The Mannheim school
The expression Mannheim school refers both to an orchestra, which was based in the southwest German city of Mannheim, and to their musical innovations in instrumental music. The orchestra was under the patronage of art loving Elector Duke Karl Theodor (reigned 1743–99).
Many contemporary visitors to Mannheim were amazed by the excellence of the local orchestra, which was made up of the finest European musicians. Music historian and connoisseur Charles Burney called the Mannheim orchestra an army of generals. This famous and influential school was founded and for many years led by Johann Stamitz, who was appointed concertmaster from 1745. The quality of the musicians, the orchestra as a group, the level of expression and precision they achieved was unrivaled in Europe. The Mannheim school achieved its principal fame from 1743, which suddenly ended in 1778, when the Court was moved to Munich.
The musical innovations and mannerisms of the Mannheim school
Among the many musical innovations of the Mannheim school probably the most important is the way they controlled musical dynamics during concerts. The members of the orchestra were all virtuosi and able to play softly without sacrificing clarity. This way they could play music with significant solo parts, without the rest of the playing instruments covering them. In previous Baroque-era music composers simply avoided bigger solo passages.
The Mannheim Rocket is a musical technique in which a rising scale or arpeggio is speeded up as it grows louder and climbs higher. Perfect example is the opening of Beethoven’s Piano sonata no.1.
The Mannheim crescendo is another technique, when the whole orchestra shifts from pianissimo to fortissimo in short period of time.
If the Mannheim crescendo is accompanied with tremolo effects in string instruments, it is called Mannheim roller.
Mannheim sigh happens when musicians put more weight on the first note of a slur.
Mannheim birds is the part where a solo instrument is imitating a bird song.
Finally, Mannheim Grand Pause is the musical effect when the whole orchestra stops for a moment and after total silence they break into a forceful restart.
The Mannheim school inspired orchestral music for many coming decades and ever since. Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven the upcoming main figures of the next generations, all turned back to this school for musical ideas in their compositions.
