Haydn also wrote about 175 works for an instrument called the baryton,
a kind of viol da gamba. They were written for Prince Esterhazy, who
played that instrument, but they are now practically forgotten. Some
unpublished MSS. of Haydn’s are to be found in the library of the
British Museum.[14] There are also, among his published works, four
Sonatas for violin and clavier, and six Duets for violin and viola, as
well as a number of other chamber music compositions, which, however,
have no great musical value.
[Footnote 14: _Dictionary of Music and Musicians_ (Grove), vol. i.
p. 713.]
[Sidenote: =Handel=]
The following is a list of the chief chamber music works of Handel
(1685-1759):—
15 Sonatas for violin, flute, or oboe, with harpsichord, or bass
violin.
6 Trio Sonatas for two oboes and harpsichord.
9 Trio Sonatas for two violins, flutes, or oboes, and harpsichord,
or violoncello.
7 Trio Sonatas for two violins, or German flutes, with harpsichord,
or violoncello.
1 Sonata in C major for viola da gamba, and cembalo.
1 Sonata in B♭ for two violins, bass, and organ.
3 Sonatas for flute and continuo.
The Sonata in A major for violin and piano (harpsichord) is of course
familiar, as are others of the fifteen named above. The Trios are also
of high interest, some of the slow movements being distinguished by
that fine pathos which is associated with the best work of the composer
of _The Messiah_. This music deserves more attention than has
hitherto been accorded to it.
CHAPTER IV.
MOZART.
Mozart’s C major Quartett—Mozart’s string quartetts—The
genius of Mozart—Mozart’s other chamber music—Wagner on
Mozart—Mozart’s letter to his father.
“I declare to you before God, as a man of honour, that your son is the
greatest composer that I know either personally or by reputation; he
has taste, and, beyond that, the most consummate knowledge of the art
of composition.”
[Sidenote: =Mozart’s C Major Quartett=]
Such are the remarkable words of Haydn, spoken to Mozart’s father. The
compositions played on the occasion when this was said were the String
Quartetts numbers 458, 464, and 465 of the Köchel Thematic Catalogue
of Mozart’s works, the last-named in C major, being that whose
introductory passage is said to have given much offence to the purists
of that time, on account of the following unusual harmony, which even
to-day sounds (like some of Bach’s) quite modern:—
[Music: MOZART.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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