Van Swieten familiarized Mozart with the works of J. S. Bach and Handel, by sharing (around 1782-1783) the manuscripts he had collected during his long stay in Berlin.[13] This process took place at regular Sunday musical gatherings at van Swieten's rooms in the Imperial Library. The experience of encountering the greatest composers of the Baroque era had a profound effect on Mozart and greatly influenced his later compositions.
[edit] The Gesellschaft der Associierten
During the gatherings in van Swieten's rooms, the gathered company sang through entire oratorios of Handel, with Mozart substituting at the keyboard for an orchestra. This naturally led to an interest in full-scale performances of these works.[14] To this end, in 1786[15] van Swieten organized the Gesellschaft der Associierten ("Society of Associated Cavaliers")[16], an organization of music-loving nobles. With the financial backing of this group, he was able to stage full-scale performances of major works. Generally, these concerts were first given in one of the palaces of the members or in the large hall of the Imperial Library, then in a public performance in the Burgtheater or Jahn's Hall.[17]
Mozart took on the task of conducting these concerts in 1788.[18] He had previously been too busy with other tasks, but with a decline in his career prospects elsewhere he was willing to take up the post.[19] In addition to having him conduct, the Gesellschaft commissioned Mozart to prepare four works by Handel for performance according to contemporary taste:
Acis and Galatea, performed in (approximately) November 1788 in Jahn's Hall.[20]
The oratorio Messiah, for which Mozart wrote new parts for flutes, clarinets, bassoons, horns, and trombones, as well as more notes for the timpani (1789).
the Ode for St Cecilia’s Day (1790)[21]
Alexander’s Feast (1790)[22]
Van Swieten was responsible for the translations from English into German of the libretti for these works, a task he would perform later on for Haydn (see below).[23]
The Gesellschaft's concerts were an important source of income for Mozart during this time, when he was experiencing severe financial worries.[24]
[edit] The Gesellschaft der Associierten
During the gatherings in van Swieten's rooms, the gathered company sang through entire oratorios of Handel, with Mozart substituting at the keyboard for an orchestra. This naturally led to an interest in full-scale performances of these works.[14] To this end, in 1786[15] van Swieten organized the Gesellschaft der Associierten ("Society of Associated Cavaliers")[16], an organization of music-loving nobles. With the financial backing of this group, he was able to stage full-scale performances of major works. Generally, these concerts were first given in one of the palaces of the members or in the large hall of the Imperial Library, then in a public performance in the Burgtheater or Jahn's Hall.[17]
Mozart took on the task of conducting these concerts in 1788.[18] He had previously been too busy with other tasks, but with a decline in his career prospects elsewhere he was willing to take up the post.[19] In addition to having him conduct, the Gesellschaft commissioned Mozart to prepare four works by Handel for performance according to contemporary taste:
Acis and Galatea, performed in (approximately) November 1788 in Jahn's Hall.[20]
The oratorio Messiah, for which Mozart wrote new parts for flutes, clarinets, bassoons, horns, and trombones, as well as more notes for the timpani (1789).
the Ode for St Cecilia’s Day (1790)[21]
Alexander’s Feast (1790)[22]
Van Swieten was responsible for the translations from English into German of the libretti for these works, a task he would perform later on for Haydn (see below).[23]
The Gesellschaft's concerts were an important source of income for Mozart during this time, when he was experiencing severe financial worries.[24]
