Sitting still versus moving
In this discussion step you are going to find out for yourselves whether or not your experience of music alters according to if and how you move. As you have learnt in the historical overview step 1.6, Mozart described in a letter to his father the reactions in the audience to his Symphony no. 31.
Just in the middle of the first Allegro there was a passage which I felt sure must please. The audience were quite carried away – and there was a tremendous burst of applause. But as I knew, when I wrote it, what effect it would surely produce, I had introduced the passage again at the close – when there were shouts of ‘da capo’. 1
You can hear the passage (“just in the middle of the first Allegro”) in this YouTube-clip at 3:45 to 3:55. (If you are experiencing problems with the Youtube-clip presented, please search for "Mozart, Symphony no. 31").
In the two tasks below we ask you to listen to excerpts from Symphony no. 31. In both tasks we first ask you to sit still and then to move to the music as described. Finally we ask you to describe and compare the different experiences you get from listening and moving.
Please note, when listening to the excerpts the sound should ideally be quite loud, but not so loud that you damage your ears.
Task 1: The Conductor
Play the excerpt from 3:26, or ideally from the beginning, at least until 4:00.
- At first, try to sit completely still while experiencing the music.
- Then play it again and act as if you are conducting the orchestra or move to the music in any way you feel natural.
Task 2: The Hush & Clap
In the same letter Mozart also wrote:
The Andante also found favour, but particularly the last Allegro, because, having observed that all last as well as first Allegros begin here with all the instruments playing together and generally unisono, I began mine with two violins only, piano for the first eight bars – followed instantly by a forte; the audience, as I expected, said ‘hush’ at the soft beginning, and when they heard the forte, began at once to clap their hands. loc.cit
Listen to Symphony no. 31 from 14:00 until 14:25
- First, play this part sitting completely still.
- Then try to act as the audience Mozart describes hushing at 14:12 and clapping at 14:20 or just move to the music as you feel natural.
Discuss
- In what way did you experience the music differently when you were sitting still compared to when you were moving?
- How does your experience here concern how you experience music in your daily life?
Alternative music: Jazz
If you're not used to listening to classical music you can instead try a similar task with a jazz track: Herbie Hancock and Pat Metheny performs Cantaloupe Island. Try first to sit still and modestly tap your feet (up until 1.00) and then play it again while you get up and move to the music. Discuss the same questions as for the classical music example.
References
1 Anderson, Emily, 1966, The Letters of Mozart and his Family. Chronologically arranged, translated and edited with an Introduction, Notes and Indexes. (311 Mozart to his Father) P. 558.