Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Biography
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was one of the most influential, popular and prolific composers of the classical period.
Mozart was born in Salzburg to a musical family. The young Mozart showed all the signs of a prodigous musical talent. By the age of 5 he could read and write music and he would entertain people with his talents on the keyboard. By the age of 6 he was writting his first compositions.
During his childhoood he would frequently tour various palaces around Europe playing for distinguised guests. Aged 17, he accepted a post as a court musician in Salzburg; although this did not suit him very well, the next few years were a time of prolific composition. In 1781, he moved permanently to Vienna where he stayed for remainder of his life. In Vienna, he became well known and was often in demand as a composer and performer. However, despite his relative fame and renowned he struggled to manage his finances and moved between periods of poverty and prosperity. This difficulty was enhanced when in 1786, Austria was involved in a war which led to lower demand for musicians. In 1782, he married against the wishes of his family; he had 6 children but only 2 survived infancy.
The work of Mozart is epic in scope and proportion. There were few branches of music Mozart did not touch. He composed operas, symphones, concertos, and single pieces for the piano. His work spanned from joyful lighthearted pieces to powerful, challenging compositions which touched the human emotions. In the beginning of his career, Mozart had a powerful ability to learn and remember from the music he heard from others. He was able to incorporate the style and music of people such as Haydn and J.C. Bach. But, as he matured he developed his very own style and interpretations. In turn the music of Mozart very much influenced the early Beethoven