Transcript Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1756-1791

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
1756-1791
Considered by many to be the
greatest composer to ever live.
Copyright © 2005 - Frankel Consulting Services, Inc.
Mozart’s Family
From left to right…
Nannerl Mozart (sister)
Wolfgang Amadeus
Maria Anna (mother)
Leopold Mozart (father)
A bit of trivia…
Mozart’s real name was
Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus
Theophilus
but he preferred to be called Wolfgang
Amadeus
both Theophilus and Amadeus mean loved by God
Mozart’s Life
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Mozart was born on January 27, 1756 in
Salzburg, Austria
His parents were Leopold, a musician, and
Maria Anna.
He was a normal child for the first three years.
He then began to show signs of the prodigy he
was to become at the keyboard. He began
composing at age five.
Salzburg
Mozart’s Piano
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Mozart composed his first symphony at age 8.
Mozart’s father pushed him very hard to become a
musical genius. Mozart spent his childhood touring
Europe with his father and sister performing for
monarchs and church officials.
At age 10 Mozart proposed to Marie Antoinette, wife
of King Louis XVI.
Mozart was by all accounts a little brat.
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Mozart married Constanze Weber, the
daughter of his landlady, at age 26. His
father bitterly disapproved. *By that age,
Mozart had already composed 415 pieces
of music.
Mozart then moved to Vienna.
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Mozart died 10 years later on December
5, 1791. He had over $150,000 in debts
due to his party lifestyle.
He was buried in an unmarked grave
because he had no money to pay for a
burial plot.
Famous Compositions
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Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Symphonies No. 25, 40, 41
The Marriage of Figaro
The Magic Flute
Don Giovanni
Requiem
Twinkle Twinkle
His Musical Mark
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Mozart never made a mistake when he wrote
down parts - it was as if he was getting the
music straight from an “unworldly” source.
When he began to write the work down, it was
already finished in his head.
Mozart had perfect pitch and didn’t need a piano
to compose - he could also play anything he
heard instantly.
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Mozart’s music was very emotional although much
of the other music written at the same time is void
of emotion.
Mozart breathed new life into Opera - all of his
operas are still regularly performed today.
Mozart’s music production is unbelievable - if he
would have lived until 70 his output would have
been over 2,500 pieces. Imagine what he could
have done had used Sibelius…
Mozart’s Manuscripts
And now for “Amadeus”
What was fact, and what was fiction?
Amadeus
What is fact?
What is fiction?
Fact
Mozart was commissioned to write a Requiem Mass by a
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“grey stranger”
Mozart believed he was being poisoned by this stranger
Mozart was buried in a mass grave
Salieri confessed to killing Mozart
Mozart’s students completed the Requiem so that
Constanze could get paid for it.
Fiction
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Was not an alcoholic
Never unfaithful to Constanze
The “Grey Stranger” was a man named WalseggStuppach - known for commissioning works and then
claiming that he wrote them.
Mozart was known more as a performer and teacher
than a composer of Operas in Vienna
Salieri was extremely successful - never “mediocre”
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He actually died of complications from Rheumatic fever
Salieri was much more popular than Mozart in Vienna
Salieri became jealous of Mozart after his death Mozart’s music became far more popular
While there was a rivalry between Mozart and Salieri there was also respect.
Mozart wasn’t commissioned to write an opera by
Joseph II until 6 years after he came to Vienna.