History of Compositions

Joe Christensen
Music 1010
Robert Bendont

The Marriage of Figaro. This song first debuted in 1786. It was a comedic opera based
off a comedy called La Folle Journee, ou Le Mariage de Figaro meaning, The Mad Day,
or The Marriage of Figaro.
This was a story about two lovers Figaro and Susanna. In the play itself they are fooling
their employer a man that is in love with her as well. Of course it ends up with the
marriage of Figaro and Susanna.
While being a comedy this was not allowed at first in Vienna. It was actually outlawed
in a manner of speaking for its crudeness. Joseph II stated, the piece contains much
that is objectionable, I therefore expect that the Censor shall either reject it altogether,
or at any rate have such alterations made in it that he shall be responsible for the
performance of this play and for the impression it may make". It was not until turned
into an opera that it was allowed.
The play was written and even changed in order for it to be a bit more acceptable within
the mainstream. In fact, one of the main speeches in the play did not even appear in the
opera. It was actually changed from a rant against the politic to a rant against unfaithful
wives.
Don Giovani an opera that first debuted in 1787. Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte and of
course music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The opera was based off a fictional
character named Don Juan. Don Juan was a Casanova of sorts and all around general
seducer.
Don Giovani itself had been written in forms before and many forms since. The most
popular being Don Juan Rminiscences de Don Juan by Franz Liszt.
The Overture (see listening guide) was arguably written just before the Opera was
performed. Some say that it could have even been written on the opening day of the
opera but it is most speculated that it was indeed written the night before the opening of
the opera.
One of the fascinating things that Mozart did in this opera was in the ballroom scene
where he has two ensembles playing in different metre along the orchestra. This
creating 3 separate sounds to play as one.
It premiered again the following year where Mozart changed some of the music in it.
One most notable was the duel between Leporello and Zerlina. Also shortening the
opera as to not drag it out.
Piano Sonata No 11 3rd movement. Composed by Mozart in Vienna or Salzburg in
roughly 1783 but it is no known exactly where he composed this piece. The Sonata itself
is composed of 3 movements and the 3rd may be perhaps his most notable piano pieces.
Known as Alla Turca it is similar to most of the Turkish style of music that was popular
at this point in time.
This piece is easily recognizable to most people even my third grader who immediately
knows that is Mozart even though he has no clue who Mozart was.

The Marriage of Figaro. (2017, April 12). Retrieved April 16, 2017, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Marriage_of_Figaro
Don Giovanni. (2017, April 12). Retrieved April 16, 2017, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Giovanni
Piano Sonata No. 11 (Mozart). (2017, March 22). Retrieved April 16, 2017,
from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Sonata_No._11_(Mozart)#Movement
_3_.E2.80.93_Rondo_alla_turca_.28Turkish_March.29