MusicKit the Virtual Music Classroom Music Activities and Resources for Kids and Teachers

COMPOSITION:

The Fourth Movement: "Allegro spirituoso"

FEATURES:
1. Sonata-Allegro Form- can very broadly be considered a complex ABA' form.
Often the first A part is repeated verbatim making it AABA'. Many would say the form was invented by Haydn. It has been used by almost all composers since.
The first A part is called the "exposition," the B part the "development," and the A' part the "recapitulation." If you have a MIDI plug-in, you are now hearing the "EXPOSITION."
Click here for a detailed explanation of Sonata-Allegro form

CLICK HERE to hear the:
"DEVELOPMENT"

and HERE to hear the:
"RECAPITULATION"


2. Cut time or 2/2 - 2 half notes per bar - Beat in 2.
3. Folk Dance melody
4. Drone - a long held, low note continuing through a moving upper part
5. Symphony - a piece in 3 or more movements for a full orchestra with no soloist

BACKGROUND:
The Composer:
"Papa" Haydn, as he was affectionately called, was perhaps the greatest and best known composer of his day. He was one of the last true court composers having worked for the Esterházy family, a family of enormously wealthy Hungarian princes, for over 30 years. Towards the end of his life, when the Prince died, Haydn went to England to perform his works. He was received like royalty. This symphony, Haydn's last, was written for one of these appearances. Haydn is often credited with being the inventor of the symphony. He was very prolific. As the title tells us, he wrote 104 symphonies! This still must be a world record.

The Composition:
This is the last movement of Haydn's last symphony. It uses a Croatian folk dance to start the piece. It is an Allegro spirituoso movement. Allegro means quick and cheerful, spirituoso means spirited or lively. Listen to how Haydn plays with this dance melody from his homeland, Croatia (on the Austria/Czechoslovakia border). Listen for the drone effect much like the one used by Aaron Copland in his fiddle-tune dance music, "Hoedown."

QUESTIONS:
- Why do you think Haydn used a dance tune for his symphony?
- Haydn used a folk melody for this piece. Do you think it was a lullaby, a march or a dance?
- What makes you think so?



SOME POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES:
1. Conduct in 2. click here and follow the conduct in 2 diagram as the music plays.
2. Learn the folk melody. Make up words.
3. Listen for drone at the beginning. What instruments play it? [horns and cellos]
4. Compare with Copland's "Hoedown."


OTHER HAYDN INFO on the 'net :
1. More detailed bio
2. Take part in a discussion on Haydn
3. Order a Recording of Haydn's Symphony #104