Wolfgang MozartWolfgang Mozart

By Garrett AndersonBy Garrett Anderson

BirthBirth

Wolfgang Mozart was born January Wolfgang Mozart was born January 27th 1756 in Austria.27th 1756 in Austria.

He was born to his parents Leopold He was born to his parents Leopold and Anna Maria Mozart.and Anna Maria Mozart.

He was born into a very musical He was born into a very musical family and only had one sibling. family and only had one sibling.

Family Family

Mozart’s family was extremely Mozart’s family was extremely musical and he was introduced to musical and he was introduced to music at a very young age. music at a very young age.

Mozart grew up with only one other Mozart grew up with only one other sibling, his other siblings not sibling, his other siblings not surviving past child birth. surviving past child birth.

Mozart’s father Leopold was a Mozart’s father Leopold was a teacher/composer that mainly teacher/composer that mainly focused on the violin. focused on the violin.

ProdigyProdigy

Mozart’s father Leopold quit his job Mozart’s father Leopold quit his job wanting to focus on his sons talents wanting to focus on his sons talents realizing he was special.realizing he was special.

Mozart not only excelled in keyboard Mozart not only excelled in keyboard but also the violin at a very young but also the violin at a very young age.age.

Mozart wrote his first composition Mozart wrote his first composition Andante in CAndante in C at the age of 5! at the age of 5!

Touring YearsTouring Years

Leopold took Mozart and his sister Maria Leopold took Mozart and his sister Maria around Europe to tour for 11 years.around Europe to tour for 11 years.

Throughout the tour, Mozart continued Throughout the tour, Mozart continued to write multiple compositions, including to write multiple compositions, including his first opera, his first opera, La Finta SempliceLa Finta Semplice..

At the end of Mozart’s tour, he was At the end of Mozart’s tour, he was employed as a court musician in employed as a court musician in Salzburg, his home-town. Salzburg, his home-town.

SalzburgSalzburg

During his time working in Salzburg, During his time working in Salzburg, Mozart composed some of his most Mozart composed some of his most famous works.famous works.

Mozart also gained an enthusiasm for Mozart also gained an enthusiasm for violin concertos, but later turned to violin concertos, but later turned to piano concertos. piano concertos.

In 1777, Mozart resigned his position as In 1777, Mozart resigned his position as the court musician in Salzburg and the court musician in Salzburg and began searching for another job outside began searching for another job outside of Salzburg. of Salzburg.

First Opera First Opera

Mozart’s first opera was titled Mozart’s first opera was titled IdomeneoIdomeneo.. His opera His opera IdomeneoIdomeneo became very became very

popular, and earned Mozart a ticket to popular, and earned Mozart a ticket to Vienna to perform on behalf of his Vienna to perform on behalf of his Salzburg employer. Salzburg employer.

While his initial experience in Vienna While his initial experience in Vienna wasn’t an enjoyable one, Mozart decided wasn’t an enjoyable one, Mozart decided to stay in Vienna to further his career as to stay in Vienna to further his career as a composer and performer. a composer and performer.

ViennaVienna

In Vienna, Mozart flourished as a In Vienna, Mozart flourished as a pianist, performing for most of the pianist, performing for most of the population. population.

His opera His opera Die Entführung aus dem Die Entführung aus dem SerailSerail, gained a lot of recognition , gained a lot of recognition and achieved success throughout all and achieved success throughout all of German-speaking Europe.of German-speaking Europe.

MarriageMarriage

In Vienna, Mozart met his wife In Vienna, Mozart met his wife Constanze Weber and they married Constanze Weber and they married in 1782.in 1782.

Together, they had six children, but Together, they had six children, but only two survived past infancy. only two survived past infancy.

InfluencesInfluences

During his time in Vienna, Mozart began During his time in Vienna, Mozart began acquainting himself with the works of acquainting himself with the works of other composers and began to learn from other composers and began to learn from them. them.

Some of these included Bach and Handel Some of these included Bach and Handel along with other Baroque composers. along with other Baroque composers.

Mozart's study of these composers Mozart's study of these composers created a baroque style that soon became created a baroque style that soon became evident throughout Mozart’s works. evident throughout Mozart’s works.

