Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Flashcards
What nationality is Mozart?
Mozart was an Austrian composer, born in Salzburg.
What period was Mozart from?
Mozart was from the classical period (1730-1820)
Was anyone in Mozart’s family a musician as well?
Mozart’s father was also composer.
What did Mozart do as a young boy?
Mozart showed talent on the piano and violin from a young age began composing when he was 5. The following year, he was take with his father on musical tours which introduced him with Johann Christian Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach’s son. Mozart was able to be introduced to a broader range of musicians on this tour.
What did Mozart do in his later life.
Mozart entered the service of the Archbishop, but was treated badly, so he left and settled in Vienna.
What did Mozart do in Vienna?
Mozart met many prominent composers in Vienna including Haydn, Clementi and Salieri.
What influence did Mozart have?
Mozart’s compositions demonstrate the various European musical styles that he had encountered during his extensive travels. These included Italian opera (piccinni, Galuppi etc.) and the works of Haydn and J.C Bach.
What are some of Mozart’s compositions?
- 5 violin concertos
- string quartets/ quintets
- 36 violin sonatas
- 16 operas including The Magic Flute
- 41 symphonies
Mozart’s compositions were catalogued using ‘K’ and then the number symbolising the chronological order in which pieces were composed.
What is a concerto?
A concerto is a large- scale work for one or more solo instruments with orchestral accompaniment. Other composers of violin concertos from the 18th century include Haydn, Stamitz and Viotti.
What are the movements of Mozart’s concertos?
They contain 3 movements, fast-slow-fast.
When was Concerto no.2 in D major composed?
It was composed in Salzburg when Mozart was 19.
What are the classical characteristics of the piece?
- short, balanced phrases
- homophony
- ornamentation (cadenzas and embellishments)
