Biography of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Biography of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart


Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Our Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born Johannes Chrysostom Wolfgang Gottlieb Mozart , on January 27, 1756 , in Salzburg , Austria . His father , Leopold Mozart , was a talented musician and great violin teacher . He worked as a second Kapellmeister at the court of the Archbishopric ( Salzburg was a Papal State ) , serving directly to the Prince - Archbishop Siegmund von Schrattenbach , a cultured and sensitive man of the arts .

Wolfgang 's childhood was lovely. From very early showed extraordinary musical vocation. At four years began to take music lessons from his father, and quickly learned harpsichord and violin . Was soon composing little pieces , dazzling the father and friends of the Mozart family.

But what really caught the attention of all was the skill of the boy to the keyboard , and virtuoso career that could have made ​​little Wolfgang Leopold shining eyes . It was a unique opportunity both to show his gifts as an educator as to show the glory that was his son . And with six year olds , the prodigy did his first tour of Europe .

Wolfgang did resounding success in the courts. Marveled at all , sovereigns, princes , courtiers , with his exploits (often more than acrobatic circus - musical ) . The boy was a miracle and spent several years between trips with his father and home in Salzburg . But he found time for his first more serious compositions , as the first opera , La finta semplice , written in 1768 ( when I was twelve ! ) .

At thirteen , he was appointed Wolfgang Konzertmeister court , which would be equivalent to the post of prime violin. Spent time in Salzburg and went to Italy , where he received some honors and met the music and especially the Italian opera. It was a revealing journey that marked the maturing of young beginning to print your personal brand to the compositions , as Mithridate and Lucio Silla operas .

But when he returned he suffered the hard line of the new archbishop of Salzburg , Hieronymus Colloredo . Dictatorial genius, Colloredo considered arrogant and relaxed Mozart - or bums - too . And tightened the reins on both musicians . For four long years , both not out of the court ( gave only a " trip " to Vienna) , which made Wolfgang give momentum to his compositions . Wrote copiously - string quartets , concertos , symphonies , operas ...
In the midst of this fertile period , full of lovely pieces , made ​​to the court as to nobles and burghers of the city so much that Mozart decided to drop this servile life. In 1777, he resigned the Archbishop Colloredo , who - maximum humiliation - and yet did not accept returned the letter .

Nevertheless , Mozart continued with their plans . Went in search of jobs and opportunity for Europe , accompanied by his mother , as Leopold had been in Salzburg , on behalf of its obligations with Colloredo . The composer , in his wanderings , he came into contact with the orchestra of Mannheim , who encouraged him to write new works , freer than the composite in court . And met the young singer Aloysia Weber , he fell in love . But , in the end , was rejected .

In 1779 , grudgingly , Mozart had to return to Salzburg , he considered unbearable. He spent two years imprisoned in court , " playing at the tables and chairs ," as he later wrote . It was an obviously bad mood , hostility and indifference of Colloredo 's court , but kept Mozart composed : from the period the Coronation Mass , the Sinfonia Concertante for violin and viola , the Posthornserenade , Idomeneus the opera, among other works materials .

Colloredo , however , was the composer as a " domestic employee " , in the words of Mozart himself . In 1781 , the archbishop and the court were to meet Joseph II , the new Emperor of Austria , Vienna . Mozart had some success in town and got good number of admirers . Wanted to stay , but Colloredo wanted to send him to Salzburg to deliver a package . The request was promptly refused . In May , after another negative composer , Colloredo called him jerk , scoundrel and vagabond and expelled . Mozart resigned , but she only had "accepted" the 8th of June, when it was sacked by kicking head personal Colloredo , Count Arco . " So this is the way to convince people , to soften people ? Throwing the door with a kick in the ass ? This is the style ? " He declared in a letter the composer .

But Mozart was happy . Succeeded freedom he wanted, and left only win the Viennese public. What he got , at least in the early years . He became a virtuoso ( was more respected as a performer than as a creator , evil, moreover, that hit much of the great songwriters ) known and asked , and took his life with a certain affluence.
He married in 1782 Constanze Weber , Aloysia 's sister , a musician of only average talent, but affable and affectionate woman. The two , although not exactly in love , lived very well. In this climate , the early years of Viennese Mozart were quiet , but he was not exactly a quiet person . As Lange wrote his brother , who painted his portrait , the composer expressed a certain " internal anguish " , which contrasted with the joy and frivolity that showed in society. It was a melancholy and irriquieta while person .

