Mozart’s Symphony No. 28 in C Major, Part III (Menuetto: Allegreto) Essay

Classical music has always been popular. Not every person understands its beauty and meaning, however, I believe that it can influence on every person it its particular way, no matter whether you like it or not. Recently, I had a great opportunity to see the concert at the Nightingale Concert Hall. It was performed by the Reno Chamber Orchestra conducted by Theodore Kuchar. The orchestra performed Mozart’s Symphonies. I was greatly impressed by the concert.

However, I have chosen the Symphony No. 28 in C Major, part III (Menuetto: Allegreto) for my respond as I liked it the most. The Mozart’s Symphony No. 28 in C Major, part III (Menuetto: Allegreto) is one of the most impressive musical compositions I have ever heard, it is calm and energetic at the same time, and it makes you feel as if you went into the 17th century.

As I have already mentioned, the concert was devoted to the music by Mozart. I have heard many compositions by Wolfgang Mozart, and I consider him one of the most talented and unique composers of all times.

His music is wonderful, magic, and mysterious. It can be tender, energetic, romantic and joyful. For example, such work as “The Requiem” which is his most famous and impressive work. Actually, I have never heard the Symphony No. 28 in C Major before, but I am glad that I had a chance to hear this wonderful “piece of Art” as I really got a real pleasure.

So, the Symphony No. 28 in C Major, part III (Menuetto: Allegreto) was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart approximately in 1774. It was the last piece of his “Salzburg series”. Few words should be mentioned about the époque when the work was created. This period is called the Classical period in Western music.

Usually, the classical music includes all works written from the 16^th to the 19^th century, however, a true classical period is between the years 1730 and 1820. It is marked by works of such great composers as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert, Ludwig van Beethoven and Antonio Salieri.

The music of the classical period was much “lighter” than the music of the previous Baroque period. As M. Tevfik Dorak writes in the article “Classical (Period) Music”, the characteristic features of this period were “slow harmonic rhythm, primary triads, appoggiaturas, frequent cadences, clear articulation, variety in orchestral texture, varying dynamics, independence of orchestral sections, tenor registry of the bassoon, double woodwind (including clarinets)” (n. pg.).

At first, the Classical music took some features from the Baroque music. But later, it adopted its unique style, format and form. According to the book by Kerman and Tomlinson, “a four-movement format dominated Classical instrumental genres.

The internal structures of important Classical forms associated with the four-movement plan: sonata form, theme and variations, minuet form, rondo form” (76). All these features can be found in the compositions written by Mozart, the most influential composer of the period. He lived a short life, but he managed to create music that will live forever. Mozart was a very talented child. He started performing before European royalty when he was 5.

His first teacher was his father Leopold. But it was Bach who had the greatest influence on the Mozart’s development as the composer, “Bach introduced Wolfgang to the world of the opera and the symphony, treating the boy as the colleague…” (Melograni and Cochrane 20). Bach’s music was filled with symbolism and “harmonic innovations” of the period, but the music of his pupil was not so radical. It was very charming, had a natural flow and was filled with different emotions: humor, sorrow, joy that can interweave or go separately.

The composer created the most successful operas and symphonies ever. Mozart was one of the first composers who started creating symphonies. It was a “musical genre that just began to gain acceptance” and it was Mozart, who “succeeded in producing compositions of high quality in a new genre” (Melograni and Cochrane 22).

One of such “perfect compositions” is Mozart’s Symphony No. 28 in C Major, part III (Menuetto: Allegreto). The symphony is arranged in the traditional classical symphonic form: Allegro vivace, Andante cantabile in F major, Menuetto: Allegretto – Trio, and Molto Allegro. The sonata is filled with contrasts and it is rather extraverted. It begins with the themes of symphony, but the second part of the trio is more accentuated and expressive.

I guess, it is incorporated and modified with Allegretto. The characteristic feature of the symphony is the “five-voice fugato” that are aimed to present fife symphonic themes of the composition. In the third part, they are used in order to combine themes together. The motifs are joined in the “fugal cola”. The third part is characterized by classical harmony and “tender” melody that rises and falls through the composition.

As for me, I was charmed with the music. I believe that it is a special ability to know to listen to the classical music and I am glad that I develop this ability. So, the piece was very exciting and I was fascinated with the rhythm and dynamics of the melody and with the contrast of strong and light musical waves.

The Symphony No. 28 in C Major, part III (Menuetto: Allegreto) is one of the greatest orchestra compositions. It is a marvelous work of the Classical period. It still captures attention of many people and evokes wonderful feeling of delight with the music.

Works Cited

Dorak, M.Tevfik. “Classical (Period) Music”. About.com, 5 Apr. 2008, Web.

Melograni, Piero, and Lydia G. Cochrane. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2007.