Mozart was born on January 27th, 1756 in Salzburg, Austria. From four years old, Mozart’s dad began pushing his son into playing music. Mozart was able to play piano pieces before the age of five. Without the influence of his father, his musical talent may have never been realized. So Mozart’s dad felt no need to hide Wolfgang’s talents at home, and the child played his first recital at the age of six for the Empress of Austria. In 1763 his father decided to go on a concert tour with the whole family. Mozart’s dad’s true goal of the tour was to get a steady job for Wolfgang working in one of the European courts. In the next four years they traveled all over Europe. By the time he was six, Wolfgang managed to learn fifteen different languages and wrote over thirty pieces of work. In his four years in Salzburg he started to write his own music from the age of six but it was really present on his travels which he expressed in his quote, “When I am…traveling in a carriage, or walking after a good meal, or during the night when I cannot sleep; it is such occasions that flow best and most abundantly” (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Austrian Composer).
During the course of his tour, the young Mozart had met one of his important influences, Johann Christian Bach. They had befriended one another in London in the year of 1764 and 1765. The friendship between Bach and Wolfgang was so important to the future of Mozart’s music it was incredible. J.C. Bach would sit little Wolfgang on top of his lap and would play for hours on end on the organ. J.C. Bach’s music greatly influenced Mozart to write his compositions as symphonies and piano concertos, and even embraced some of J.C. Bach’s sound into his own music.
After the four years on tour, the family returned to Salzburg. Even though Leopold’s agenda wasn’t achieved, the tour was otherwise a success. The news of a boy genius was spread to the ears of substantial people such as Marie Antoinette to Fredrick William II of Prussia. The tour had been a success artistically; young Mozart had composed both his first symphony and opera at the ages of eight and eleven respectively. Clearly Wolfgang’s father played an important role in his son’s development as a power of one. The exposure to different cultures and musical styles, as well as providing early career guidance and tutoring greatly developed young Wolfgang’s talent. Bach influenced his music style and encouraged Mozart to compose his work into symphonies and piano concertos. Therefore, one could say that without this early direction, Mozart may not have become the great cultural influence as he is seen today.
Upon Mozart’s return he composed two operas, La Finta Semplice and Bastien and Bastienne. The family traveled briefly to Italy to expose his new works in 1769. In Rome during 1769, Mozart preformed a nine-part Miserere by Antonio Allegri. This piece of music could only be heard in Rome during the Holy Week and could only be preformed by the Papal Choir. Any attempt to copy the Misererecould have the result of being excommunicated. The brilliance of Mozart had shown some if it’s true potential, he simply heard the piece once and reproduced the entire work on paper. Mozart had been especially pleased with himself, “What a delight this I cannot tell! All this inventing, this producing takes place in pleasure, lively dream” (Kroll 1). When the Pope had heard of this amazing news, he praised Wolfgang instead of excommunicating him. A few months later Mozart was awarded the Order of the Golden Spur at the age of only thirteen. The Order of the Golden Spur was awarded to those who preformed outstanding acts to spread the Catholic Faith, or who have contributed to the glory of the Church, either artistically or by feat of arms. Wolfgang Amadeus did indeed achieve, and this effect upon him was incredible. The power of the church had an immense effect upon how his music had turned out. The music he composed in the next few years was mostly