m usic a ppreciation class #7: mozart (part 1). t he m ozart p roject
TRANSCRIPT
FIRST COMPOSITION
"This piece was learnt by Wolfgangerl on 24 January 1761, 3 days
before his 5th birthday, between 9
and 9:30 in the evening."
EARLY REPORTS
"Everyone is amazed, especially at the boy, and everyone whom I have heard says that
his genius is incomprehensible."
ITALY (14)
Without Nannerl Formal education
Accademia filarmonica of Bologna.
Vatican Order of the Golden Spur.
THE LETTERS
"My Pen is Coarse and I am not Polite”
Daily+ Lifetime
Recipients Family Friends Colleagues
Preserved and translated
VARIETY
You can see now that I am able to write any way I want to,
beautifully and wild, straight and crooked. The other day, I was in a
bad humor, so my writing was beautiful, straight, and serious;
today I'm in a good mood, and my writing is wild, crooked and jolly."
SALIERI FACTS
Wealthy family Royal appointment from 1774-1824 Wildly popular
Vienna’s favorite composer Celebrated teacher
Mozart’s son, Franz Xaver Franz Liszt Franz Schubert Ludwig van Beethoven
Long, happy marriage with eight children Sabotaged performances of Mozart’s “The
Marriage of Figaro”
SALIERI MYTHS
Alone recognized Mozart’s geniusInsanely jealousSecret patron
RequiemMozart’s murdererBegan?
FUN AND GAMES
Truth or Myths with Salieri and Mozart
http://classyclassical.blogspot.com/2005/08/antonio-salieri-truth-or-fiction.html
AMADEUS
Peter Schaffer 1979 London
Two Olivier Awards Broadway
Three Tony Awards
Milos Foreman 1984 8 Academy awards
Best Movie
MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS 600+
Age 6 - 1791 Every major existing genre
Symphonies (41) Sacred Music
Requiem Concertos
Violin Woodwinds: Clarinet Piano (#21 in C Major, 2nd movement; March 10, 1785!)
Chamber Music “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” (Youtube)
22 Operas Age 11 - 1791
1: SINGSPIEL
VernacularSpoken dialogueLight subject matter
“The Abduction From The Seraglio”
“The Magic Flute”
DA PONTE QUICK FACTS: PROFESSIONAL
Writer Playwright Poet Librettist Royal Court Appointment by (Franz) Joseph II
Close personal and professional friendship with Salieri
DA PONTE QUICK FACTS: TRIVIA
Personal life
Born Jewish, converted to Catholicism Priest Married his mistress Defrocked, opened a brothel Moved to New York
US Citizen Philadelphia grocer Columbia University professor Library of Congress
BEAUMARCHAIS FACTS Watch-maker, inventor, musician, politician, fugitive, spy,
publisher, arms-dealer, and revolutionary (French and American)
Playwright
The Barber of SevilleThe Marriage Of FigaroLa Mère coupable
CHARACTERS
Aristocracy
1. Count Almaviva2. Dr. Bartolo3. Don Basilio4. Rosina (Countess Almaviva)
5. Marcellina6. Don Curzio
Commoners
1. Figaro2. Susanna3. Cherubino*4. Antonio5. Servants
*Trouser role
REACTION TO “THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO”
Napoleon:“Everything you need to know in order to understand the spirit of (French) Revolution is contained in the truths found in Figaro.”
Banned by Marie Antoinette Why?
And her brother?
CONFLICTS
Librettist (Da Ponte) works for the censor (Franz Joseph II)
Librettist is hired to write for “rival” (Salieri)
TWENTY+ UNINTERRUPTED MINUTES!
1. Susanna
2. Count & Countess
3. add Susanna
4. add Figaro
5. add Antonio remove Antonia
6. add Marcellina, Bartolo, Basilio
1. Solo
2. Duet
3. Trio4. Quartet
5. Quintet Quartet
6. Octet