Transcript Mozart and Musical Change: The Classical Period 1750-1800

Mozart and Musical Change:
The Classical Period
1750-1827
It’s lucky for us Bach died in
1750 because that neatly
th
divides the 18 century in half.
Bach’s death in 1750 ends the
Baroque period and begins a
new musical period called the
Classical period.
The most
famous
composer of
the Classical
period was
Mozart.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
1756-1791
As with many
great composers,
Mozart’s first
teacher was his
father, Leopold
Mozart.
Leopold Mozart, 1765.
Listen to
Mozart’s
Minuet
Mozart could write
music before he
could write words!
When he was five he
wrote a minuet for
keyboard.
A minuet is a slow dance for couples
and groups of people. It was popular
during his day.
Mozart was so
talented as a child
that he played for
kings and queens.
This portrait of him
was painted in 1762,
when he was just six
years old.
Children during Mozart’s time dressed
just like adults. He just finished playing
for Empress Maria Theresa of Austria.
By the time Mozart
was six he was already
starting to write
harder and harder
music.
Listen to an early piano solo
he wrote. Does it sound
different than the minuet
you just heard?
As Mozart grew
older, his
reputation spread.
Not only was he a
gifted musician,
but he could also
compose his own
music.
Mozart at 14, 1770. He’s
playing the harpsichord.
Unlike Bach,
whose music was
very complicated
and serious,
Mozart’s music
was meant to be
fun and
entertaining.
Mozart 2 years before
his death in 1777.
Listen to Mozart’s
Rondo alla Turka
This is a portrait of Mozart’s family. The portrait on the wall
is of his dead mother, Anna Maria. His father is to the right.
The girl with the big hair is his older sister, Nannerl. Mozart
is in the red jacket. Can you identify the instrument?
Mozart was
only 36 years
old when he
died in 1791.
In his short
life he wrote
over 600
This portrait, painted after Mozart’s
death, is said to look the most like him. compositions!
It was painted in 1819.
Mozart died penniless
despite his enormous
talent. The greatest
composer the world has
ever known is buried in
an unmarked grave.
Some believe Mozart
may have been
murdered by a jealous
rival. What do you
think?
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Listen to Variations on Twinkle,
Twinkle, Little Star by Mozart
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