Main cantata

The main clause cantata (complete "Main clause cantata - setting of the main clause of differential and integral calculus plus evidence, applications and historical remarks for four-part choir, mezzo-soprano, tenor solo and piano") is a musical representation of the main clause of differential and integral calculus , written and set to music by mathematician Friedrich Wille . The main cantata was published in Willes' book Humor in Mathematik in 1984.

occupation

• Solos mezzo-soprano , tenor
• Choir SATB
• piano

The piece has a performance duration of about eight minutes.

Structure / process

The sequence of the cantata is as follows ( tempo markings in brackets):

1. Piano: Prelude (Moderato)
2. Choral : the main clause (moderato; exposition of the main clause, two stanzas)
3. Recitative (tenor): proof of the main clause (free tempo)
4. Choir: Quod erat (Moderato; Amen-like ending point of the previous proof in the form of the quod erat demonstrandum )
5. Aria (mezzo-soprano): applications (adagio; da capo aria )
6. Piano: interlude (Vivace)
7. Choir (unison) and piano: Finale (Vivace; historical remarks on the main movement, four stanzas + refrain)

particularities

The musical form follows that of a baroque cantata . The composing style is designed for simplicity and is reminiscent of Mozart : the pieces sung have a folk song-like character, that is, they are melodic, catchy and easy to sing. In the last verse of the finale, the audience is also asked to sing along. The piano accompaniment is kept simple and imitates various stylistic figures of Mozart.

Due to the mathematics-related text and the low level of difficulty of the music, the cantata is mainly performed in a mathematics-pedagogical environment (upper-level mathematics courses at grammar schools, mathematics faculties at universities, etc.).

Web links

• Scoring of the main movement cantata with animation (Flash)
• Performance of the main movement cantata (Windows Media 9, 163 MB; WMV )

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Friedrich Wille: Humor in Mathematics. 6th edition. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2011, ISBN 978-3-525-40730-1 , pp. 44–53 ( limited preview in the Google book search).