What is style? What's Mozart's style? [Bob asks]

[Bob]

What is style?

I think it's all those things that are similiar between items of a group.  What do you think?


What is Mozart's style?  That might have to include the development of his style.   But is it possible to pin down all the things that make Mozart Mozart?

[Rach3]

But is it possible to pin down all the things that make Mozart Mozart?
     

Hehe! No. Mozart's style is "classical", often using a very correct form of 18th cenutry sonata form; also he is known for his especially clever and subtle harmonic progressions, his specialty, a very 'natural feel' to them. To generalize, he is often melodic and lyrical, serene with brief interludes of conflict and darkness. His music is not "intellectual" but very clear, directed, and capable of subtle emotional inflection; at times very moving for no reason in particular. If you want to consider development, his major influence was probably Haydn, and in a general sense his music evolves over his lifetime to less directness and formality, more sublety and color. This just a short summary, other posters may be more thorough.

[Bob]

What about specifics though?

What if you took Happy Birthday and put it in the style of Mozart?  What would that sound like?  Would Happy Birthday even be a Mozartian melody?

[larse]

You should then add alberti basses, and Mozartian improvisations (major scales, dominant modulations, the dominant of the dominant chords(which leads to dominant modulations pherhaps)), etc etc. The only wise way to tell it would be to write a Mozartian arrangement of it. But that's possible for sure.

[bernhard]

What about specifics though?

What if you took Happy Birthday and put it in the style of Mozart?  What would that sound like?  Would Happy Birthday even be a Mozartian melody?

Actually Gunther Von Noe composed a number of variations on Happy Birthday to you (“Happy Birthday to You” – Humorous variations for piano - Doblinger), each making a parody of a famous composer style, including one in Mozart’s style. Viktor Borge used to play it in his shows.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[Hmoll]

Actually Gunther Von Noe composed a number of variations on Happy Birthday to you (“Happy Birthday to You” – Humorous variations for piano - Doblinger), each making a parody of a famous composer style, including one in Mozart’s style. Viktor Borge used to play it in his shows.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

I think there's even one in minor that sounds like Moonlight 1st movement. Cracked me up when I heard it.

[larse]

Wow. I'd like to look at that! You know where to get the sheets for that?

[Bob]

There's also a Disney recording -- Hi Ho Disney I think? -- that puts disney tunes in the styles of different composers.  It's interesting.  It made me wonder what elements they had determined where "essential" for a certain composer's style.

[xvimbi]

There's also a Disney recording -- Hi Ho Disney I think? -- that puts disney tunes in the styles of different composers.  It's interesting.  It made me wonder what elements they had determined where "essential" for a certain composer's style.

Every single one of the old master composer of great importance has been analyzed ad nauseum. Their styles are well understood. Even their tiniest mistakes (yes, they did make mistakes) are material for entire PhD theses. It is straightforward to imitate Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, etc. Any good composer can do that. In fact, composition students have to do it as part of their education. It's a matter of debate whether those adaptations would be considered great works worthy of that particular composer. However, every one of the greats has composed lots of pieces of lower quality, so these adapatations might just as well pass as one of their own works. There are exceptions, e.g. a melody that is decidedly oriental can't really be adapted to Bach, I presume.

[bernhard]

Wow. I'd like to look at that! You know where to get the sheets for that?

Er…

Your local music shop / library? The publisher (as I said) is Doblinger.

[Bob]

Where do I find all this analysis of style?  I've looked.

I want to know things like this -- I've heard Mozart tends to start his melodies on the 5th step of the scale.  That gives his music a lighter feel.

Just a basic, simple description.

Where do I find more of the just a laymusician's description of a composer's style.  Hopefully with specific examples to back up ideas -- like having some of Mozart's melodies that start on the 5th step from the above example.

[bernhard]

Try Richard Crocker – A history of musical style (Dover).

Heavy going though.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[Bob]

Does it give a complete picture of a composer's style?  

ie not just a few general details, but a full, complete description of a composer's style?  with details

[xvimbi]

Does it give a complete picture of a composer's style?  

ie not just a few general details, but a full, complete description of a composer's style?  with details

You seem to be interested in the nitty-gritty details. I suggest you contact your local University, music college, or symphony. There are literally thousands of publications that deal with the analysis of all aspects of music at all levels, plus thousands of PhD theses. I am sure there are hundreds of publications that deal with Mozart alone. You need to contact a scholar in the field.

[Bob]

No I don't.  I want the information a laymusician should have.  I don't want indepth anyalses of certain pieces.  I want the broad patterns that carry over in piece after piece -- the stuff that makes you recognize a composer, such as Mozart.  I don't see why it's so difficult to find.

[xvimbi]

No I don't.  I want the information a laymusician should have.  

I am not sure anymore what you want. You ask about "all the details", but then, you don't want the details...
Anyway: a simple search on amazon turns out the following:

The Classical Style: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0393317129/qid=1091272554/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-6187995-5427235?v=glance&s=books

Classical Form: A Theory of Formal Functions for the Instrumental Music of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/019514399X/qid=1091272554/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_5/002-6187995-5427235?v=glance&s=books

The impact of the new pianofortes on classical keyboard style: Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1870588010/qid=1091272554/sr=1-7/ref=sr_1_7/002-6187995-5427235?v=glance&s=books

The Evolution of Mozart's Pianistic Style:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0809316900/qid=1091272554/sr=1-10/ref=sr_1_10/002-6187995-5427235?v=glance&s=books

Mozart's Piano Concertos: Dramatic Dialogue in the Age of Enlightenment:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/085115834X/qid=1091272610/sr=1-12/ref=sr_1_12/002-6187995-5427235?v=glance&s=books

Essays on the Viennese classical style: Gluck, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0214667944/qid=1091272610/sr=1-13/ref=sr_1_13/002-6187995-5427235?v=glance&s=books

Masters of the Keyboard: Individual Style Elements in the Piano Music of Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin and Brahams:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0253205670/qid=1091272610/sr=1-20/ref=sr_1_20/002-6187995-5427235?v=glance&s=books

Mozart's Piano Sonatas : Contexts, Sources, Style:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0521496314/qid=1091273043/sr=1-22/ref=sr_1_22/002-6187995-5427235?v=glance&s=books