Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (MOTE-zart)

Born January 27, 1756 in Salzburg, Austria

Died December 1, 1791

Nationality: Austrian

Period/Style: Classical

About the composer:

Mozart was no ordinary child.  He was exceptionally intelligent, talented, curious, and way ahead of his peers.  When he was just a toddler he loved his violin so much that he would stay up late at night, in candlelight, to practice.  His father took young Mozart all over Europe by stagecoach to play for kings and queens. From all of his travels, Mozart learned to speak fifteen different languages while he was just a child!  Eventually Wolfgang married a woman named Constanze, and they had children.  He composed music for all kinds of instruments and voices, hundreds or perhaps thousands of pieces in all.  It would be impossible to name his greatest composition or even his most famous. He was one of the greatest composers who ever lived.

About the music:

Overture to the opera “The Magic Flute (6-7 min)

The Magic Flute is one of Mozart’s greatest and most-performed operas. The story is humorous and the music is beautiful.  This overture is a true masterpiece.  Like most overtures, it contains themes (melodies) that are heard later in the opera.

Piano Concerto #21 (26-32 min)

Of all his piano concertos, this one is probably most familiar.  Its middle movement is a slow, beautiful melody and the two outer movements are brilliant, fast and colorful.  To play this piece well, you have to be a very good pianist!

Symphony #40 (24-34 min)

This is one of Mozart’s last symphonies, and one of his very best.  It’s in a minor key, but doesn’t necessarily sound sad.  Notice the contrast between the four movements, in tempo and style. The first and last are marked allegro, the second is andante, and the third is a minuet.

Suggested activities:

Mozart is often referred to as a child “prodigy.”  Look up that word and find out what it means.

Look up the words that describe the movements of the symphony: allegro, andante and minuet.  You will get a better idea of how fast or slow each one is.  Also look up the word tempo to see how it relates to this.