Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a highly prolific and

influential composer of the Classical era in music

history. He composed over 600 works, many of which

are acknowledged as pinnacles in the respective

genres of symphonies, concertos, chamber

music, solo piano works, operas, and choral music.

Mozart showed prodigious ability from his earliest

childhood in Salzburg. A child prodigy on both piano

and violin, he composed from the age of five and performed as a child for

European royalty. At 17, he was engaged as a court musician in Salzburg, but grew restless and traveled

in search of a better position, always composing abundantly.

While visiting Vienna in 1781, he was dismissed

from his Salzburg position. He chose to stay in the

capital, where he achieved fame but little financial

security. During his final years in Vienna, Mozart composed many of his

best-known symphonies, concertos, and operas, and

portions of the Requiem, which was left unfinished at

the time of his death.

Mozart wrote his C Minor Mass as an offering of thanks to God for his marriage to his wife, Constanze. He wrote most of it in 1782-1783. The completed sections were performed and it was set aside for a few years. Performances of the “completed” version of the mass include movements substituted from other masses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUrsHWnpixo

Freemasonry

Mozart was a member of the masonic lodge, Zur Wohltatigkeit, a lodge whose philosophy emphasized rationalism and humanism. At the core of their beliefs was the notion that social class does not determine dignity or worth, and they promoted unity and brotherhood.

They believed that music should encourage feelings of humanity, wisdom and patience, virtue and honesty, loyalty to friends, and an understanding of freedom.

Aspects of this philosophy found their way into Mozart’s operas, most notably The Marriage of Figaro and The Magic Flute

The Marriage of Figaro

•Libretto by Lorenzo DaPonte•Opera Buffa (comic)•Utilized ordinary people as characters

The Marriage of Figaro recounts a single "day of madness" (la folle journée) in the palace of Count Almaviva near Seville, Spain. Rosina is now the Countess; Dr. Bartolo is seeking revenge against Figaro for thwarting his plans to marry Rosina himself; and Count Almaviva is a scheming, bullying, skirt-chasing baritone. Having gratefully given Figaro a job as head of his servant-staff, he is now persistently trying to obtain the favors of Figaro's bride-to-be, Susanna. He keeps finding excuses to delay the civil part of the wedding of his two servants, which is arranged for this very day. Figaro, Susanna, and the Countess conspire to embarrass the Count and expose his scheming. He retaliates by trying to compel Figaro legally to marry a woman old enough to be his mother, but it turns out at the last minute that she really is his mother. Through Figaro's and Susanna's clever manipulations, the Count's love for his Countess is finally restored.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcVpDoDLRAg

The Magic Flute

•Features masonic elements• The number 3 • Egyptian symbolism• Themes of courage, virtue, wisdom

Act I A mythical land between the sun and the moon. Prince Tamino, pursued by a serpent, is saved by three ladies in the service of the Queen of the Night. After they have left, the birdcatcher Papageno enters. He explains to Tamino that he is given food and drink by the Queen’s ladies in return for his birds and claims that it was he who killed the serpent. The ladies return to give Tamino a portrait of the Queen’s daughter, Pamina, who they say is being held prisoner by the evil Sarastro. Then they padlock Papageno’s mouth for lying. Tamino falls in love with Pamina’s portrait at first sight. The Queen appears. She grieves over the loss of her daughter and asks Tamino to rescue her. The ladies hand Tamino a magic flute to ensure his safety on the journey. Papageno, who is to accompany him, is given magic silver bells. Three spirits are appointed to guide them.In Sarastro’s palace, the slave Monostatos pursues Pamina. He is frightened away by the arrival of Papageno, who tells Pamina that Tamino loves her and is on his way to save her.Led to Sarastro’s temple, Tamino learns from a priest that it is the Queen who is evil, not Sarastro, and that Pamina is safe. He plays on his flute, charming the animals with the music and hoping that it will lead Pamina to him. When he hears the sound of Papageno’s pipes, he rushes off to follow it. Monostatos and his men chase Papageno and Pamina but are rendered helpless by Papageno’s magic bells. Sarastro, entering in ceremony, promises Pamina eventual freedom and punishes Monostatos. Pamina is enchanted by a glimpse of Tamino, who is led into the temple with Papageno.

