Mozart: Austrian Classical Composer Of The Eighteenth Century

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) was an Austrian composer and musician. He is widely considered one of the greatest composers in the history of Western music. Mozart composed music in several genres, including opera and symphony, and is known for works such as the operas 'The Marriage of Figaro' and 'Don Giovanni', and the symphony 'Jupiter'. Mozart was a child prodigy, composing his first piece of music at the age of five and touring Europe by age six. He is said to have left behind over 600 pieces of music, including symphonies, operas, chamber music, concertos, and masses.

Mozart was a child prodigy

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a child prodigy, displaying prodigious musical ability from his earliest childhood. Born in Salzburg, Mozart was the son of Leopold Mozart, a minor composer and experienced teacher, and Anna Maria Pertl. He was the youngest of seven children, with only his elder sister, Maria Anna Mozart, surviving into adulthood.

Mozart began demonstrating his musical talents at a very early age. By the time he was three years old, he could play short pieces on the harpsichord, and at four, he was already composing simple music. At five, he was competent on the keyboard and violin, had begun to compose, and had performed before European royalty.

Recognising their son's remarkable talent, Leopold and Anna Maria embarked on a grand tour of Europe when Mozart was just seven years old. This tour, which included performances at various imperial courts, was the first of several such journeys to showcase the musical abilities of young Mozart and his sister.

During these tours, Mozart met and was influenced by other composers, including Johann Christian Bach, whom he visited in London in 1764 and 1765. He also composed his first symphony in London when he was eight years old.

By the time he was 13, Mozart had acquired considerable fluency in the musical language of his time and demonstrated a talent for imitating the musical styles of different regions. His early compositions, which included symphonies and sonatas, reflected his quick absorption of the music he encountered on his travels.

Mozart's extraordinary musical gifts and his rapid development as a child prodigy laid the foundation for his prolific career as one of the greatest composers in the history of Western music.

Mozart's early life and works

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, born on 27 January 1756 in Salzburg, was a child prodigy, composing his first piece of music at the age of five. By the age of six, he had performed before two imperial courts. His father, Leopold, was a talented violinist and composer, and he taught Mozart the basics of music. In 1763, Mozart and his sister, Maria Anna ("Nannerl"), went on a three-and-a-half-year tour of Europe, performing in major cities such as Munich, Paris, and London. During this tour, Mozart met many musicians and became acquainted with the works of other composers, including Johann Christian Bach, who had a significant influence on him.

Mozart's early talent for music was remarkable. At the age of three, he was picking out chords on the harpsichord, and by four, he was playing short pieces. There are anecdotes about his precise memory for pitch and his gentle and sensitive nature.

After returning to Salzburg in 1766, the Mozart family set out for Vienna in September 1767, where they spent 15 months. Mozart wrote a one-act German singspiel, "Bastien und Bestienne", and an Italian opera buffa, "La finta semplice" ("The Feigned Simpleton"). In 1769, Mozart, at just 13 years old, was appointed honorary Konzertmeister at the Salzburg court.

In the following years, Mozart continued to develop his talent and fluency in the musical language of his time. He composed his first Italian opera, showing a ready grasp of the buffo style, and several symphonies, including those composed in London and The Hague.

In 1773, Mozart was employed as a court musician by the ruler of Salzburg, Prince-Archbishop Hieronymus Colloredo. During his time in Salzburg, Mozart had the opportunity to work in various genres, including symphonies, sonatas, and string quartets. He also composed several violin concertos, the Sinfonia Concertante, and the Concerto for Flute and Harp.

In 1781, Mozart was dismissed from his position in Salzburg while visiting Vienna. He decided to stay in Vienna, where he achieved fame but struggled financially. During his time in Vienna, Mozart composed some of his most famous works, including operas such as "The Marriage of Figaro", "Don Giovanni", and "The Magic Flute", as well as symphonies and piano concertos.

Mozart's compositions

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a child prodigy who composed his first piece of music at the age of five. By the age of six, he had performed before two imperial courts. In 1763, Mozart and his sister, Maria Anna, went on a three-year tour of Western Europe, performing in major cities such as Munich, Augsburg, Paris, and London. In Paris, Mozart published his first piece of music, and in London, he composed his first symphony.

Mozart composed music in several genres, including opera and symphony. His most famous compositions include the motet Exsultate, Jubilate, K 165 (1773), the operas Le Nozze di Figaro (1786) and Don Giovanni (1787), and the Jupiter Symphony (1788). Mozart wrote several successful operas, including The Marriage of Figaro (1786), Don Giovanni (1787), and The Magic Flute (1791). He also composed a number of symphonies and sonatas. His last symphony—the Jupiter Symphony—is perhaps his most famous. Mozart completed the Jupiter Symphony in 1788, just three years before his death.

Mozart was a versatile composer who wrote in every major genre, including symphony, opera, the solo concerto, chamber music including string quartet and string quintet, and the piano sonata. He almost single-handedly developed and popularised the Classical piano concerto. He also wrote a great deal of religious music, including large-scale masses, as well as dances, divertimenti, serenades, and other forms of light entertainment.

Mozart's adult life in Vienna

During his early years in Vienna, Mozart supported himself by teaching piano and writing commissioned compositions. He also married Constanze Weber at St. Stephen's Cathedral in 1782. The couple had six children, but only two survived infancy. Mozart and Constanze were both unfaithful, but they stayed together until his death.

Mozart's career peaked around 1790, with the premieres of "Così fan tutte", "La Clemenza di Tito", and "The Magic Flute". However, he struggled financially throughout his time in Vienna, despite his success. He often borrowed money and had to plead with friends and patrons for support.

Mozart's final years were marked by illness and depression, but he continued to compose prolifically until his death. He died at the age of 35, leaving his final masterpiece, the Requiem, unfinished.

Mozart's death and legacy

Mozart's death and its cause have been shrouded in mystery and much speculation. He died on 5 December 1791, aged 35, and the official cause of death was recorded as "hitziges Frieselfieber" ("severe miliary fever"), referring to a rash that looks like millet seeds. However, there was no autopsy, and researchers have since proposed over 100 possible causes, including acute rheumatic fever, influenza, mercury poisoning, and a rare kidney ailment.

Mozart's funeral was a modest affair, in keeping with Viennese customs of the time, and he was buried in a common (or pauper's) grave at St. Marx Cemetery in Vienna. While it is often claimed that no mourners attended, this is disputed, and memorial services and concerts in Vienna and Prague following his death were well-attended, with his reputation and popularity rising substantially in the years immediately after his death.

Mozart's legacy is that of one of the greatest composers in the history of Western music. In his short life, he composed over 600 pieces of music, including symphonies, operas, chamber music, concertos, and masses. He is known for his mastery and perfection of existing musical forms, rather than musical innovation, and his works are admired for their melodic beauty, formal elegance, and richness of harmony and texture. Mozart's works remain popular and are considered pinnacles of their respective genres, influencing composers who followed, most notably Beethoven.

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