Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791) Mozart was born in Salzburg (where his house can still be viewed

today, not too far from some of the locations used in The Sound of Music!). His father Leopold was himself a musician and composer who taught the young Mozart at a very early age. So successful was this that Mozart was able to play the piano at the age of 4 and he was composing his own works from the age of 5. When he was 6, while learning the violin, his father took Mozart and his elder sister (Maria Anna, also a young pianist) on a tour of Europe lasting 4 years to exhibit their talents to a wide audience. The gifted pair were presented to and celebrated by the Nobility and Royalty of several countries, meeting Louis XV of France, Georges III of England and also Marie Antoinette who was also of a similar age. Wolfgang Amadeus was even decorated by the Pope. Hence Mozart was immersed in music and in performing throughout his formative years. To demonstrate the skills of the young Mozart as a composer, we include here two of his early works composed around 1762 at the ages of 5 or 6. These works were originally catalogued by Ludwig von Kochel in 1862, giving them their "K" numbers which were intended to be chronological. We now know more about the dates of composition so that K.2 was actually composed before K.1 and there were a few works written between them. Minuet in F (K.2) Minuet and Trio in G (K.1) The novelty factor of child prodigies wears off as they grow older, so Mozart had to struggle more as a teenager and young adult. He went on a second money-raising tour to Paris, where his mother who accompanied him died. Mozart returned to Salzburg but his relationship with the Archbishop (his father's employer) was not very good. It was at the age of about 25 that Mozart moved and settled in Vienna, where he married Constanze Weber and fathered 6 children (though only 2 survived). There as a freelance composer he struggled to make ends meet, frequently having to borrow money from friends. However, during this last decade of his short life he was at the peak of his phenomenal skill as a composer and wrote a large number of his best known works. He died leaving his last work (a Requiem) not quite finished, and following the most basic of funerals was buried in an unmarked pauper's grave. There is now a monument to Mozart in his adoptive city of Vienna. Musical Influences: While visiting England during the early European tour, Wolfgang met with Johann Christian Bach (one of the sons of Johann Sebastian Bach) and struck up a friendship with him which undoubtedly had an influence on the direction taken the young composer. Later at the age of 16 on a visit to Vienna, Mozart got to know the music of Haydn. The two formed a close relationship of mutual support and there is a strong similarity not only their musical forms and traditions but also in their musical soundscape and tuneful lyricism. Although Mozart is frequently thought of as composing the most beautiful music effortlessly, he studied hard under his father to learn the techniques of the established masters including Bach, Handel and Haydn. The triumvirate of Haydn, Mozart and the early Beethoven are

frequently thought of as being at the core of the classical era where the forms we know today (including the Symphony, Sonata and Concerto) were consolidated and stretched. These three in turn were to deeply influence composers over the next two centuries. Mozart became a Freemason while staying in Vienna, and it was his masonic friends who helped to support him financially. Freemasonry was also an influence on him musically, and he incorporated masonic symbolism into some of his works of this period. One final thing that's worth mentioning about Mozart and his music is that his name has been used in the context of the "Mozart Effect". It has been noted in various studies that classical music can make people and animals relax or become more productive. While the effect is said to occur for a wide range of classical music, it is the music of Mozart that is most closely associated with this phenomenon, and possibly because his work is often thought of a being perfectly formed. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's music As well as being an excellent performer on the piano and violin, Mozart was also a compete all rounder when it came to composition. He composed in all the major forms and styles of the day. Among his major works are the following:

Symphonies, including numbered ones up to 41 (the last 3 particularly are among the best symphonies ever written) - here is the first movement of his well-known Symphony No. 40 in G minor (also available for Piano Solo) Operas, such as The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, The Magic Flute and Cosi fan Tutti Cantatas - the "Little Masonic Cantata" K. 623 includes a well-known song called the "Bundeslied" whose melody is now used as Austrian National Anthem Piano Concertos, numbered to 27 - here is the slow movement of his Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, often known as "Elvira Madigan" after the film in which it was used (also available as an arrangement for Piano Solo) 5 Violin Concertos, (Isaac Stern who recently passed away was known for his renditions of these) Other Concertos, for Bassoon, Clarinet, Oboe and Horn - here is the famous slow movement from his Clarinet Concerto in A major used in the film "Out of Africa" and many others Piano Sonatas - mfiles example movements are the Rondo Alla Turca, and the 1st movements of his Sonata in C and Sonata in Bb (K.333) Violin Sonatas String Quartets

Other chamber works, including the Clarinet Quintet (note that Mozart introduced Clarinets into the Symphony orchestra) Masses, including the final Requiem (commissioned anonymously and Mozart thought of it as a omen for his own death) Divertimentos Lieder Serenades, including No. 13 known as "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" - here is the First Movement of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik A Musical Joke - this piece is well-known in the UK as the theme for Showjumping TV Programme "The Horse of the Year Show" (see our article Humour in Music) If you like the example piano sonata movements above, this is just the tip of the iceberg as Mozart wrote many. Books of piano sonatas are vailable from Sheet Music Plus (US) or The Music Room (UK).