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Other Composers' Use of the Phrase
There may be hundreds or thousands of examples of the use of the phrase by other composers living
before, during or after Mozart's time, however I'm aware of only a handful. Two are shown below.
The 2nd example (the Chopin) doesn't really qualify due to the way it was used.
For consistency, the term "Musical Trademark" below refers to Mozart's trademark phrase, although used
by another composer. It should be noted, that in the case of JS Bach, he used the phrase before Mozart
used it.
Z1. BWV 232 - Bach's Mass in B Minor - Et incarnatus est (Credo: 4).
From Bärenreiter’s piano/vocal score, arranged by Gottfried Müller.
Key of B minor.
Beginning at Measure 12, Beat 2.
On the word "sancto" in the phrase "de Spiritu sancto".
Ie: Et incarnatus est
De Spiritu *sancto*.
Et incarnatus est, measures 11 - 15
Mass-in-B-minor--et-incarnatus.mid
"Spiritu sancto, ex Maria..."
Click to hear sound clip
Chord locs: 12-2, 13-1.
Interpolation: No.
As Written: D-D-A-F#----B# ---> C#-G#-G#-E#---C# (choral portion)
C F
Simplified: D-D-A-F#-----C ---> C#-G#-G#-F----C#
Musical TM: D---F#-----C ---> C#-------F----C#
Z2. Chopin Piano Concerto in F minor, Opus 21, 2nd movement.
Click to hear sound clip
From an excellent MIDI version by Robert Finley, aka Robert Fisher, 1995.
Downloaded from: www.sciortino.net/music/ffc.html
Key of C major.
Measures 3 and 162 (same orchestration for both).
Measure 162 is sound-clipped here (speeded up very slightly from the
original, downloaded version).
This example duplicates the trademark phrase, but does so in a
curiously weak transition of musical ideas, led by the flutes, and
absent the normally strong melodic and chromatic piano lead.
It has the feel of a pale and undernourished “temporary bridge”,
erected with a minimum of materials and strength, and is lacking in the
color and melody of Chopin’s piano sections and piano solos.
The sound clip below is from the 2nd phrase in the 2nd movement, beginning
several measures prior to the phrase at measure 155, with a beautiful piano
passage. The trademark phrase is played by the orchestra only, at measure
162, which is a few measures from the end of the movement. The phrase
passes by almost unnoticed, and is not in the same musical league as Mozart
or Bach’s use of it - or in the same league as Chopin’s piano parts.