A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Serenata

by William Smyth Rockstro

SERENATA (Ital. Serenata; Fr. Sérénade; Germ. Serenade). Though the terms Serenata and Serenade are generally regarded as interchangeable—so nearly synonymous, that we have no choice but to give the one as the translated equivalent of the other—they mean, in musical language, two very different things. We have described the Serenade, in the forgoing article. We have now to speak of the Serenata; which has nothing in common with its shorter namesake, beyond its assumed fitness for an evening performance in the open air.^[1]

The Serenata may be either vocal or instrumental. The vocal form is the oldest; but neither the most common, nor the most clearly defined, as to scope and intention. It may, in fact, be considered as a form of Cantata; which may be either dramatic, or imaginative, or even a simple Ode on any subject not actually sacred. Handel applied the term to his Italian Pastoral, 'Aci, Galatea, e Polifemo,' written, at Naples, in 1709; to the Ode composed for the Birthday of Anne of Denmark, in 1712; and to the English Pastoral, 'Acis and Galatea,'^[2] written, at Cannons, in 1720. It is quite possible that all these works may have been originally performed in the open air: the first, on a calm evening at Naples; the second, in the Court Yard of S. James's Palace; and the third, in the Park, at Cannons. But it is equally possible that the name may have been given, in each case, to a Composition supposed to be suitable for performance, al fresco, on a fitting evening, though not actually so performed. We must not omit mention of Stradella's Serenata; in which two lovers, each with his orchestra in a coach, serenade a lady, a work which Handel honoured by borrowing from it [For this see Stradella.]

Quite distinct from Compositions of this class is the Instrumental Serenata, the form of which is much more clearly defined, and comprised within much narrower limits. This now neglected, and almost obsolete Art-form, was a very popular one during the latter half of the 18th century; and, for some considerable time, occupied a position midway between those of the Orchestral Suite which preceded, and the Symphony which followed it. From the former it borrowed the multiplicity, and from the latter the colouring, of the long series of lightly-developed Movements of which it usually consisted. Neither the sequence nor the structure of these Movements was subject to any very rigid law. Two forms, however, were considered so necessary that they may almost be described as indispensable—the March, and the Minuet. With the former, almost every Serenata of any consequence began, or ended. The latter was almost always interposed between two Allegros, or an Allegro and an Andante, or, indeed, between any two Movements of any other kind; and used so freely, that it frequently made its appearance, several times, in the course of a Composition of importance. The Gavotte, and Bourrée, so freely used in the older Suite, were completely banished from the Serenata. The Instruments employed were Violins, Violas, Violoncellos, Double-basses, Flutes, Oboes, Bassoons, Horns, Trumpets, and Drums: rarely Clarinets, for, when the Serenata was at its best, the Clarinet was not much used, in ordinary Orchestras. Mozart, however, has used both Clarinets and Corni di Bassetto in Serenatas written for Wind Instruments alone, or Wind Instruments supported only by a Double-bass. When Wind Instruments alone were employed, the Composition was often called 'Harmoniemusik'; and this term was so generally received, that Music for Wind Instruments is popularly called 'Harmony,' in Germany, to the present day. The term Cassation was also frequently applied to works of this kind, whether written for the full Orchestra or for Wind Instruments alone; and many pieces, not differing very much from these, were called Divertimenti. Sometimes the number of Instruments employed was very small. Beethoven has written a Serenata, of some length (Op. 25) for Flute, Violin, and Viola, only; and another very complete one (Op. 8), for Violin, Viola, and Violoncello. The reason for this diversity of Instruments is obvious. The Serenata was almost always intended for private performance. It was, therefore, a matter of necessity that it should accommodate itself to the resources of the particular establishment for which it was intended.

The form of the Serenade varied, within certain limits, almost as much as its Instrumentation. Mozart has left us eleven examples—Nos. 100, 101, 185, 203, 204, 239, 250, 320, 361, 375, and 388, in Köchel's Catalogue. Some of these contain as many as eight distinct Movements. Of the introductory March, and the indispensable Minuet, we have already spoken. In addition to these, there are generally two principal Allegros, or an Allegro and a Rondo, or Presto, like those of a Symphony; and two Andantes, each preceded and followed by a Minuet. The Minuets are constantly varied with two or more Trios, each for different combinations of Instruments. In No. 185 there are two lovely Andantes; one with Oboe and Horn, obbligato; the other for Stringed Instruments and Flutes. In other Movements, Solo Violins are employed, with admirable effect. No. 239 is written for a double Orchestra, consisting of Stringed Instruments only—including two Solo Violins—and Drums; and the effect of this combination is singularly happy. One striking peculiarity of the Serenata is, that, unlike the Symphony, it does not, as a general rule, employ the entire Orchestra in every Movement. This arrangement adds greatly to its effects of light and shade; as, for instance, when the whole body of Instruments is made to unite, in the Coda of a Minuet, to the earlier portions of which an individuality of colouring has been imparted by the employment of new and varied combinations contrasted together in each of the several Trios.

The prominent features of the Serenata are, one and all, so strikingly exemplified in the writings of Mozart, that we can recommend no more interesting or instructive models than these for the student's guidance. Haydn also wrote Serenatas, but seems to have taken less kindly to the style than Mozart—probably from the deeper love he naturally felt for the Symphony of his own creation. That Schubert should have left the style untried is more surprising; unless, indeed, we have to deplore the loss of any works of the kind among his perished MSS. From the pen of Beethoven, we possess only the two examples already cited. That written for Violin, Viola, and Violoncello, commonly known as the 'Serenade Trio' (Op. 8), is a delicious inspiration, in D major, consisting of a spirited March, an Adagio, a Minuet, a second Adagio, a Scherzo, with which the Adagio is thrice alternated, a Polacca, a Thema con Variazioni, and a repetition of the opening March, by way of Finale. The second example (Op. 25), written in the same key, for Flute, Violins, and Violas, contains an Entrata, a Minuet, with two Trios, an Allegro molto, an Andante con Variazioni, an Allegro scherzando e vivace, an Adagio, and an Allegro vivace.

Haydn's comparative neglect of the Serenata foreshadowed, only too plainly, the treatment it was afterwards destined to meet with at the hands of the musical world in general. The more perfect development of the Symphony put an end to the desire for its cultivation; the gradual diminution in the number of private Orchestras, to the necessity for its production: and this, so completely, that, had we not all been familiarised with it, through the entertainment provided for Don Giovanni at his fatal supper-table, it would long since have passed quite out of mind. And after all the character of that delightful entertainment approaches more nearly to that of a Divertimento, than to that of a true Serenata.

[ W. S. R. ]

1. It will, however, be noticed, that, in this case, the word given as the German equivalent for Serenata is not 'Ständchen,' but 'Serenade.' The technical terminology of Germany here draws a distinction which Is not perceptible in that of other countries.
2. Called also, in early copies, 'Opera,' 'Mask,' and 'Pastoral.'