Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, born January 27, 1756, was a child prodigy from a musical family, who began
composing at the age of six. His father was Leopold Mozart, also a composer, and some of the piano pieces W.A.
Mozart wrote, especially the duets and pieces for two pianos, were written for he and his sister to play together. He is
considered one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time, and is one of the most popular composers among modern
audiences. His music currently enjoys the reputation of being able to make you "smarter" or able to perform better in written
tests for a short duration (about 15 minutes) following listening to the music. He became a Mason during his adulthood, and
fervently worked to convert his father before L. Mozart's death. Happily for W.A., he was successful. "The Magic Flute" is said
to contain Masonic themes or meanings. The coloratura aria from that work, "Queen of the Night," is an intensely thrilling
piece. Mozart showed in many of his works that he could write as beautifully for the human voice as for the violin or
pianoforte. Mozart is considered the bridge to the Romantic period. His later symphonies pushed the envelope of his period's
style of composition. Beethoven, one of the best known Romantic composers, was greatly influenced by Mozart, and wrote
CadenZa
?? s to some of Mozart's works that lacked them, most notably for Concerto No. 20, K. 466. Mozart often composed only
sketches for his own parts, so great was his ability to remember them. He was also known to write an entire work on the day of
its first performance! Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky greatly loved and admired Mozart, and expressed his admiration by writing his
"Mozartiana," a piece he intended to be in the Mozart style. As brilliant as he was, Mozart did not have an easy life. Many times,
he did not receive the promised payment for his work. Gradually, his health became very poor. He lived just a little over half of
Beethoven's life span, yet was amazingly prolific from early childhood until his death in 1791.
See also
WolfgangAmadeusMozartTalk.
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