Baroque StyleBaroque Style

His most famous work that includes His most famous work that includes baroque techniques is his opera baroque techniques is his opera Die Die ZauberflöteZauberflöte, also known as , also known as The Magic The Magic FluteFlute. .

Mozart was also influenced by Haydn, Mozart was also influenced by Haydn, whom he frequently met with in Vienna. whom he frequently met with in Vienna.

Mozart appreciated Haydn’s quartets Mozart appreciated Haydn’s quartets and then created some of his own that and then created some of his own that were dedicated to Haydn. were dedicated to Haydn.

ConcertsConcerts

In 1782, Mozart began promoting himself In 1782, Mozart began promoting himself with concerts where he performed on his with concerts where he performed on his own. own.

He would present new piano concertos for He would present new piano concertos for each season. Primarily, these concerts each season. Primarily, these concerts were small, but they quickly grew in were small, but they quickly grew in popularity. popularity.

Mozart’s income quickly grew as well, Mozart’s income quickly grew as well, however Mozart relished in his new income, however Mozart relished in his new income, and left almost nothing to his savings. and left almost nothing to his savings.

OperasOperas

In 1786, Mozart composed one of his In 1786, Mozart composed one of his most famous operas, most famous operas, The Marriage The Marriage of Figaroof Figaro, which was quickly , which was quickly followed by his opera followed by his opera Don GiovanniDon Giovanni..

Mozart quickly became the most Mozart quickly became the most well known composer in all of well known composer in all of Europe as his operas gained more Europe as his operas gained more popularity. popularity.

Later YearsLater Years

As Mozart grew older, his As Mozart grew older, his circumstances began to decline. He circumstances began to decline. He wasn’t making as much money as he wasn’t making as much money as he was before, and due to his lack of was before, and due to his lack of ability to save, he became unable to ability to save, he became unable to keep up with his lavish lifestyle. keep up with his lavish lifestyle.

He stopped performing in concerts, He stopped performing in concerts, and the popularity of music began to and the popularity of music began to decline as well due to the war.decline as well due to the war.

Financial StrugglesFinancial Struggles

Mozart was forced to move his Mozart was forced to move his family into a lower-income family into a lower-income neighborhood, but this didn’t really neighborhood, but this didn’t really help his situation all that much. help his situation all that much.

Mozart tried to find ways of getting Mozart tried to find ways of getting money, but did so unsuccessfully. money, but did so unsuccessfully. Eventually, he resorted to borrowing Eventually, he resorted to borrowing money from friends. money from friends.

IllnessIllness

Mozart became ill in 1791.Mozart became ill in 1791. The actual illness is still not known The actual illness is still not known

to this day, but most the common to this day, but most the common theory is that it was a military fever. theory is that it was a military fever.

Although he suffered greatly from Although he suffered greatly from this sickness, he managed to this sickness, he managed to compose even more works that compose even more works that acquired massive appreciation. acquired massive appreciation.

Final YearsFinal Years

While Mozart was sick he composed While Mozart was sick he composed his famous his famous Requiem Requiem K. 626. K. 626.

Mozart advertised his opera Mozart advertised his opera The The Magic FluteMagic Flute, which gave him a , which gave him a stable enough income, allowing him stable enough income, allowing him to begin paying off some of his to begin paying off some of his debts. debts.

DeathDeath

Mozart was buried in a common Mozart was buried in a common grave in the St Marx Cemetery on grave in the St Marx Cemetery on Dec 7th. Dec 7th.

Mozart was cared for by his wife and Mozart was cared for by his wife and sister-in-law until his death in 1791, sister-in-law until his death in 1791, leaving all his debts to his wife. leaving all his debts to his wife.

After his death there were a lot of After his death there were a lot of biographies written and Mozart’s biographies written and Mozart’s popularity grew very substantially. popularity grew very substantially.

His LegacyHis Legacy

Mozart managed to produce some of Mozart managed to produce some of the world’s most famous classical the world’s most famous classical music, that is still highly recognized in music, that is still highly recognized in today’s modern world. today’s modern world.

His works helped influence composers His works helped influence composers such as Ludwig Van Beethoven and such as Ludwig Van Beethoven and still influence artists today. still influence artists today.

