The Seasons today is less well known than Haydn's other late oratorio, The Creation. In it, the aged Haydn seems to try to force pastoral imagery -- a pretty stale set of ideas by the dawn of the nineteenth century -- into a musical language that really laid the foundation of Romanticism. He even complained in a letter of having to compose "French trash" at one point in the score where there is an imitation of frogs, and the score is filled with shepherds, shepherdesses, horn calls, birds, trees, bees, herbs, fish, roosters ...
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The Seasons today is less well known than Haydn's other late oratorio, The Creation. In it, the aged Haydn seems to try to force pastoral imagery -- a pretty stale set of ideas by the dawn of the nineteenth century -- into a musical language that really laid the foundation of Romanticism. He even complained in a letter of having to compose "French trash" at one point in the score where there is an imitation of frogs, and the score is filled with shepherds, shepherdesses, horn calls, birds, trees, bees, herbs, fish, roosters, rifle shots, thunder and lighting, stags, sunrises, and sunsets besides (to name a few). But at many points Haydn succeeded as only Haydn could. The thrilling sunrise near the beginning of the Summer section is one place where Haydn seems somehow to paint his musical pictures on a giant canvas, and to make you feel that Mahler and his musical encompassing of the world were just a few steps away. The early performances of the oratorio in Vienna in 1801 were major events, with...
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Add this copy of Seasons to cart. $4.54, fair condition, Sold by Service First Media rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Taylorsville, KY, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Harmonia Mundi.
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Seller's Description:
Fair. Ex-Library rental. Disc(s) are professionally cleaned and may contain only light scratches that do not effect functionality. Includes disc(s), case, and artwork. May be missing booklet. Disc(s), case, and artwork may contain library/security stickers and ink writing. ARTWORK IS UNORIGINAL AND PRINTED BY LIBRARY. Case and artwork may show some wear. Case may not be an original jewel case. All disc(s) are authentic.
