Requiem: Mozart's Tryst with Death

There is deathly beauty in Mozart’s requiem especially as this masterpiece was his last work. I have to confess that Mozart’s music doesn't stir me much but his requiem is an exception.

The story goes that Mozart was commissioned by a stranger to write the requiem. He had never written a requiem earlier, and so he absorbed himself in finding the true funeral music.While writing the music, he came to realise that he was writing the requiem for himself. Legend goes that death dictated the music for him, and in exchange took his life. This might seem far-fetched but the amazing part was his original manuscript of the requiem didn’t have any corrections, as if the music was already completed in his head. 

There are many powerful funeral musics composed in the Western Classical repertoire such as the hypnotic Mahler's 5th Symphony, the beautiful Funeral March of Chopin (Sonata 2), Beethoven's Funeral March , the melodramatic Verdi's Requiem and the austere Brahm's German requiem. But I have to say that Mozart's requiem is most unsettling to hear. Being a big Mahler admirer, I enjoy listening his fifth. But listening that music doesn't unsettle you as much as Mozart's requiem. The real power of music can be felt in these requiems.

Appassionata : Emotional Outburst of Beethoven

Great works of art are mostly produced when emotions stab the limits of the minds. My favourite and considered by many as the greatest piano sonata 'Appassionata' also emerged in such an emotional heightened state. Hurt in love, completely shattered and converging towards deafness impelled Beethoven to produce one of the finest music of emotional expressionism. The music starts in with chords which are melancholic and portray despair but then out this despair emerges a music of an indomitable spirit. The music sort of explodes portraying the invincibility of his character  There is a mark of introspection that also reverberates in the music with constant questioning which seems to reaffirm the invincibility of his spirit to never give up. But the sonata has a tragic ending. It is the sonata where his life's tragic glimpse is shown with his spirit trying to overcome it.  There are variations of tragedy coupled with hope in the whole sonata. It is a piece of music with shades of different emotions posed in an aggressive manner. The only other piano sonata with such an explosive character is another of Beethoven's sonata 'Hammerklavier'. Hammerklavier is considered one of the most technically demanding sonatas to perform.

Above You Tube video (1st movement)  is not one of the best recordings. The best recordings according to me are of Maurizio Pollini and Richter. Just to get a short intense glimpse of Pollini performing click here -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXaWutqQSa0