Virtual Sky
What if Mozart had a Mac?
An absolutely awesome short video from PBS and LIVE from Lincoln Center!
(Source: sambo1987, via hashtagbachswag)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 1 in C major, K 279 (189d) (1774) is a sonata in three movements. It was composed when Mozart was only 18 years old.
The work was written down, except for the first part of the opening movement, during the visit Mozart paid to Munich for the production of La finta giardiniera from late 1774 to the beginning of the following March.
Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 11 in F major, KV. 413 (387a in the sixth edition of the Köchel catalogue), was the second of the group of three early concertos he wrote whilst in Vienna, in the autumn of 1782 It was the first full concerto he wrote for the subscription concerts he gave in the city.
It is scored for two oboes, two bassoons (second movement only), two horns and strings. Though, the winds and brass do not play in an important role throughout the concerto, and Mozart himself advertised a “a quattro” version, which is for string quartet and piano only, presumably for domestic use.
Adagio
Mozart’s Clarinet concerto in A major, K. 622 was written in 1791 for the clarinetist Anton Stadler. It consists of the usual three movements, in a fast-slow-fast form:
It was also one of Mozart’s final completed works, and his final purely instrumental work (he died in the December following its completion). The concerto is notable for its delicate interplay between soloist and orchestra, and for the lack of overly extroverted display on the part of the soloist.
The second movement, marked Adagio, is written in ternary form It opens with the soloist playing the movement’s primary theme with orchestral repetition. The development, in which the solo part is always prominent, exploits both the chalumeau and clarion registers, while the restatement of the opening culminates in acadenza.
My favorite Mozart overture
The Magic Flute (German: Die Zauberflöte, K. 620) is an opera in two acts composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder.
The opera was premiered in Vienna on 30 September 1791, at the suburban Freihaus-Theater auf der Wieden.
Although there were no reviews of the first performances, it was immediately evident that Mozart and Schikaneder had achieved a great success, the opera drawing immense crowds and reaching hundreds of performances during the 1790s.
The success of The Magic Flute lifted the spirits of its composer, who had fallen ill while in Prague a few weeks before.
The opera celebrated its 100th performance in November 1792. Mozart did not have the pleasure of witnessing this milestone, having died of his illness on 5 December 1791.
Symphony No 4 in D KV19 - Allegro
Directly from when the Mozart family was in the Grand Tour of Europe. 1765 when W.A. was just 9 years old.
Directo de cuando la familia Mozart estaba en su Gran Gira Europea. 1765 W.A. tenia 9 años de edad.
Wolfang Amadeus Mozart
Mozart was not only one of the greatest composers of the Classical period, but one of the greatest of all time.
Mozart’s best music has a natural flow and irresistible charm, and can express humor, joy or sorrow with both conviction and mastery. His operas, especially his later efforts, are brilliant examples of high art, as are many of his piano concertos and later symphonies. Even his lesser compositions and juvenile works feature much attractive and often masterful music.
Mozart was the last of seven children, of whom five did not survive early childhood.
He was born on January 27, 1756 and died on 5 December 1791 at the age of 35. He composed over 600 works.
Mozart was a versatile composer, and wrote in every major genre, including symphony, opera, the solo concerto, chamber music including string quartet and string quintet, and the piano sonata. These forms were not new; but Mozart advanced the technical sophistication and emotional reach of them all. He almost single-handedly developed and popularized the Classical piano concerto. He wrote a great deal of religious music, including large-scale masses: but also many dances, divertimenti, serenades, and other forms of light entertainment.
Mozart usually worked long and hard, finishing compositions at a tremendous pace as deadlines approached. He often made sketches and drafts.
Mozart’s physical appearance was described as “a remarkable small man, very thin and pale, with a profusion of fine, fair hair of which he was rather vain” “there was nothing special about [his] physique. […] He was small and his countenance, except for his large intense eyes, gave no signs of his genius.”
Mozart learned voraciously from others, and developed a brilliance and maturity of style that encompassed the light and graceful along with the dark and passionate—the whole informed by a vision of humanity.
“redeemed through art, forgiven, and reconciled with nature and the absolute.”