Act II Sarastro tells the priests that Tamino will undergo initiation rites. Papageno and Tamino are sworn to silence. The three ladies appear and have no trouble derailing Papageno from his course of virtue, but Tamino remains firm.Monostatos tries to kiss the sleeping Pamina but is chased away by the arrival of the Queen of the Night. She gives her daughter a dagger and orders her to murder Sarastro. Pamina is left alone in tears and consoled by Sarastro who explains that he does not seek vengeance against the Queen.Papageno is quick to break a new oath of fasting and jokes with a flirtatious old lady, who vanishes when he asks for her name. Tamino remains steadfast, breaking Pamina’s heart: she cannot understand his silence.The priests inform Tamino that he has only two more trials to complete his initiation. Papageno, who has broken his oath, is eliminated from the trials. Pleading for a wife he eventually settles for the old lady. When he promises to be faithful to her she turns into a young Papagena but immediately disappears.Despairing over Tamino’s apparent indifference, Pamina is about to commit suicide but is saved by the three spirits. She finds Tamino and walks with him through the ordeals of water and fire, protected by the magic flute. Papageno also is saved from a halfhearted attempt at suicide by the spirits, who remind him that if he uses his magic bells he will find true happiness. When he plays the bells, Papagena appears and the two are united.The Queen of the Night, her three ladies, and Monostatos attack the temple but are defeated and banished. Sarastro joins Pamina and Tamino as everybody praises the gods Isis and Osiris and the triumph of courage, virtue, and wisdom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeP0NOPAIys

It is said that Mozart believed that he was being poisoned and was writing the Requiem for himself. He wrote in a letter in September 1791:

My dear Sir, I should like to follow your advice, but how can I do so? My head is confused. I reason with difficulty and cannot rid my eyes of the image of this stranger. I see him continually soliciting me, and impatiently demanding my work. I go on because composition wearies me less than resting. Besides, I have nothing to fear. I know from what I feel that the hour sounds; I am on the point of expiring; I have finished before having enjoyed my talent. Life was so beautiful, my career begun under such favourable auspices, but none can change his destiny. Nobody can count his days, one must resign oneself, it will be as Providence pleases and so I finish my funeral song, I must not leave it incomplete.

Even the Mozart did not finish his last composition, his Requiem Mass, it is

considered to be one of the greatest works of the

choral-orchestral repertoire and is among the most

frequently performed choral works throughout the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsyPhvrEzPU&index=1&list=PLB8CED7CE1E4582D6

The circumstances of Mozart's early death have been much

mythologized with various theories-syphilis, rheumatic

fever are considered possible causes, and some suggest he

was somehow poisonedor even murdered.

He was buried in a pauper's mass grave with no marker in a village just outside of Vienna,

Austria.

He was survived by his wife Constanze and two sons.

At the time of his death, Mozart was two months short of his 36th birthday.

He had composed 41 Symphonies, 20 Operas,

27 Piano Concertos, 6 Violin Concertos, 10 Wind Concertos, 109 Chamber

Music Works, 27 Solo Piano Works, 31 Songs, 27

Masses and Other Liturgical Works and hundreds of other

musical works.

Mozart’s influence on all subsequent Western art

music is deep and profound. Beethoven wrote his own early compositions in the shadow of Mozart.

Franz Joseph Haydn, who was 24 years older than

Mozart and outlived him by another 18 years, wrote

"posterity will not see such a talent [as Mozart] again

in 100 years."

SymphoniesSymphonies - 41 symphonies, including

many that are considered masterpieces and "cornerstones" of the symphonic

repertoire, such as: “Haffner” Symphony (No. 35 in D)“Linz” Symphony (No. 36 in C)

“Prague” Symphony (No. 38 in D)Symphony No. 40 in G Minor

“Jupiter” Symphony (No. 41 in C)

Operas & Solo Vocal Music

Mozart’s operas and vocal music are among the greatest and most important works

for voice ever composed, including:The Marriage of Figaro

The Magic Flute Don GiovanniCosi fan tutte

Exsultate, Jubilate

Choral Music

Masses and Other Liturgical Choral Works that are considered to be among the most important works in the choral repertoire,

including:Requiem K. 626

Mass in C Minor (“The Great”) K. 427Coronation Mass K. 317

Ave Verum Corpus K. 618Regina Coeli K. 276

Vesperae Solemnes de Confessore K. 339

Piano Music

Mozart's works for solo piano form one of the cornerstones

of solo piano repertoire, including: 18 Piano Sonatas27 Piano Concerti

16 sets of Variations for Solo PianoDozens of Miscellaneous Works

Concerto no.27https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=c9gvTKdZhD4

Chamber Music

String Quartets, Sonatas and Serenades for string instruments,

wind instruments and combinations of both that are considered

to be among the most important works in their respective repertoires

Eine Kleine Nachtmusic:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH9idqTlbRE