When you think of Mozart, what comes to mind? Do you think of just any old composer, or do you think he is unique? Is it true that he really did compose 600 (or more) musical works of art, or is it just a myth?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was Born in Salzburg, Austria on the 27th of January in 1756. Mozart began to play composing when he was only five years old, and when he was six he played for the Bavarian elector and the Austrian empress. His father (Leopold Mozart) taught young Wolfgang his education, and because of this Mozart was very advanced in his educational knowledge.
When Mozart was six, his father took him on an �exhibition� throughout all of Europe to play for various courts, sometimes far into the night. Young Mozart loved this adventure, and grew in skills constantly on the exhibition. Mozart also wrote several compositions on this travel. However, although this was a good experience, the only real reason Mozart�s father took him on these travels was to raise the status of the family, and pocket a little money for himself. Unfortunately, this tour ended short in December of 1771 when Leopold�s employer Archbishop Scrattenbach had passed away.
Mozart soon continued his journey and moved to Vienna. Mozart built up fame by performing in Vienna, composing various piano sonatas, and having one of his operas performed, Die Entf�hrung aus dem Serail, (a German Singspiel). This had a large amount of success, and was performed by many regional companies . However Mozart never got paid for this, his fame was steadily built. The famous composer Haydn exclaimed to Mozart�s Father that �(Mozart is) the greatest composer known to me in person or by name; he has taste and, what is more, the greatest knowledge of composition�.
Mozart continued to live in Vienna all throughout his life, and composed numerous piano concertos (so he could be seen as a composer AND a soloist), all very strictly following a musical form. Mozart often played out in various courts, and was known for being able to compose a work of music in a matter of days. However, his trick was to use motives from other pieces of music and combine them (so they do not truly classify as �unique�).
Mozart passed away from a very feverish illness in 1791. He left the Requiem unfinished. (Un)surprisingly, Mozart had a very small funeral, very few people were at the ceremony, and his grave was Unmarked� Beethoven had stolen the spotlight. |
