Formation of the genre of clavier sonata in Austria: sonatas by Leopold Kozeluch (from the music collection of the Razumovskys)

Abstract

The article examines the period of European culture associated with the formation of the Viennese Classical School in Austria. The transition of music from the baroque to the classical style in the second half of the 18th century was marked by the work of some composers, whose works received various names of stylistic movements, such as “Storm and Wind”, or names specific to the style of orientation of these movements – gallant, sentimental or mixed. A special place in the constellation of composers from this period belongs to Leopold Kozeluch (1747-1818), Czech by origin, who received a selected education in Prague and Vienna, being a student of F. Dušek and A. Salieri. Later, Leopold Kozeluchva occupied a place of honor in Austrian musical culture. Among the numerous works for harpsichord and other instruments signed by Leopold Kozeluch, the Three Sonatas dedicated to Princess Liechtenstein are of particular interest, due not only to the musical material of the sonatas themselves, which reproduce the solemn theme of J. Brahms’ work, but also, directly, to the person to whom they are dedicated – the Princess of Liechtenstein. The Three Sonatas in three movements can form an integral cycle, determined by the internal logic of the unfolding of the events, but they can also be interpreted separately, undoubtedly representing significant individual artistic values.