Instrumental Music in an Age of Sociability - Haydn, Mozart and Friends

Sociability may be a key term of reference for eighteenth-century studies as a whole, but it has not yet developed an especially strong profile in music scholarship. Many of the associations that it brings do not fit comfortably with a later imperative of individual expression. W. Dean Sutcliffe invites us to face up to the challenge of re-evaluating the communicative rationales that lie behind later eighteenth-century instrumental style. Taking a behavioural perspective, he divides sociability into 'technical' and 'affective' realms, involving close attention both to particular recurring musical patterns as well as to some of the style's most salient expressive attributes. The book addresses a broad span of the instrumental production of the era, with Haydn as the pivotal figure. Close readings of a variety of works are embedded in an encompassing consideration of the reception of this music.

List of contents

1. The sociable muse; 2. Reciprocity; 3. Formula; 4. Tone; 5. Final focus.

About the author

W. Dean Sutcliffe is Professor in the School of Music at the University of Auckland, and co-editor of the journal Eighteenth-Century Music. His research interests focus on the eighteenth century, and publications have covered composers such as Domenico Scarlatti, Scarlatti's Spanish contemporary Sebastián de Albero, Boccherini, Mozart, Manuel Blasco de Nebra and above all Haydn. His most recent large-scale publication is an edition of the three string quartets Op. 42 by Adalbert Gyrowetz (2017). He was awarded the Dent Medal for 2009 by the Royal Musical Association.

Product details

• Authors: W. Dean Sutcliffe, W. Dean (University of Auckland) Sutcliffe, Sutcliffe W. Dean
• Publisher: Cambridge Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 16.02.2023
• EAN: 9781009364027
• ISBN: 978-1-009-36402-7
• Dimensions: 170 mm x 244 mm x 32 mm
• Weight: 1043 g
• Illustrations: 2 tables 80 music examples, Tabellen, schwarz-weiss, Notenbeigaben, Worked examples or Exercises
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Music > Music history; Individual composers & musicians, specific bands & groups, MUSIC / History & Criticism, Music reviews & criticism, Musicians, singers, bands and groups, Composers and songwriters, Music reviews and criticism, Classical Music (C 1750 To C 1830), Classical style, Musical Instruments, Art music, orchestral and formal music, Musical instruments & instrumental ensembles