Musical Interlude: 265 years of Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria in 1756. Today is his 265th birthday.

Mozart had composed over 600 works by the time he died at the early age of 35. He wrote his first piano piece at the age of 5, his first symphony at age 8, and his first opera when he was 11.

Aside from being precocious, he was also versatile. Mozart wrote more than two dozen piano concertos, five violin concertos, four horn concertos, as well as concertos for bassoon, flute, clarinet, trumpet, cello, and various combinations of instruments. He wrote more than four dozen symphonies and eighty-four string quartets. For a complete list of the music Mozart composed in his short life, click here.

The first three pieces (below) were written over a period of 6 years - from age 5 to 11 - and show an amazing growth and maturity for someone so young.

The Allegro in C, written by a five year old...

...and an entire symphony, albeit a short one, written by an eight year old...

I'm not a big fan of opera, but this short piece about the recording of Mozart's first opera, Apollo and Hyacinth (written when he was eleven), gives some interesting facts and displays the beauty of Mozart's music.

Apollo et Hyacinthus - recording Mozart's first opera from TallWall Media on Vimeo.

The following is a video of Mozart's Horn Concerto No. 1 in D major. It's a live performance so enjoy watching the musicians – soloist, orchestra members, and conductor – dance in their own special ways to the music. Most are "head dancers" but quite a few of them move their upper bodies as they play. Very few, if any, keep still.

To listen to all four of Mozart's horn concertos, click here.

Further reading and listening

• Biography of Mozart (short)

• Biography of Mozart (longer)

• My post on Mozart's 260th birthday. (some duplication)

• My post on Mozart's 262nd birthday. (some duplication)

Postscript

• I wonder if Indiana would have forced Mozart to take the state achievement test...

🎼🎧🎹

Musical Interlude: A Concert of Mozart Concertos

(Edited and reposted from last year)

Today is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 262nd birthday.

Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria in 1756. In past years, I showcased some of his early works...a piano piece he wrote when he was five, his first symphony written at age eight, and his first opera written when he was eleven!

Aside from being precocious, he was also versatile. Mozart wrote more than two dozen piano concertos, five violin concertos, four horn concertos, as well as concertos for bassoon, flute, clarinet, trumpet, cello, and various combinations of instruments. In all, Mozart wrote more than 600 pieces of music in his short life of 35 years...

Here are five of his concertos (some complete, some excerpts)...for Horn, Bassoon, Oboe, Clarinet, and Flute. The definition of "concerto" has changed over the centuries and continues to be loosely defined, but generally, a concerto has three movements in which one solo instrument is featured. Accompaniment is usually with an orchestra or chamber orchestra. [FYI, a symphony can resemble a concerto in style and format, however, usually a concerto highlights one solo instrument throughout.]

The nice thing about these videos is that they are of live performances. Enjoy watching the musicians – soloists, orchestra members, and conductors – dance in their own special ways to the music. Most are "head dancers" but quite a few of them move their arms or sway at the waist. Very few, if any, keep still while they play.

Mozart's four horn concertos rank among my favorites pieces of music...

Here is Horn Concerto #1 (here is a link to all four)

...the complete Bassoon Concerto.

The first movement of the Oboe Concerto...

...the first movement of the Clarinet Concerto...

...and the first Flute Concerto.

🎼🎼🎼

Musical Interlude: Mozart, #261

Today is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 261st birthday.

He was born in Salzburg, Austria in 1756. Mozart composed his first symphony at age 8...his first opera at 11. Last year, I showcased some of his early works...a piano piece he wrote when he was five and his first symphony.

Aside from being precocious, he was also versatile. Mozart wrote more than two dozen piano concertos, five violin concertos, four horn concertos, as well as concertos for bassoon, flute, clarinet, trumpet, cello, and various combinations of instruments. In all, Mozart wrote more than 600 pieces of music in his short life of 35 years...

Here are five of his concertos (some complete, some excerpts)...for Horn, Bassoon, Oboe, Clarinet, and Flute. The definition of "concerto" has changed over the centuries and continues to be loosely defined, but generally, a concerto has three movements in which one solo instrument is featured. Accompaniment is usually with an orchestra or chamber orchestra. [FYI, a symphony can resemble a concerto in style and format, however, usually a concerto highlights one solo instrument throughout.]

The nice thing about these videos is that they are of live performances. Enjoy watching the musicians – soloists, orchestra members, and conductors – dance in their own special ways to the music. Most are "head dancers" but quite a few of them move their arms or sway at the waist. Very few, if any, are still while they play.

Mozart's four horn concertos rank among my favorites pieces of music...

Here is Horn Concerto #1 (here is a link to all four)

...the complete Bassoon Concerto.

The first movement of the Oboe Concerto...

...the first movement of the Clarinet Concerto...

...and the first Flute Concerto.

🎼🎼🎼

Musical Interlude: 260 years of Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg Austria on July 27, 1756. Today is his 260th birthday.

Mozart had composed over 600 works by the time he died at the early age of 35. He wrote his first piano piece at the age of 5, his first symphony at age 8, and his first opera when he was 11.

The three pieces below written over a period of 6 years (from age 5 to 11) show an amazing growth and maturity for someone so young.

The Allegro in C, written by a five year old...

...and an entire symphony, albeit a short one, written by an 8 year old...

I'm not a big fan of opera, but this short piece about the recording of Mozart's first opera, Apollo and Hyacinth, gives some interesting facts and displays the beauty of Mozart's music.

Apollo et Hyacinthus - recording Mozart's first opera from TallWall Media on Vimeo.

Further Reading

• Biography of Mozart (short)

• Biography of Mozart (longer)

Postscript

• I wonder how Mozart would have done on his state achievement test...

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