Mozart Lesson - Cold Spring School

“Mozart is Sunshine!”
quote by Antonin Dvorak
Wolfgang
Amadeus
Mozart
(1756-1791)
It’s lucky for us Bach died in
1750 because that neatly
divides the 18th century in
half. Bach’s death in 1750
ends the Baroque period and
begins a new musical period
called the Classical period.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Full name is “Johannes Chrysostumus
Wolfgang Theophilus Amadeus Mozart”
• wrote his first piano piece when he was
only 5 years old.
• To play all of Mozart’s music in a row
would take 202 hours. Wrote over 600
pieces of music!
• More recordings of Mozart’s music are
bought today than recordings of any
other composer’s works.
• Austrian Composer
• Born in the Classical time period
No Ordinary Baby!
Until he was 3 years
old, Wolfie was an
ordinary baby.
After age 3 he was
known as a child
prodigy and the
greatest musical
genius of all times.
Mozart - the child
‣ Favorite color:
Red
‣ Greatest fear:
Ghosts
‣ Dog’s name:
Bimperl
‣ Also had a pet
grasshopper and birds
‣ Reading, drawing,
and math were to him
different kinds of play.
Mozart - the child
• Age 5 - Published his first
composition - Minuet in G.
• He was then pulled out of school
and toured Europe with his sister,
Nannerl. Together they played
duets for kings and queens.
• Age 8 - composed his first symphony.
• Age 12 - wrote his first opera.
Mozart - the servant?
• Age 16 - Archbishop of Salzburg demanded
Mozart come work for him.
• Treated more like a servant than a genius
musician.
In a letter to his father, Mozart wrote:
“By the way, the two valets sit at the head of the
table but at least I have the honor of being placed
above the cooks.”
Married Constance
Mozart - the
husband and
father
Had 6 children,
but only 2 lived
to adulthood.
Mozart’s Music
• A brilliant performer, Mozart could
instantaneously improvise and
memorize even just after one hearing.
• Mozart’s music writing was neat and
was almost always completed in his
head before he ever wrote it down.
• Wrote 41 symphonies, 20 operas,
numerous string quartets, concertos,
violin sonatas, choral pieces, and piano
“A Litt
le Nig
ht Mu
sic”
Composed
for the
sheer
pleasure of
writing it.
Written for which
instrument group?
Mozart - the millionaire?
• Mozart frequently held lavish parties to
showcase his latest work. Along with
each concert came bills that needed to be
paid: ushers, musicians, rental of the
concert hall, candlelight.
• Besides all this, Mozart was very
concerned about his appearance. He
always had servants and wore beautiful
clothes.
Penniless Mozart
Mozart enjoyed many great
successes, yet died in poverty.
When he died he owned very
little:
✴ 6 coats
✴ 3 silver spoons
✴ 346 books
✴ Piano
✴ Pool table
Mozart just mismanaged his $$$
If Mozart had
managed his money
better, he would be
the richest 250-yearold man in the world.
ease,
s
i
d
y
Kidne ion, and
st
exhau ition?
tr
malnu
Poisoni
ng
Mozart’s untimely death at
age 35 is a MYSTERY!
Pneum
onia?
Trichinosis
Requiem
- a mass written for funerals
or memorial services.
Though this Requiem was commissioned
by someone else, Mozart felt he was
writing it for his own death.
Requiem aeternam dona es,
Domine et lu perpetua luceat eis.
Translation: Rest eternal grant them, Oh Lord,
And let light perpetual shine upon them.
“We
can do no great things; only
Mozart’s wife was left penniless and had no
small things
with
great love.”
money for
a funeral.
Mozart Wolfgang
was buried
in a pauper’s
Amadeus
Mozart grave.