Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

(1756 -1791)

Despite Wolfgang's successful recognition as a child prodigy, the composer's adult life was a very different story. Still surrounded by the jealousies and intrigue that father Leopold and his young son had at times encountered, Wolfgang in adulthood found it difficult to obtain satisfactory employment as a musician. For a time he worked for the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg but they soon fell out. This meant that he was forced to work for himself, and being very unbusiness-like, Wolfgang and his wife Constanza found it almost impossible to make ends meet. Wolfgang wrote symphonies, concertos and many other pieces of music. His operas continued to be well received in Vienna and other places, but theatre managers often pocketed the money for themselves and paid Wolfgang next to nothing. He died a pauper at the ridiculously young age of thirty five leaving behind priceless treasures of music that he wrote during his short lifetime.

DID YOU KNOW THAT?.............

Joseph Haydn declared that Wolfgang was the greatest composer that he knew.

When Wolfgang left the Prince-Archbishop's service he literally 'got the boot.' He was kicked downstairs by one of the Prince-Archishop's servants!

Wolfgang's genius meant that he had many musical rivals. One of them was Antonio Salieri, who was even thought to have attempted to poison Wolfgang.

The composer once visited a piano store and played a trick on the owner. Not wishing him to know that he was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart he introduced himself as Mr. Trazom -try reading the name backwards and you'll get the joke.

One day Wolfgang was walking down the street when he saw a starling in a cage. Immediately the bird began to sing the notes of a tune that Wolfgang had composed. He was so amazed that he bought the bird and took it home with him.

Towards the end of his life Wolfgang was visited by a serious looking stranger who asked him to write a piece of music for a mystery person. Lured by the amount of money that he was given in advance to do the job he agreed. But the work was never finished as Wolfgang died. As it happened the composer had been tricked as a certain Count Walsegg had hoped to carry off the work as his own.

Suggested Listening:-

Rondo:Allegro Vivace from Horn Concerto no. 4 in E flat major, K 495.

This is a lively piece of music which is heard at the end of the concerto. A Rondo has a main tune called a Rondo Theme which is repeated a number of times. It is first heard at the start. In between the repeats there are different tunes called Episodes. These add variety to the music. See how many times you can hear the Rondo Theme altogether.A concerto is usually written for one or sometimes two solo players and an orchestra.