The Ultimate in Mannerism? Composers who did not change their style

Throughout the history of music, many composers have changed their styles throughout their careers, evolving with the times and their personal growth. However, there are some composers who remained unchanged in style for almost their entire lives and continued to compose in what could be described as a "mannerism". Did they go against the currents of the times and stick to their own style, or were they simply averse to change? In this article, we will focus on such composers and delve deeper into their musical characteristics and reputation.

There are also mass production and business composers of works!

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

Characteristics: Almost all of his concertos follow the same pattern (rapid-moderate-rapid in three movements), with similar harmonic progressions and rhythmic patterns.

Symbol of mannerism: Although "The Four Seasons" is well known as a representative work, more than 500 concertos have actually been written in almost the same form.

Evaluation: While it established the golden age of baroque music, it can seem monotonous to modern listeners, who may think, "This progression again?



Giovanni Paisiello (1740-1816)

Characteristics: A master of classical operatic buffa (comic opera), but the structure and melodic style of his works remain largely unchanged.

Symbol of mannerism: "The Barber of Seville" was a big hit, but similar melodies and developments are noticeable in his other works.

Reputation: Over time, it was supplanted and eventually overshadowed by Rossini.



3. Johann Strauss II (1825-1899)

Characteristics: Known as the king of waltzes, he composed numerous waltzes and polkas, but his style remained largely unchanged.

Symbol of mannerism: After "The Beautiful Blue Danube," he produced a large number of similar waltzes.

Reputation: Although popular to a certain degree, he lacked innovation, and his reputation diverged as time went on.



4. philip glass (1937-)

Characteristics: A standard-bearer of minimal music, his style is one of endless repetition of the same phrases.

Symbol of mannerism: From his early works to his later years, the basic structure of his music has remained almost the same.

Evaluation: Although Glass's music has a strong fan base as "Glass's music is Glass's music," some listeners criticize it as too monotonous.

summary

In music, "not changing" is not necessarily a bad thing. Some composers, such as Vivaldi and Strauss, have achieved great success by mastering a single style, while others, such as Paisiello, have fallen behind the times. Others, such as Philip Glass, have maintained a cult following by maintaining their own unique worldview.

Perhaps the essence of music lies not only in "innovation" but also in the beauty of established styles. What do you think of the works of composers who have reached a rut?