WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

(1756 - 1791)

EARLY YEARS

Mozart was an Austrian composer of the Classical Era. He was born on January 27, 1756 in Salzburg, Austria. Mozart s whole name is Johannes Chrysostmus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart. His father taught schooling and music. Mozart s dad was a Concertmaster in the court orchestra for the archbishop.

When Mozart was six he performed on the clavier, violin, and organ. He was good at sight-reading and improvisation. Mozart composed five short piano pieces when he was six years old. In 1762, Leopold took Mozart to Europe to a concert tour through the courts. During this time Mozart composed sonatas for the harpsichord and violin.

CONCERT MASTER

In 1769, Mozart was appointed concertmaster to the archbishop of Salzburg and later the same year Mozart was made a chevalier of the order of the Golden Spur by the pope and he wrote his first German operetta, Bastion and Bastieeene. When he was 14 he wrote a serious opera named Miltridate, re di ponto. Mozart was already well know and had a good reputation. While Mozart was in Italy the archbishop died.

REJECTION

When he was fifteen he came back to Salzburg. Then , Mozart left with his mother for Munich. The courts of Europe ignored Mozart. So, he traveled to Mannheim and they didn t want him either so, he went to the musical center of Europe where he fell in love with Aloysia Webber. Then, Mozart s father Leopld ordered Mozart and his mom back to Paris. Later, his mother died in July in Paris. Mozart asked Webber to marry him but, she said no.

In 1779 Mozart went back to Salzburg where he wrote two masses and a lot of sonatas, symphonies, and concertos. These pieces of music showed distinctive style and a completely mature understanding of music. The success of Mozart s Italian opera seria Ido-mineo, re di creta made the archbishop of Salzburg to invite Mozart to his palace at Vienna. The people found some information out about Mozart which turned them against him.

MARRIAGE

Mozart s friend rented him a house and there Mozart composed a Singspiel ( a type of German operetta with some spoken dialogue. ) called the Abduction from the Seraglio which Emperor Joseph II requested. The same year Mozart married Constanze Webber, Aloysia s younger sister. Mozart s dad died from unending poverty and illnesses.

SYMPHONIES

Mozart s three great symphonies are No. 39 in E-flat, No. 400 in G minor, and No. 41 in C. While Mozart was working on the singspiel , The magic flute , and emissary of a Court Walsegg mysteriously requested a requiem mass.

MOZART S DEATH

The Requium mass was uncompleted at Mozart s death, and proved to be Mozart s last musical effort. He died of typhoid fever, in Bienna December 5, 1791. Mozart only had a few friends at his funeral which was a poor man s funeral. His grave is unmarked. Some people say Antonio Salieri murdered Mozart.

GENIUS

As you can see Mozart had an unsuccessful career and died young . Mozart was said to be one of the great geniuses of Western Civilization. Mozart had more than 600 works : 16 operas, 41 symphonies, 27 piano , 5 violin concerti, 25 string quartets, 19 masses and other works in every form popular in his time.