Examine the influence of context on a substantial piece of work
Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551, Jupiter
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 10 August 1788
Cultural and Social Impacts
During Mozart’s time in Vienna in the late 18th century, one of the most fruitful and successful composing periods of his life, there were a number of cultural and social impacts that were likely to have an effect on his music.
Mozart’s ultimate goal with his music was to appeal to audiences of both nobility and middle-class. The rising prosperity of the 18th century, and first stirrings of the industrial revolution, introduced the rise in the wealth and position of the small body of the bourgeoisie (wealthy stratum of the middle class) as consumers of culture. This new consciousness of the middle class …show more content…
Similarities between Michael Haydn’s 29th and 39th symphonies and Mozart’s 41st have been said to be ‘sometimes startling’, while influences taken from their works for Mozart’s finale are said to be ‘unquestionable’. This accused plagiarism is most likely to be accidental because Mozart had a gift for imitating music he had heard; due to travelling widely, he had acquired a rare collection of experiences from which to create his unique compositional language. On the other hand, these were tough economic times for a musician; having already re-used one of his own movements for his 41st symphony, surely he wouldn’t go as far as to intentionally plagiarise another musician’s work in order to perfect one of his own