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Born in Salzburg, Austria on Jan. 27, 1756; full name Johannes Chrysostomus
Wolfgangus Gottlieb Mozart; he was baptized as Johannes
Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart. Mozart is named after his
grandfather on his mother's side and after the Saint on his date of
birth, Johannes Chrysostomus.
Parents: Leopold Mozart - composer and violinist, concertmaster at the
archiepiscopal court, and in 1763, vice-kapellmeister at Salzburg court;
and Anna Maria Pertl, daughter of Wolfgang Nikolaus Pertl, an official
from Sankt Gilgen
Sibling: Maria Anna (Nannerl) Mozart
Age 3: started to play the keyboard
Age 5: started composing minuets
1763-1766 toured Europe with his father and sister played for Louis XV at
Versailles and George III in London
1764 wrote his first three symphonies; also met Johann Christian Bach
By his teenage years, he mastered the piano, violin, and harpsichord
1768 completed first opera, La finta semplice (The Simple Pretense)
1769-1773 made three trips to Italy
In Rome, there was a myth that Mozart attended the performance of
Allegri's Misere. He wanted the score but when no one agreed he
wrote down the music from memory.
1770 Mitridate, re di Ponte (Mithridates, King of Pontus) performed in Milan
was Mozart's first major opera
1772 appointed concertmaster in the orchestra of Archbishop of Salzburg.
During this period, he wrote many sacred works.
1777 toured with his mother hoping to find a court position; traveled to
Mannheim where he met and fell in love with Aloysia Weber
1778, July Anna Maria Mozart died
1779 unable to find a court position, Mozart went back to Salzburg; appointed
as court organist to the Archbishop of Salzburg
1781 resigned from his position due to increasing tension and disagreements
between Mozart and the Archbishop. Mozart stayed in Vienna instead
of returning to Salzburg. Mozart's resignation and his move to Vienna
put a strain in his relationship with his father.
1782 married Constanze Weber in Vienna's St. Stephen's Cathedral. After
Mozart's death, Constanze married Danish diplomat Georg Nikolaus
von Nissen. In Vienna, Mozart supported his family by performing in
public and private, teaching , and composing. His first opera written
after his residency in Vienna, Abduction from Seraglio became a
success.
1786 The Marriage of Figaro, the first of three operas Mozart collaborated with
librettist, Lorenza da Ponte, premiered at the Burg Theater.
1787 became composer of Imperial and Royal Chamber with an annual salary of
800fl. His father, Leopold, died on May 28, 1787. Don Giovanni
premiered in Prague at the National Theater.
1790 Cosi fan tutte premiered at Burg Theater. Mozart declined an
opportunity to compose in London.
1791 composed dance music for the Vienna Court; publishers began to pay
fees for the rights to publish his works; appointed assistant to the
Cathedral Kapellmeister at St. Stephens with no pay. Mozart was
already feeling ill in Prague while finishing La clemenza di Tito.
Dec. 5, 1791, a few minutes before 1AM, Mozart died of rheumatic fever.
11 years ago. Rating: 2 | |
(Born Jan. 27, 1756, Salzburg, [Austria]—died Dec. 5, 1791, Vienna) Austrian composer widely recognized as one of the greatest in the history of Western music. With Haydn and Beethoven he brought to its height the achievement of the Viennese Classical school. Unlike any other composer in musical history, he wrote in all the musical genres of his day and excelled in every one. His taste, his command of form, and his range of expression have made him seem the most universal of all composers; yet, it may also be said that his music was written to accommodate the specific tastes of particular audiences.
Early Life
Central Europe in the mid-18th century was going through a period of transition. The remnants of the Holy Roman Empire had divided into small semi-self-governing principalities. The result was competing rivalries between these municipalities for identity and recognition. Political leadership of small city-states like Salzburg, Vienna, and Prague was in the hands of the aristocracy and their wealth would commission artists and musicians to amuse, inspire, and entertain. The music of the Renaissance and Baroque periods was transitioning toward more full-bodied compositions with complex instrumentation. The small city-state of Salzburg would be the birthplace of one of the most talented and prodigious musical composers of all time.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s was the sole-surviving son of Leopold and Maria Pertl Mozart. Leopold was a successful composer, violinist, and assistant concert master at the Salzburg court. Wolfgang’s mother, Anna Maria Pertl, was born to a middle class family of local community leaders. His only sister was Maria Anna (knick-named “Nannerl”). With their father’s encouragement and guidance, they both were introduced to music at an early age. Leopold started Nannerl on keyboard when she was seven, as three-year old Wolfgang looked on. Mimicking her playing, Wolfgang quickly began to show a strong understanding of chords, tonality, and tempo. Soon, he too was being tutored by his father.
Leopold was a devoted and task-oriented teacher to both his children. He made the lessons fun, but also insisted on a strong work ethic and perfection. Fortunately, both children excelled well in these areas. Recognizing their special talents, Leopold devoted much of his time to their education in music as well as other subjects. Wolfgang soon showed signs of excelling beyond his father’s teachings with an early composition at age five and demonstrating outstanding ability on the clavinet and the violin.
In 1762, Wolfgang’s father took Nannerl, now age eleven, and Wolfgang, age six to the court of Bavaria in Munich in what was to become the first of several European "tours." The siblings traveled to the courts of Paris, London, The Hague, and Zurich performing as child prodigies. Wolfgang met a number of accomplished musicians and became familiar with their works.
Please do a search for Amadeus Mozart to get more information. The movie, Amadeus, is well worth watching, too.
11 years ago. Rating: 1 | |