Composer Study is simple. Pick a composer to listen to over some time. Every once in a while, play a composition by him. Listen to it. Think and talk about it. This month, we are listening to compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who composed for all sorts of instruments, choirs, and orchestras across Europe.
Biography:
On January 27, 1756, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria. Wolfgang was a child prodigy taught by his father, who wrote his first piece of music when he was five years old. By the time he was seven, his work was being published. When he was twelve, he composed his first opera. He was an excellent pianist and violinist who traveled all over Europe performing with his sister Maria Anna.
As an adult, Mozart lived in Vienna, where he tried to earn a living as a pianist and composer. Unfortunately, people found him a lot less interesting now that his days as a child prodigy are over. Even though he was a musical genius, his popularity was gone. He composed operas, symphonies, concertos, masses, and chamber music until his death. Mozart passed away in his home, attended by his family, on December 5, 1791. He was only 35 years old.
Pieces by Composer:
- Symphony 40 in G minor KV550 https://youtu.be/wqkXqpQMk2k
Websites:
Books:
- Mozart the Wonder Boy by Opal Wheeler
- Who was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart? by Yona Zeldis McDonough
- Poppy and Mozart by Magali Le Huche
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Composers) by Mike Venezia
- Mozart Finds a Melody by Stephen Costanza
- Mozart: The Story of a Little Boy and his Sister Who Gave Concerts by Tapper (free download!)
Videos:
Audio:
Photo of Composer: By School of Verona, attributed to Giambettino Cignaroli (Salo, Verona 1706-1770) – https://www.barnebys.co.uk/blog/a-rare-portrait-of-mozart-at-auction archive, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=84378571
