Famouse Classic Musicans
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Some Interesting Early Facts Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is probably the most famous of all classical composers. In fact, since the middle of the eighteenth century, Mozart has ben the yardstick by which to measure musical genius. To say of any other prodigy that he is another Mozart is to suggest great innate power and great achievement. Though prodigies have arisen to earn this appelation, most music critics and historians agree that there has never really been a second Mozart.
Mozart is the musical genius par excellence. What he accomplised in his chidhood was matched and surpassed only by the achievements of his full maturity. Those childhood achievements were certainly spectacular, but the accomplishments of his maturity were even more extraordinary. The swiftness with which he produced masterpiece after masterpiece in every genre and the manner in which he arrived at perfection of style, structure, and musical expression are nothing less than miraculous.
Mozart was the son of Leopold Mozart, a conductor at the court of the Archbishop of Salzburg. Leopold was a respectable violinist, the author of a fine violin metod, and a prolific compser. But he was no genius. As soon as he perceived signs of exceptional musical talent in his son, he was impelled by the desire to make something great of the young lad. At the age of three, Mozart began learning the harpsichord. He immediately began to experiment at the keyboard and was able to learn his lessons more by instinct than by study. He never needed to be taught was was correct playing and interpretation but seemed to sense it immediately. His ear was so sensitive that it could perceive when a violin was tuned an eighth of a note too low. He also had an indelible memory. It is documented that he could hear a melody once and be able to reproduce it without error. Moreover, given a theme, he could improvise for half an hour without repeating himself. He could read and play a piece by sight the same way others played if after hours of practice. On one occasion it is reported that a violinist failed to show up at Mozart's father's house to particpate ina session of quartet music. The child Mozart proceeded to take the place of the absent musician and, although he had never seen the music score, he filled in without apparent difficulty.
Mozart started writing music as easily as he learned to play it. When he was five years old, he wrote music for the harpsichord which are extant to this day. He forthwith became very ambitious. While still only five, he filled his music paper with scratchings, smudges, and ontes in an attempt to produce a concerto. He completed a full-fledged sonata when he was seven and a symphony when he was eight.
Mozart is the musical genius par excellence. What he accomplised in his chidhood was matched and surpassed only by the achievements of his full maturity. Those childhood achievements were certainly spectacular, but the accomplishments of his maturity were even more extraordinary. The swiftness with which he produced masterpiece after masterpiece in every genre and the manner in which he arrived at perfection of style, structure, and musical expression are nothing less than miraculous.
Mozart was the son of Leopold Mozart, a conductor at the court of the Archbishop of Salzburg. Leopold was a respectable violinist, the author of a fine violin metod, and a prolific compser. But he was no genius. As soon as he perceived signs of exceptional musical talent in his son, he was impelled by the desire to make something great of the young lad. At the age of three, Mozart began learning the harpsichord. He immediately began to experiment at the keyboard and was able to learn his lessons more by instinct than by study. He never needed to be taught was was correct playing and interpretation but seemed to sense it immediately. His ear was so sensitive that it could perceive when a violin was tuned an eighth of a note too low. He also had an indelible memory. It is documented that he could hear a melody once and be able to reproduce it without error. Moreover, given a theme, he could improvise for half an hour without repeating himself. He could read and play a piece by sight the same way others played if after hours of practice. On one occasion it is reported that a violinist failed to show up at Mozart's father's house to particpate ina session of quartet music. The child Mozart proceeded to take the place of the absent musician and, although he had never seen the music score, he filled in without apparent difficulty.
Mozart started writing music as easily as he learned to play it. When he was five years old, he wrote music for the harpsichord which are extant to this day. He forthwith became very ambitious. While still only five, he filled his music paper with scratchings, smudges, and ontes in an attempt to produce a concerto. He completed a full-fledged sonata when he was seven and a symphony when he was eight.