Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born January 27, 1756. Died December 5, 1791. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was
baptised Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart . He was one of the
greatest composers of the classical period. He studied and admired the works of
Bach, Handel and Haydn
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By the age of 6 he was writing his own compositions.
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He wrote his first opera, Mitridate Re di Ponto,
in 1770 when he was only 14 years old.
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He composed his first great mass, aged 12 – Misa
Brevis in G
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While visiting the Vatican, Mozart heard
Gregorio Allegri’s Miserere performed in the Sistine Chapel. He was able to
write out the entire score from memory. Previously, the music had not been
reproduced outside the Vatican.
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Haydn was full of praise for the young Mozart,
telling his father there was no other man like him.
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In 1784 he joined the Freemasons – an
organisation dedicated to mutual friendship.
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In April 1787, Beethoven, then aged 16, arrived
in Vienna to get two weeks worth of musical lessons from Mozart.
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At the age of 17, he received a prestigious
appointment to play in the court of Vienna, Austria.
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He married Constanze Weber in 1782. They had six
children, but only two survived infancy.
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Mozart earned a substantial sum from his
successful operas, but he was extravagant in spending and often ended up in
financial difficulties.
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He was a Roman Catholic and some of his greatest
works were religious in nature.
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He died of kidney failure, possibly related to a
Strep infection and was buried in a common grave with little fanfare, though
that was common for the time.
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When the nine-year-old Mozart gave recitals in
London, some thought he must be a midget as no child could possibly play the
harpsichord so well.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is an anagram of ‘A
famous German waltz god’.
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Mozart’s sister Maria Anna, known as ‘Nannerl’,
was a fine pianist but was not allowed to perform in public after reaching
marriageable age.
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There is a rare deformity of the ear known as
‘Mozart ear’, though whether Mozart himself suffered from it has long been a
matter of debate.
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In all known portraits of Mozart, his left ear
is either covered by a wig or hidden from view.
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Pope Clement XIV made the 14-year-old Mozart a
Knight of the Order of the Golden Spur.
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Mozart was not just a great composer; he was
also a good and very keen billiards player.
Greatest Works of
Mozart
The Magic Flute, (Opera)
Don Giovanni. (opera)
Marriage of Figaro (opera)
Concertos
Piano Concerto (K. 595 in B-flat)
Piano Concerto No.21 in C, K.467
Clarinet Concerto K. 622,
Symphonies
Symphony No.39 in E flat, K.543
Choral Works
Ave verum corpus K. 618,
Requiem K. 626.
Other
String quintets (K. 614 in E-flat)
