era and during the Classical period the sonata took on distinctly different functions. The sonata was “a diversion of the amateur or dilettante, a launching vehicle for the professional composer and performer, a training resource for the student; an occasional item in private and public concerts; and a conventional music accessory in the church”(Newman 486). Mostly those who simply loved to play, amateurs who entertained in their homes or other gatherings also played the sonata. The second important function of the sonata was a way for composers to become known. “Every musician who aspired to join the company of composers working for the public generally began his career with keyboard compositions, namely with solo sonatas”(Newman 487). The third important function was the sonata was used to teach musicians about the art of music. The sonata also played an important role in church music.

The first composers significant in the development of the sonata were Haydn and Mozart. Not much is known about Haydn’s piano sonatas, although out of all his works the string quartets and piano sonatas stand apart from the others. Haydn’s first works for the keyboard are ” sonata like” and were intended for teaching use (Larson 336). After these he had fourteen sonatas, seven of which are unknown. For whom the sonatas were written is also unknown. They are not easy pieces to play and show little amounts of baroque concerto characteristics. Also, they exhibit “Haydn’s originality and independence of fashion”(Larson 336).

Mozart, one of the sonata’s first great composers, had short keyboard compositions, which dated back to his early childhood. These musical compositions are “somewhat mechanical in their textures (with heavy reliance on sequential patterns; much here seems to represent the attentive boy’s exploration of harmonic and textural possibilities”(Plath 687). The sonatas which were written in London share many of the same characteristics, but show a great advancement, including a “remarkable grasp of the principles of J.S. Bach’s symphonic style”(Plath 687). Mozart composed a number of sonatas for the church. These were written for three part strings with the organ continue. These pieces were also very short originally. But later, Mozart had the forms lengthened to fit the masses for which they were written. His last church sonatas had larger orchestral forces.

While in Vienna, Mozart produced his greatest piano sonatas. Most were written as a group and certain elements are a lot like Bach’s sonatas. Mozart composed more great sonatas while on a trip to Mannheim and Paris. He wrote piano sonatas for the Cannabich’s daughter Rosa. Mozart commented that he designed the Andante to depict her. In this piece the contrasts in dynamics, and a sense “expressive affection” are clearly noticeable (Plath 697). The next sonata produced an atmosphere similar to that of the first one. But there are several differences too. “The lines are less elaborate and the work as a whole is a more brilliant and expansive cast”(Plath 697). When Mozart was in Paris, he composed six more piano and violin sonatas. These pieces reflect the local style and are extreme and very expressive. One to be considered is his only piece composed in E minor, “with its paired textures and hesitant wistful manner representing a world of delicate sensibility, its concluding minuet in particular, a rondo or an elegant, pathetic melody of a French cast with a gentle second episode in E major providing harmonic balm”(Plath 697). Mozart’s last sonatas were thought to be written for the Prussian princess between 1789 and 1791, but whether or not he was commissioned to do the job remains in question.

Another composer who made great contributions towards the sonata was Muzio