The Master & his Music... Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Baptized as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, January 27, 1756 is among the most significant and enduringly popular composers of European classical music. His enormous output includes works that are widely acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music. Many of his works are part of the standard concert repertory and are widely recognized as masterpieces of the classical style.

Mozart's music, like Haydn's, stands as an archetypal example of the Classical style. His works spanned the period during which that style transformed from one exemplified by the style galant to one that began to incorporate some of the contrapuntal complexities of the late Baroque, complexities against which the galant style had been a reaction. Mozart's own stylistic development closely paralleled the development of the classical style as a whole. In addition, he was a versatile composer and wrote in almost every major genre, including symphony, opera, the solo concerto, chamber music including string quartet and string quintet, and the piano sonata. While none of these genres were new, the piano concerto was almost single-handedly developed and popularized by Mozart. He also wrote a great deal of religious music, including masses; and he composed many dances, divertimenti, serenades, and other forms of light entertainment.

Minuet in F (K.2) composed at age 5

Minuet and Trio in G (K.1) composed at age 6

Rondo Alla Turca, from Piano Sonata in A

Sonata in C, 1st movement

Piano Concerto No. 21, 2nd movement

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (1st movement), original version for string orchestra

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