The pursuit of this " I " that always vexed Mozart , took him to Freemasonry . He entered the order as an apprentice in 1784 , and the following year was already master. It was a serious , and really engaged membership , as evidenced by a series of works of Masonic inspiration, dating from this era .
The influence of Freemasonry is not limited to these works devoted to the order . In other parts of the period , Mozart reaches the high point in terms of depth and personal expression . Works which are no ties were imposed - not the court nor the bourgeoisie - and symbolize the victory of freedom as desired by the composer. Was a free man , perhaps the first in the history of music .

But his popularity among the Viennese society falls , perhaps in consequence of this - after all , Mozart was composing more to himself than to the public . The great opera The Marriage of Figaro , premiered in 1786 , was a financial failure , and material concerns start to appear .
A temporary shelter was Prague. There host to The Marriage of Figaro was enthusiastic , which led to the commissioning of another opera Don Giovanni . Was a resounding success among Czechs , but the premiere in Vienna fiasco resulted in equal or greater to the previous opera. The economic situation worsens Mozart , which can be noted by the number of loans and debts . Orders thinned , and more fame no longer existed .

In 1791 , he received a Masonic friend to order one opera. It would be a different opera , not to be staged for the Emperor , but to the people. The story , through a fairytale, it was the eulogy of Freemasonry and its values ​​( the search itself , wisdom and brotherhood ) . The Magic Flute was the greatest masterpiece of Mozart . His debut in a small popular theater on the outskirts of Vienna, was a total and continuous triumph. The presentations did not cease and the fame of the opera ran throughout the city, as a whooping .

Orders to Mozart , consequently, increased markedly . Among them , a requiem . There are many legends surrounding this issue . There is talk of a " mystery man" that would have made the order , without identifying themselves , and whose presence terrify Mozart , already close to his own death . The mysterious man was personified Death ?
The film Amadeus , Milos Forman , shows the rival composer, Antonio Salieri , as the ordering party . Indeed , for some time it was believed that Mozart was poisoned by the jealous and spiteful Salieri . Currently , there is no reason to take seriously this hypothesis , but the lives of great artists always involves great fantasies - as an example , the legends surrounding Paganini .

In reality , there is no " mystery man " . The Requiem had been commissioned by a nobleman , the Count von Walsegg - Stuppach , who wanted to honor the memory of his wife and impersonate as the music composer .
Mozart , very busy ( many commissions and performances of the Magic Flute ) and sick ( his kidneys were almost destroyed ) , was writing the Requiem when he could, quickly , giving even more importance to other articles . Was he bothered by the fact write a funeral Mass ? Speculation aside , the fact is he could not fulfill the order. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died on December 5, 1791 .
Ultimately , the Requiem completed by Franz Xaver Süssmayr disciple , eventually composed himself .

work

Mozart , Haydn and Beethoven are the main pillars of Classicism . But while Haydn , older, pioneer and initiator , had one foot in the Baroque and Beethoven newest, magnifier and revolutionary, had one foot in Romanticism , Mozart is the central element of the period . Schumann used to say that " Mozart 's music Greece " and the phrase could not be more correct . If Mozart had not existed , the second half of the eighteenth century could even be considered just a transitional phase . The Mozartian work , then, is the maturity of the classical style , and its expression purest and high .

However , Mozart was still beyond . He was far from a frivolous and carefree personality as a child , as was believed until some time . Mozart was extremely distressed and irriquieta in search of his " I " person . " In Salzburg I do not know who I am , I am all too often nothing and I do not ask much , but even so not so little : . ! Enough for me just be something ," he complained to his father , as was seventeen . Older, found his answer in Freemasonry , but all his work reflects his inner quest . As Jean and Brigitte Massin wrote , " is that quest that makes the first of Mozart's musical geniuses of our mental modernity."

At the same time , so it can be Mozart , the classical , the most classic and the most romantic. In his work , the formalism , frivolity and superficiality unite to expressiveness , subjectivity , feelings . It's a big contradiction that Mozart always the most harmonious way possible deals . The result is a sublime and enthralling work that never fails to engage the listener .
The genera Mozartian by nature are two : the concert , mostly for piano, and opera. But he also cultivated all forms of his time in a vast production ( about six hundred works ) for such a short life of only 35 years.

symphonies

Mozart wrote 41 symphonies . The former are generally quite short works in three movements. This early stage , there is the Symphony no. 25 , precisely one of the pioneers to include a minuet between the slow movement and the Finale . The beginning of this unique symphony is quite vigorous and tense, and became famous.
Another key element in the production Mozartian symphony is Symphony no. 35, Haffner . She is the first symphony composed in Vienna , and from this , only appear masterpieces : Symphony no. 36 , Linz , and the last three, the Symphony no. 39 , K.543 , the famous and the fey Symphony . 40 , K.550 and Symphony no. 41 , Jupiter , the largest of all . Only the last trilogy ( which, incidentally , was composed for a concert later canceled due to lack of public) , Mozart guarantee place as great forerunner of Beethoven .

serenades

Music entertainment will is a recurring genre in Mozartian work . This is mainly due to their period in the court of Salzburg when it was constantly requested the composition of serenades and entertainment , light music to liven up parties, dances and celebrations.
The most famous part of the genre is the Serenade in G Major , K. 525 , better known as Eine Kleine Nachtmusik , whose first notes were so famous they have become something like the signature of Mozart to the common listener. Also famous are the Serenade K. 239 , night music , and the Serenade K. 250, Haffner . Among the amusements , might highlight K. 251 in D Major .

