LIFE
-1756-1791
-Born in Salzburg, Austria
-Father Leopold was a composer/violinist for Archbishop of Salzburg
-taught Wolgang keyboard, organ and violin
-began composing at age 5 and performing at age 6 (improvised)
-toured Europe with sister Maria Anna- familiar with many types of music
-nicknamed Nannerl, only surviving sibling
-by age 13 compositions included: sonatas, concertos, symphonies, operas...
-Mastered all compositional forms by adulthood
-1769-1791 Salzburg
-three extensive visits to Italy with father, studied opera, received diplomas
-too young for senior positions, too gifted for junior positions, initially unpaid
-employed by Archbishop of Salzburg (like his father), initially unpaid then paid, composed church music, orchestral music, serenades, concerti and piano music
-travelled to Paris, Munich and Mannheim to perform and try to find other employment
-rebelled against restrictions of patronage system (treated like a servant after used to the glory of touring as a child), quarrelled with Archbishop and was dismissed
-1781 opera seria Idomeneo based on Greek mythology (Sturm und Drang style) commissioned for Munich opera
-Age 25 moved to Vienna to become a freelance musician (teacher, performer, composer), financially successful, but lives beyond his means
-needed the support of the Royal court in order to have financial security-but Emperor Joseph II assigned him unimportant works and passed him over for Salieri
-composed sonatas, concerti, and string quartets in the style of Haydn (dedicated 6 of 23)
-1782 married opera singer Constanze Weber against his father's wishes (had 6 children)
-1784-1786 peak of career in Vienna, recognized and admired by Viennese public
-wrote 10 concerti
-success of Marriage of Figaro opera on a libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte
-struggled financially
-Prague opera commissioned Don Giovanni, successful in Prague, but not Vienna
-Later years:
-named Imperial Court Chamber Music Composer to Emperor Joseph II
-heard Beethoven perform in 1787
-music became darker and more serious, became less popular with audiences who were used to light/elegant writing
-financial stress and poor health
-average income, but extravagant lifestyle
-composed concertos, The Magic Flute, and then the Requiem Mass
-became obsessed with the idea that he was writing his own Requiem (Mass for the dead), unable to complete before death, finished by student Süssmayr
-received poorest class of funeral and buried in a mass grave because of debts
-Born in Salzburg, Austria
-Father Leopold was a composer/violinist for Archbishop of Salzburg
-taught Wolgang keyboard, organ and violin
-began composing at age 5 and performing at age 6 (improvised)
-toured Europe with sister Maria Anna- familiar with many types of music
-nicknamed Nannerl, only surviving sibling
-by age 13 compositions included: sonatas, concertos, symphonies, operas...
-Mastered all compositional forms by adulthood
-1769-1791 Salzburg
-three extensive visits to Italy with father, studied opera, received diplomas
-too young for senior positions, too gifted for junior positions, initially unpaid
-employed by Archbishop of Salzburg (like his father), initially unpaid then paid, composed church music, orchestral music, serenades, concerti and piano music
-travelled to Paris, Munich and Mannheim to perform and try to find other employment
-rebelled against restrictions of patronage system (treated like a servant after used to the glory of touring as a child), quarrelled with Archbishop and was dismissed
-1781 opera seria Idomeneo based on Greek mythology (Sturm und Drang style) commissioned for Munich opera
-Age 25 moved to Vienna to become a freelance musician (teacher, performer, composer), financially successful, but lives beyond his means
-needed the support of the Royal court in order to have financial security-but Emperor Joseph II assigned him unimportant works and passed him over for Salieri
-composed sonatas, concerti, and string quartets in the style of Haydn (dedicated 6 of 23)
-1782 married opera singer Constanze Weber against his father's wishes (had 6 children)
-1784-1786 peak of career in Vienna, recognized and admired by Viennese public
-wrote 10 concerti
-success of Marriage of Figaro opera on a libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte
-struggled financially
-Prague opera commissioned Don Giovanni, successful in Prague, but not Vienna
-Later years:
-named Imperial Court Chamber Music Composer to Emperor Joseph II
-heard Beethoven perform in 1787
-music became darker and more serious, became less popular with audiences who were used to light/elegant writing
-financial stress and poor health
-average income, but extravagant lifestyle
-composed concertos, The Magic Flute, and then the Requiem Mass
-became obsessed with the idea that he was writing his own Requiem (Mass for the dead), unable to complete before death, finished by student Süssmayr
-received poorest class of funeral and buried in a mass grave because of debts
STYLE
-influenced by Haydn (symphonies and string quartets), Mannheim (expanded winds in orchestra), J.S. Bach (contrapuntal later works) and J.C. Bach (development of piano concerto)
-simple, elegant, singing melodies, symmetrical phrase structure
-spontaneity and sophistication
-moderately chromatic elements, well balanced within diatonic harmony
-used counterpoint within homophonic texture
-sense of drama in all compositions, contrasts of mood
-outstanding pianist, wrote out cadenzas for concertos, performed most of his concertos as soloist and conductor
-contributed to the evolution of the classical concerto by adding contrast of keys and thematic development of 'sonata form'
-each concerto displayed new innovations in structure and the role of the soloist vs the orchestra
-master of all 3 opera styles: opera seria (Italian serious opera), opera buffa (Italian comic opera) and singspiel (German light opera) with realistic compelling characters
-used sectional forms in his arias to allow shifting modes and character changes, rather than only writing da capo arias
-mastered/advanced/developed all classical genres
-more than 600 works catalogued by Ludwig von Köchel (1862), numbered chronologically with a "K"
-simple, elegant, singing melodies, symmetrical phrase structure
-spontaneity and sophistication
-moderately chromatic elements, well balanced within diatonic harmony
-used counterpoint within homophonic texture
-sense of drama in all compositions, contrasts of mood
-outstanding pianist, wrote out cadenzas for concertos, performed most of his concertos as soloist and conductor
-contributed to the evolution of the classical concerto by adding contrast of keys and thematic development of 'sonata form'
-each concerto displayed new innovations in structure and the role of the soloist vs the orchestra
-master of all 3 opera styles: opera seria (Italian serious opera), opera buffa (Italian comic opera) and singspiel (German light opera) with realistic compelling characters
-used sectional forms in his arias to allow shifting modes and character changes, rather than only writing da capo arias
-mastered/advanced/developed all classical genres
-more than 600 works catalogued by Ludwig von Köchel (1862), numbered chronologically with a "K"
WORKS
-orchestral: 40+ symphonies, divertimentos, serenades, marches, dances...
-concertos: including 27 for piano and 5 for violin
-21 operas: The Marriage of Figaro (1786), Don Giovanni (1787), The Magic Flute (1791)
-choral music: including 18 masses and the unfinished Requiem
-chamber music: including 23 string quartets
-keyboard music: including 17 sonatas
-secular vocal music
-concertos: including 27 for piano and 5 for violin
-21 operas: The Marriage of Figaro (1786), Don Giovanni (1787), The Magic Flute (1791)
-choral music: including 18 masses and the unfinished Requiem
-chamber music: including 23 string quartets
-keyboard music: including 17 sonatas
-secular vocal music
TERMS
Rocket Theme: rapidly ascending theme
Romanza: pretty 2nd movement
Sonata Rondo Form: Exposition contains A B A | Development contains C | Recapitulation contains A B A
Romanza: pretty 2nd movement
Sonata Rondo Form: Exposition contains A B A | Development contains C | Recapitulation contains A B A