[Pt. V Proj.1] – The Classical Era- Project 1- Sonata Form ~ Exercise 5.3: your thoughts on the investigation of Haydn’s Emperor. Write 250 words.

[Pt. V Proj. 1] – Exercise 5.2- your thoughts on the investigation of Haydn’s Emperor . Write 250 words. What are your thoughts on the investigation of Haydn’s Emperor we have just carried out? What kind of information does it tell us? What does it leave out? Is it a useful thing to do? Write 250 words in your learning log reflecting on these points, and others of your own. 

The structural analysis has highlighted the overall form and construction of the movement as well as demarcated the individual sections. It has also further highlighted some individual themes and motifs. We have looked at the overall tonal structure of the compositions and which keys govern the different sections (and the resulting affects/atmospheres) and how these tonal centres are arrived at through modulatory passages. The method by which the various sections are introduced, such as emphatic cadences and changes in texture and dynamic reinforcement has also been explored. It has really clarified the organisational aspects of the work and the underlying architecture of the composition and show how highly organised and clear Haydn’t structures are. It is a very elegant and straightforward work. Truly Classical in it’s construction! It has been a very helpful organising tool… and I am even more impressed with the composer after the analysis. It is also very useful as map or guide should I want to write a piece in this style myself.

The aspects missing from this type of analysis are things of other stylistic characteristics, such as type of ornamentations used, type of era specific compositional devises. For instance: Is there a presence of ‘alberti bass’ or questions like: ‘does he use trills and turns’? There has also not been an analysis of rhythms popular at the time and a closer look at the presence (if any) of syncopation etc.

Other more composer specific information could also be researched further; What kind of phrasing does Haydn favour? Articulations? Any extended techniques present in his work/era? This was only very briefly explored. Dynamics were also very briefly explored. Tempo markings and expressions were not looked at at all and the choice of time signature was also not discussed.

Although I find the structural analysis extremely beneficial it would be nice to expand on it further by analysing other aspects of the composition, both in terms of the characteristics of the classical period and in terms of the individual composer’s characteristics.