Patronage or Independence?
Since medieval times, in order to establish financial security, musicians usually needed to be “servants” of the aristocracy or the church. This was the “patronage system.” During the 18th century, however, we see the beginnings of earnest struggle with the patronage system by musicians who wanted more independence. The biographies of Haydn and Mozart provide a sharp contrast on this issue.
Part IV Chapter 2 of our text describes Mozart’s rebellion from the patronage system, his independence, and his ultimate failure to achieve financial security despite his magnificent music. Haydn’s successful experience with the patronage system, however, is also described. Perhaps one of the luckiest – as well as most talented – musicians of all time, Haydn landed a position with a wealthy aristocratic family which provided him with many musicians for most of his life in an auspicious balance of security and freedom to develop his own ideas.
Consider yourself an eighteenth-century composer before Beethoven. You are talented and full of inspiration for your music, which may or may not suit aristocratic or ecclesiastical employers. Would you choose to work obediently and securely for aristocrats or church, or would you choose the risky, independent path of Mozart?
Write a brief essay about which choice you would make, and why.
Please make the paper simple to understand.
Must make a choice between Independent path of Mozart or Obediently and securely for aristocrats/church.
Do not talk about Beethoven.
Haydn and Mozart only
Text book: Music: An Appreciation, Brief 8th Edition (Kamien)
The Classical Period Starts on page 151
Musicians=servants
people who pay the musicians = patron