Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was an Austria
composer – one of the greatest in
music history. Even though he died before his 36th birthday,
Mozart created more than 600 works.
He was born on January 27, 1756 in Salzburg. His father, Leopold was
a composer, violin teacher and the leader of a local orchestra.
Young Wolfgang started playing the harpsichord at the age of three.
He composed his own piano pieces at five, his first symphonies when he
reached nine and whole operas at the age of 12. Wolfgang never went to school.
His father taught him languages, geography and history, math and of course,
music.
Mozart came from a loving family. He loved to play duets with his older sister
and he was very close to his mother. His father guided him through all stages in
his life, taught him how to deal with money and people, and how
to behave in society.
Leopold took his son with him on many concert tours through Europe, where
he performed before kings, queens and noblemen of other countries. He also
gave public performances and met many other musicians.
When he came back to Salzburg, Mozart started
working for the archbishop. However, he didn’t
really become happy in Salzburg. He wasn’t paid
very much and the archbishops didn’t care very
much about music.
In 1781 Mozart left Salzburg and went to Vienna,
a town where music was very important. Here he
gave piano lessons and conducted his own
works. He got jobs from all kinds of people, but
he didn’t become rich. A year before coming to
Vienna Mozart married Constanze Weber.
Although he worked very hard, Wolfgang
couldn’t raise enough money to live with his
family. His health started getting poorer and on
December 5, 1791 he died, probably of kidney
failure .
Mozart’s music
Mozart was a musical genius. Most of his works became well-known after his
death and today, people of all age groups enjoy Mozart’s light and rhythmic
style. The composer wrote just about every kind of music that was popular in his
time. He wrote over 40 symphonies. Some of them were only overtures for
operas and lasted only a few minutes, but others are works that consist of
4 movements and last for half an hour. His last and most famous symphony, Nr.
41, is nicknamed the Jupiter.
Many of his 22 operas have become famous all over the world. The Marriage of
Figaro (1786) and Don Giovanni (1787) are operas that Mozart composed with
Italian words. The Magic Flute is probably his best-known German opera.
Wolfgang also created music that was played at masses in church-mostly in
Salzburg. The main musical instrument of these compositions is the organ. His
best known piece of work is the Requiem (Mass for the Dead) which he began in
1791 but couldn’t finish before his death.
Mozart also composed lighter pieces of music called serenades, which were
played at outdoor concerts. One of the most famous is “A Little Night Music”.
Throughout his life, Mozart concentrated on music for one or two instruments.
He was fond of writing string quartets for two violins, a viola and a cello. He
also composed sonatas for solo instruments, like the piano, violin and the flute.
Mozart’s style
Most of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s works are cheerful and full of life. He was
a person with a sense of humor and he liked to laugh a lot and joke around.
Apart from lighter music, Mozart produced serious works that can be found in his
late concertos and symphonies.
After his death a German music lover, Ludwig Köchel, collected and numbered
all of Mozart’s works. This catalogue is known as the Köchelverzeichnis.
Words
archbishop = the highest priest of a country
behave = act
care about = if you think that something is important
cheerful = happy
close = if you like somebody very much
compose = to write music
composer = someone who writes music
compositions = works
concentrate =focus on, think very much about
conduct = to stand in front of musicians or singers and direct them
consist of =to be made up of
create = make
deal with =to be able to work with or handle something
guide = to lead
enjoy = like
flute = a musical instrument like a thin pipe. You hold it across your lips, blow
air into it and press buttons to make a sound.
fond of = to like a lot
genius = a person who is very very intelligent or can do something much
better than others
harpsichord = an instrument like a small piano. It was used up to the 18th
century.
kidney failure = one of the two organs in your back that separates waste
products from your blood and makes urine. If one these organs do not work
any more we call it a failure.
language =the system of communication that a country has
local = a place near your home or in your neighborhood
loving = to show you love somebody
mass = a ceremony in church
movement = one part of a longer piece of music. A symphony usually has 4
movements
nickname = a name that is given to something
noblemen =a member of the highest class, usually with a title
overture = a short piece of music that comes before a longer piece
perform = to play music in front of people
popular = if lots of people like something
public performance =to play in front of people
raise money = to earn money so that you can live
sense of humor = to understand things that are funny
serious = music that is not so cheerful and light
society =people in general
stages = phase, part of
string quartets = 4 people who play musical instruments with strings
symphony = a longer piece of music, usually in 4 parts and played by an
orchestra
viola =a wooden musical instrument that you play like a violin. It is larger and
has a lower sound