His legacy as the greatest classical His legacy as the greatest classical composer will live on forever. composer will live on forever.

Mozart’s RequiemMozart’s Requiem

Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor (K. 626) Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor (K. 626) was composed in Vienna in 1791. was composed in Vienna in 1791.

It is believed that the major influence of It is believed that the major influence of the Requiem came from Mozart trying the Requiem came from Mozart trying to rearrange Handel’s work Messiah. to rearrange Handel’s work Messiah.

The Requiem was left unfinished at The Requiem was left unfinished at Mozart’s death and there are multiple Mozart’s death and there are multiple theories on how it was completed. theories on how it was completed.

Requiem ContinuedRequiem Continued

Mozart agreed to write the Requiem Mozart agreed to write the Requiem but during this time was very ill. He but during this time was very ill. He only received half of the payment up only received half of the payment up front for composing it and this is why front for composing it and this is why the rumors began that his wife the rumors began that his wife Constanze had someone else finish it Constanze had someone else finish it to receive the full payment. to receive the full payment.

It is believed that the requiem was It is believed that the requiem was worked on by Freystädtler , Joseph von worked on by Freystädtler , Joseph von Eybler and Franz Xavier Sussmayr.Eybler and Franz Xavier Sussmayr.

Requiem ConclusionRequiem Conclusion

Once completed, the work was Once completed, the work was submitted to Count Walsegg. There submitted to Count Walsegg. There was a counterfeit signature of Mozart was a counterfeit signature of Mozart that was dated 1792 on the piece. that was dated 1792 on the piece.

All of the intrigue of how the All of the intrigue of how the Requiem was actually finished just Requiem was actually finished just adds to its story, but never the less it adds to its story, but never the less it remains one of the most famous remains one of the most famous pieces of music ever composed. pieces of music ever composed.

Requiem Listening GuideRequiem Listening Guide Introitus: aeternam Introitus: aeternam

RequiemRequiem It is believed that Mozart completed this It is believed that Mozart completed this portion of the requiem. portion of the requiem.

This section of the requiem has parts that This section of the requiem has parts that are in the major and minor key.are in the major and minor key.

The background music features mainly The background music features mainly strings and oboes.strings and oboes.

He alternates the voices of the bases, altos, He alternates the voices of the bases, altos, sopranos and tenors throughout and sopranos and tenors throughout and eventually has them all sing at the same eventually has them all sing at the same time as well. time as well.

Kyrie Listening GuideKyrie Listening Guide This movement starts with bases singing This movement starts with bases singing

“Kyrie” “Kyrie” The movement begins in a Minor Key. The movement begins in a Minor Key. The movement of Kyrie features violins The movement of Kyrie features violins

accompanied by other string instruments. accompanied by other string instruments. It ends with all the voices coming It ends with all the voices coming

together singing “Kyrie Eleison” also together singing “Kyrie Eleison” also adding percussion to add effect.adding percussion to add effect.

Domine Jesu Listening Domine Jesu Listening GuideGuide

This song begins with all voices This song begins with all voices and is in the Major Key. Before and is in the Major Key. Before going to just women singing. going to just women singing. Giving a calming feeling. Giving a calming feeling.

As the men re-enter the song in As the men re-enter the song in the middle it begins to add a the middle it begins to add a dramatic and mysterious feel. dramatic and mysterious feel.

The song ends with all voices The song ends with all voices becoming unified and slowing and becoming unified and slowing and quieting. The movement ends in quieting. The movement ends in the Major tone. the Major tone.

BibliographyBibliography

http://http://www.classicalnotes.net/classics/mozartrwww.classicalnotes.net/classics/mozartrequiem.htmlequiem.html

http://http://www.its.caltech.edu/~tan/Mozartreq/mawww.its.caltech.edu/~tan/Mozartreq/main.htmlin.html

http://www.8notes.com/biographies/mozhttp://www.8notes.com/biographies/mozart.aspart.asp

http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/1-29-2http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/1-29-2005-64987.asp005-64987.asp

http://www.rhapsody.com/album/mozart-http://www.rhapsody.com/album/mozart-requiem-in-d-minor-k626--2009requiem-in-d-minor-k626--2009