What is the IMPORTANT difference between Beethoven and his predecessors Haydn and Mozart?

Question

I'm studying for my Music Exam today.
I can find TONS of differences in my notes, but I'm not sure how to pick out the IMPORTANT difference.
What do you think?

Answer 1

Beethoven used more dynamic contrast and angst (for lack of a better word) in his music. Before, with Haydn and Mozart, the music was very linear-- beautiful and emotional, yes, but more based on melody than anything else. Beethoven was the first to really use contrast in tone and dynamics *and* innovative rhythms to create interest in his music.

Answer 2

I think the important difference was that Beethoven was an innovator. Haydn and Mozart built on what was being written at the time - listen to some of the many recordings that are available of symphonies by their contemporaries. They added the spark of genius to the then current zeitgeist (although, in saying that, I accept that Mozart virtually 'invented' the piano concerto) Beethoven followed them in his early works - the 1st and 2nd symphonies, the 1st and 2nd piano concertos, the first set of string quartets. Then he struck out on his own. Imagine what is was like to hear the Eroica for the first time. A symphony lasting 50 minutes when something like 25 had been the maximum before. Or the 4th piano concerto where the piano enters at once - not heard of before - and the slow movement - unique. He moved into ever more changing areas - think of the Hammerklavier piano sonata, the last string quartets. Music was never going to be the same again.

Answer 3

Important thing - for me at least - is the way Beethoven can convey emotions almost explicitly in any of his works. The apparent loneliness is so thick in the Moonlight sonata that you could almost feel the scary atmosphere you get when you're truly lonely. And what about the finale to the Seventh Symphony? The finale sounds almost like a party gone wild - I always imagine a huge party going nuts and ends with a bang. And yes, the Appasionata Sonata. Anger, sadness, fury, longing - you can't help but be drowned in those suffocating emotions.

As for Haydn and Mozart, there are emotions, but barely. I'd say they sugar-coat most of the emotions, making the emotions barely discernible.

Hope that's enough!

Answer 4

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RE:
What is the IMPORTANT difference between Beethoven and his predecessors Haydn and Mozart?
I'm studying for my Music Exam today.
I can find TONS of differences in my notes, but I'm not sure how to pick out the IMPORTANT difference.
What do you think?

Answer 5

Beethoven was a lot more emotional while...for lack of better terms, Haydn and Mozart tended to be happy-go-lucky peeps. Beethoven also practices a more innovative type of harmony...Mozart and Haydn tends towards simpler rhythms and melodies. you know... the eighths, quarters and sixteenths.