Thursday, 15 May 2014

Louis Spohr- Zwiegesang Op.103 No.2




The man
  • (5 April 1784 – 22 October 1859)
  • Violinist, conductor, composer
  • Wrote ten symphonies, ten operas, eighteen violin concerti, four clarinet concerti, four oratorios and various works for small ensemble, chamber music and art songs
  • Fun fact: he invented the violin chinrest
  • Style: between Classicism and Romanticism

My chosen piece: Zwiegesang Op.103 No.2 (doesn't start until 0:18)
  • Structure: short Introduction, Exposition including Modulation, Instrumental, Second section including modulation
  • Clarinet- to have a conversation with the voice, Soprano voice- main part and piano- generally plays broken chords 
  • The voice part is much more ornamented than the other parts
  • Begins with the piano introducing the key with an arpeggio, then the clarinet comes in with tenuto notes on the tonic (0:20)
  • Clarinet continues with a legato melody that is not very ornamented, only once and on the last few notes there are trills (0:26)
  • The clarinet part then plays with this melody throughout, using it to introduce the voice in the call-and-response theme that continues for the voice and clarinet throughout much of the piece. It is also used to introduce changes key (e.g. at 0:52)
  • Extensive use of crescendos and diminuendos (not anything like terraced dynamics)
  • Very lyrical style- it is probably Lied 
  • Simple, "safe" harmony throughout, provided almost entirely by the piano, as the clarinet plays mostly at different times to the voice, or in unison with it
  • Tonality is major, with a few minor bars in the middle (0:53-0:59) 
  • Some use of tempo changing, e.g. there are small ritardandos at e.g. 0:45 and 2:05 and one at the end of the piece
  • Polyphonic texture
  • Mostly quaver movement


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