Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has composed some of the most inspirational music of all time and many people know his music by heart because it is so prevalent in our current society. Classical music is found in movie soundtracks and acts as inspiration for many other songs.
1. Musical Family
Mozart was born in January 27, 1756 and died December 5, 1791. He lived during the Enlightenment in Europe and was a very important figure in the artistic world during his time. Like many composers of the time, his family was also very musical and he performed concerts throughout Europe with his father and sister from 1762 until 1768.
2. Honorary Concertmaster
Religious music was very important during the time of Mozart and he was named honorary concertmaster for the archbishop of Salzburg. He held this position from 1769 until 1781, ten years before he passed away.
3. Playing and Composing at Age 6
Like many musicians and composers that are considered virtuosos, Mozart started playing and composing music at the age of six and he was already a budding musical genius at that time. His father, Leopold, was also a famous composer and violinist.
4. Last of Seven Children
Mozart came from a very large family by today’s standards though the family really wasn’t very large for long. He was the last of seven child born to his parents and one of only two who survived. The fourth child, Maria Anna Walburga Ingatia, was other survivor. Mozart’s full name was Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart. Many people wonder about the origin of his chosen middle name, Amadeus.
5. The Magic Flute
The Magic Flute, his last composition, was also one of his most famous. After he composed the music, he became ill and died in Vienna in 1791. He was only 36 years old when he passed away and we can only wonder what other masterpieces he would have composed had he lived a longer life. Many researchers speculate that kidney failure caused Mozart’s death.
6. Composer
Mozart wrote many different kinds of music which required great skill and extensive knowledge about music and its composition. He also needed to know what made each genre of music unique. He composed concertos, operas, oratorios, quartets, symphonies, chamber music, as well as vocal and choral music. It was apparent that religion and the Church were very influential in his compositions which are still used for many different religious functions. During his short career, Mozart composed over 600 works, which was an amazing accomplishment.
7. Paternal Influence
Mozart was greatly influence by his father, Leopold, who, in turn, placed a lot of faith in Mozart and his musical abilities. It is said that at age 3, Mozart was already playing the piano and had perfect pitch.
8. Haydn’s Influence
Mozart met many other composers on his travels and was influenced by them as well. Haydn, one of the composers, was an inspiration and good friend to Mozart.
9. Many Famous Works
Some of Mozart’s most notable works include Commotion Mass, Sinfonia, Conertante, Idomeneo, The Abduction from the Seraglio, Don Giovanni, The Marriage of Figaro, Cosi fan tutte, and the Magic Flute.
10. Music in His Head
As any composer can attest, it is sometimes very difficult to get the different parts and instruments to mesh together well and that this process takes a great deal of time and patience. Mozart, it is rumored, was able to hear entire works of music inside his head before he put them on paper. Not only did this talent come more naturally to Mozart, it was also one of his strongest abilities.
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