The GreatWolfgang Amadeus

Mozart

Zara Guinard-BachmanMusic 1010 042

Craig Ferrin

Biography

The Beginning

Born in Salzburg, Austria

January 27, 1756

Baptized as: Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart

Childhood

Wolfgang began to mimic his 7 year old sister, Nannerl, playing the piano at age 3.

His father, Leopold, began to tutor them both.

By age 5 Wolfgang was beyond Leopold’s level of teaching.

Leopold took the siblings to the Bavarian court for what became several European tours.

They met many prestigious musicians such as: Johann Christian Bach.

Teens

At age 13 Leopold and Wolfgang travel to Italy for an extended tour (1769-1771)

Gregorio Allegri’s Miserere, performed in the Sistine Chapel

Composed three new operas: Mitridante, re di Ponto Ascanio in Alba Lucio Silla

Early Adulthood

Hieronymus von Colleredo, appoints Wolfgang assistant concertmaster

Grows bored and travels with mother till she falls ill

Returns home to become organist in Salzburg

Settles in Vienna 1781

Meets wife Constanze and has two surviving children: Karl Thomas Franz Xaver

Career of Wolfgang

1783 studied Baroque elements of Johannes Christain Bach and George Frederic Handel

1784 joined the Freemasons

In this year he appeared in 22 concerts, five of which he produced and performed solo

Sought an appointment as a court musician

Career cont.

Collaborated with Lorenzo da Ponte to create: The Marriage of Figaro Don Giovanni

Late 1780’s Emperor Joseph II appoints Wolfgang chamber composer

Wolfgang’s finances deteriorated

1790 the last Da Ponte Opera Cosi Fan Tutte premiered

Final Year

Composed most well-known works: The Magic Flute The final piano concerto in B-flat The Clarinet Concerto in A minor The unfinished Requiem

About this time Mozart fell ill and died on December 5, 1971 from rheumatic fever.

Overview

All the traits of Classical music: clarity, balance and transparency

Enlivened many elements used in the Baroque period

Influenced by popular composers of the time, Johann Christian Bach and the Mannheim Orchestra

Italian overture and opera buffa both also greatly influenced his music

Continually sophisticated his work

Played with the instrumentation and orchestral texture to create masterpieces of musical art

Composition Histories

Piano Concerto No. 23 in “A” Major

Written for piano and orchestra

Finishedin March 2, 1786,

Score consists of one flute, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns and strings

Wind instruments are equal to the string instruments in the composition

Keys corresponded to specific moods

“A” major represented a warm, tender and cheerful mood

No. 23 cont.

Mozart knew that this concerto was special

Sent it to prospective patron, Prince Fürstenberg in Donaueshcingen

With the composition Mozart wrote “these compositions which I keep for myself or for a small circle of

music-lovers and connoisseurs (who promise not to let them out of their hands)”

Wanted to assure the prince that the compositions had not been popularly advertised and were known only to a few select persons

He hoped that His Highness would eventually commission symphonies, concertos and chamber works regularly for his own orchestra.

Overture, The Magic Flute

Considered the last great-completed work of Mozart’s life

Passed away two months after the premiere

The overture is scored for: flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns, and trumpets in pairs, three trombones, timpani and strings

Compact and energetic piece

Very few pauses in the music and the dynamics used make it sound much more complex than it really is

Overture cont.

Member of the Freemasons after 1784, Mozart wrote music for many of the Masonic lodges

Considered a Masonic opera due to the symbolism

A genre of opera known as singspiel, which means song-play and is a reference to the music dramas of the German-language

The story of the opera is about Tamino, who with traveling companion Papageno helps to rescue Pamina, held in the evil clutches of her mother the Queen of Night.

Listening Guide

Piano Concerto No. 23 in “A” major

Time Analysis of: Piano Concerto No. 23 in “A” major

Intro First Subject: Theme 1A is played only by the piano.

:40Theme 1B is played first by the orchestra alone and then joined by the soloist.

1:15Second subject: Theme 1C is the solo piano again with the same orchestral decorations.

1:44Theme 1D by the piano extends control to the orchestral instruments.

2:12Theme 1B material again played by the orchestra and acting as a codetta to the exposition

3:31The form of the second movement is in ternary form, somewhat operatic in tone.. This is theme 1E.

4:14 Incorporating the string instruments again we repeat 1E

4:43 There is a brief cadenza to end the development section.

5:03

The third movement seen is in the form of a rondo. Beginning back with Theme A again in the typical sonata form of ABA

6:03 It closes using material from Theme D.

Piano Concerto No. 23 cont.

Overture, The Magic Flute

Time Analysis of: Overture, The Magic Flute

Intro Introduction with Variation 1 Theme A

1:23 Theme B

2:21 Theme C

2:33

You can still hear the first theme under the second and the texture is smoother on the second theme than it was in the first. Returns again to Theme B

Overture, The Magic Flute cont.

3:01 End of the first Variation, returns to theme A

3:30

There are awkwardly long pauses that you expect to stretch on until they are punctuated by another blast from the wind instruments section. There is a lacking in the range of keys played during this section and continues on for some time.

3:43 Returns again to Theme B in a higher key

4:15 Theme C

4:50

Theme B repeats with variation throughout the rest of the piece including a cadenza concentrating on the string instruments.

6:21Ends with a crescendo repeating short sequences of theme B and theme C.

Bibliography

“Wolfgang Mozart” Bio.TruStory. Biography.com. Web. Oct. 5, 2013

“2. Mozart – Piano Concerto No. 23 in A, II. Adagio” Asiyclassical.com. Web. Oct. 5, 2013

Sheranne, Robert. “Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart”. IPL2.com. Web. Oct. 5, 2013