6 Hamburg Symphonies Wg. 182

Abstract

Interest in eighteenth century European culture has recently been on the increase all over the world. This was the age of enlightenment which opened the path to the Trench Revolution, as well as the age when the civil culture came to the fore. The eighteenth century was also a period of enormous importance in musical history. It was the heyday of the Italian opera, which occupied the central position in the musical world. The first hal f of the century was al so the period when Bach and Handel were active in northern Germany and England respectively. At first sight, there seems to be a rupture in musical style between the first hall and the second half of the century, when Haydn and Mozart were active principally in Vienna. The question is how to expplain the development which led from Bach (1685-1750) and Handel (1685—1759) to Haydn (1732-1809) anc Mozart (1756-1791). It seems possible to conclude that a new age of musical composition began during the 1730s. at a time when Bach and Handel were at the height of their careers. Evidence of this can be found in the gradual decline during this de¬cade in the popularity of the music of J.S. Bach, the foremost composer of the Baroque, and the criticism, based on aesthetic grounds, which came to be directed against Bach's intricate contrapuntal style by those in favour of a more natural and melodically accessible style. A young generation of musicians appeared on the scene to herald in this new style. They included initially the Mannheim school, centring around the Bohemian composer Johann Stamitz (1717—1757). the first Viennese school, led by Georg Monn (171 7-1 750) and Georg Christoph Wagenseil (1715—1777), and then by Bach"s sons in northern Germany. Wilhelm Friedemann (1710—1784). known as the 'Halle Bach". Carl Philipp Emanuel (1714¬1 788). known as the "Hamburg Bach" and Johhann Christoph Friedrich (1732—1795) known as the "Buckeburg Bach'', the youn¬gest son Johann Christian (1735-1782), Johann Christian Bach studied during youth in Italy and was active in London aflhe"passim of Handel, and is known to haven major influence on the young Mozart durihe lalier? visit to London.