Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

By Matt Evans

Early Life Basic Facts

• Born January 27, 1756

• Born in Salzburg, Austria

• Parents were Leopold Mozart and Anna Maria Pertl

Early Childhood

• Started composing music at five years old

• Played piano and violin at age six

• Played with sister, Maria Anna in Paris and London

• Played in front of Austrian Empress

Early Childhood Continued

• Wrote his first composition at age 7

• Started writing symphonies at age 9

• Became extremely popular and asked to perform in Vienna

Voyage to Italy

• Traveled to Italy with father to perform from 1770 to 1773

• Wrote “Mitridate” and “Lucio Silla”

• Toured Italy a total of three times as a child

Early Adulthood

• Concert master for Prince Archbishop’s court from 1774 to 1777

• Received opportunity to perform opera in Munich in 1780

Adulthood

• Married Constanze Weber in 1782

• Used money improperly

• Always had to borrow from others

End of Mozart’s Life

• Died of Rheumatic Fever or poisoning on December 5, 1791

• Buried in unmarked grave in Saint Stephen’s Cathedral

• Remains very popular today

End of Mozart’s Life Continued

• Asked to write “Requiem” before death

• Fame began to disappear after “Marriage of Figaro”

• Most famous works: “Marriage of Figaro,” “Don Giovanni,” and “Piano Concerto No. 24 in C Minor

Romantic Music

• Music is structured to make pieces more passionate and expressive

• Music very emotional

• Music very balanced and had lots of clarity

Musical Contributions

• Known as a classical musician

• Popularized piano concerto

• Could watch and “absorb” the talents of other musicians

Musical Influences

• Influenced in early childhood by Johann Nepomuk Hummel

• Main influence through life was Ludwig van Beethoven

• Beethoven also influenced by Mozart’s music

Other Fun Facts

• Last work was “Requiem Dies Irae”

• However Mozart died before finishing work

• Wrote mostly religious music

• “Amadeus” in 1984 showed cycle of Mozart’s life

Music and Movie Clips

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OZCyp-LcGw

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o5baA0Z9g4

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROllcRNrGI4

Works Cited

• http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/1-29-2005-64987.asp• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozart• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WoO• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

List_of_compositions_by_Ludwig_van_Beethoven• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OZCyp-LcGw• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o5baA0Z9g4• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROllcRNrGI4• http://www.azopera.com/learn.php?

subcat=composerbios&composer=Mozart