Chamber Music

Haydn was the great creator and consolidor classical chamber music - that is, one that revolves around the string quartet and the sonata form . Mozart took it forward , and always felt debtor master . So much so that his greatest masterpieces in the genre are dedicated to it : it's six quartets composed in 1785 . The last of them , K. 465 in C major , known as the Dissonant Quartet , is the most famous of them , both by the initial " dissonance " as the sublime slow movement .

Mozart also tried other instrumental combinations and virtually invented one: the quartet with piano. He wrote two of them , and the first K. 478 , is the most important . In the field of quintets , Mozart composed two famous examples : the String Quintet K. 515 and the Clarinet Quintet K. 581.

Instrumental music

Mozart was a great piano virtuoso , and could not forget his favorite instrument . Besides the Sonata in A minor , K. 331 , a very famous Rondo alla Turca from , there are the sonata K. 310 (also in A minor ) and K. 457 in C Minor . For violin and piano sonatas are important K. 454 and 526 .
Out of the sonata genre, Mozart wrote a beautiful and highly personal work , the Fantasia for Piano in C minor , K. 396 . It was composed in 1784 , by which time he was in love with Theresa von Trattner , the piece is a confession of his feelings . In many ways , it is almost a harbinger of romanticism .

church music

Mozart , who worked a period of life in a papal state , Salzburg , with the boss a Prince- Archbishop , wrote a number of parts for the Catholic liturgy .
The Requiem , his last work , is the largest representative of the genre . It impresses by the nobility , the beauty of the themes and density . It is worthy companion of St Matthew Passion by Bach , and the Missa Solemnis , Beethoven , through the grandeur and profound reflections that causes the listener.

Mozart also wrote two important Masses : The Great Mass in C Minor (which remained unfinished ) and Coronation Mass . Ave Verum , choral small proportion , but of great beauty also stands out from the sacred Mozartian production.
óperasMozart operista was the greatest of his time and had great sense of drama . The mozartianas operas are divided into two groups : the smaller , usually the first of his career , and the great , the immortal operas .

Among the former, besides the composite when very young, are Mithridate , Lucio Silla , King Shepherd , Idomeneus and La Clemenza di Tito . These works do not deny the genius of Mozart , but they are not a traditional either . Interestingly , these operas were the best welcome we received from the public in their debuts .
The group is composed of immortal operas by traditionally elected " five peaks " of Mozartian drama . In chronological order : The Abduction from the Seraglio , The Marriage of Figaro , Don Giovanni , Così fan tutte and The Magic Flute . The latter is considered the largest, and one of the most important operas of all time . She, like The Abduction from the Seraglio , is a Singspiel , German music genre that alternates with spoken dialogue .

concerts

The concert , especially for piano, Mozart , and has paper similar to that of the symphony , Beethoven importance . Piano concertos Mozart composed in his life ( in all, there are 27 ) , and virtually created the genre , defining the templates for the following composers .
He started the genre with nine year olds in a concert based on three sonatas by Johann Christian Bach . But the first concerto for piano really noteworthy is number 9 in Eb Major , K. 271 , composed in 1777 for Jeunehomme pianist. The dedication earned the nickname of the concert , and even today it is known as Jeunehomme .

Back in Vienna, Mozart composed the Concerto no. 17 K. 453, which would be followed by a series of 14 concert written between 1784 and 1786. Among them, the number 20 , dramatic, the very famous 21 ( Andante which was used in the Swedish film Elvira Madigan ) , the cheerful and cherubic 23 and the dense and almost symphonic 24 in C minor , perhaps the greatest of all.
For other instruments , highlight the first three violin concertos (especially the third , K. 216 ) , the fourth horn concerto , K. 495 , Concerto for Flute and Harp, K. 299 , Concerto for Flute in . 1 K 313 , Concerto for Bassoon , K. 191 , and the gorgeous Concerto for Clarinet , K. 622.

Mozart also wrote copies of an heir genre of Baroque concerto grosso : a concertante symphony, concerto which equates to more than one soloist. The best known is the Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola , K. 364 , a gorgeous, deeply personal and exciting work .

Tweet