Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Essay

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Ariana Sullivan
Music Class

May 27, 2014 Amadeus Report

Period 1

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27, 1756. At age four, he could learn a piece of music in a half an hour. At age five, he played the clavier very well and at age six, he began composing, writing his first symphonies at the age of eight. He traveled throughout Europe with his father, Leopold Mozart who was a violinist and composer.
Between the ages 7­15, young Mozart spent most his time on tour. On these tours, he heard, absorbed, and learned various European musical idioms.
After the sudden death of his mother in 1778, Mozart returned to Salzburg in 1779 and became court organist to the Archbishop. He achieved a dismissal in history to embark upon a freelance career without benefit of church, court, or rich patron. He moved to Vienna and eventually married. Mozart is probably the only composer in history to have written undisputed masterworks in virtually every musical genre of his age. His serenades, divertimenti and dances, written on request for the entertainment and outdoor parties of the nobility, have become synonymous with the Classical "age of elegance," and are perhaps best exemplified by the well­known Serenade in G major, which the composer called Eine kleine Nachtmusik (A little night music). Constanze Weber in August of 1782, against the wishes of his father.
In Vienna, Mozart became a regular at the court of Emperor Joseph II (1741­1790), where he wrote much of his greatest music such as the last ten string quartets, the string

quintets, and the Quintet for clarinet and strings; the Mass in C minor and the unfinished
Requiem; the Serenade for thirteen wind instruments, the Clarinet concerto, the late piano concertos, and the last six symphonies.Yet through his mismanagement of money (and as a successful composer of operas and a renowned piano virtuoso, he made a great deal), and the documented incidences of his tactless, impulsive, and at times childish behavior in an era of powdered wigs and courtly manners, Mozart seemed to find it difficult to make a successful living. He soon became severely ill, and had been intermittently for some time, with what was most likely disease of the kidneys. With the success of The Magic Flute and a newly granted yearly stipend, Mozart was just beginning to become financially stable when his illness brought an end to his life and career at the age of thirty­six. He was buried, like most Viennese in those days by the decree of Emperor Joseph, in a common grave, the exact location of which remains unknown.
Born on August 18, 1750 in Legnago, Republic of Venice Italy, Antonio Salieri went to create some of the most popular operas of the day. He became a leading musical figure in Viennese, Parisian, and Italian Circles. He later focused on religious compositions and was a court musical director, also becoming a sought­after teacher of other classical greats. Salieri is also known for his rivalry with Amadeus Mozart and was accused for murdering him. Salieri died on May 7, 1825. He was an exceptional composer of 18th and
19th century Europe, known for operas like Armida and Tarare.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died in autumn 1791 at age 35 in Vienna. The cause of death was recorded as “severe miliary fever,” a vague description. Since his death, there have been countless theories as to what constituted severe miliary fever. An autopsy was

never performed on Mozart, although Dr. Eduard Guldener von Lobes, who examined his body, found no evidence of foul play. Mozart was buried under the edicts of his time, so there are no bones or hair to analyze. Without a corpse or autopsy report, all we have to go on today to determine the cause of Mozart’s death are eyewitness accounts of his symptoms and final hours. He unexpectedly took ill with a high fever, headaches, sweats, and dramatic swelling and pain in his hands and legs. By the 14th day, his swelling