Download Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Ms. Harris
Music Course
th
5
Grade
Today’s Lesson will focus on the life
and works of:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
The Child Prodigy
Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart
Biography (Life Story)
Not much is known of
Wolfgang’s very early life.
Born in Salzburg, Austria on
Jan. 27, 1756, his full name
was Johannes Chrysostomus
Wolfgangus Amadeus
Gottlieb Theophilus Mozart.
He had one older sister
whom they called “Nannerl.”
She was 4 years older than
Mozart and played the piano
very well.
Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart
Biography (Life Story)
Mozart showed musical gifts at a
very early age, composing when
he was 5 and, when he was 6,
playing before many of Europe’s
royalty, including the Empress of
Austria.
Mozart’s family set out on a tour
that took them to Paris and
London, visiting numerous royal
courts where he wrote his earliest
symphonies and had his first
compositions published.
Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart
Biography (Life Story)
As a young man, Mozart traveled
all over Europe, showcasing his
talents. Eventually, he began to
look for work as a court musician.
Leaving Salzburg with his mother,
Mozart traveled to Vienna,
Germany, France, England, and
Italy. There, he wrote several
compositions.
But Mozart suffered a great loss in
Paris, France where his mother
died after being ill for some time.
Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart
Biography (Life Story)
Just because Mozart was a genius
did not mean he didn’t have to
work hard. Mozart worked very
hard during his life to make a
living at creating beautiful music.
Mozart wrote many operas,
concertos, quartets, and other
pieces. He was friends with some
of the most famous musicians of
the time, including composer,
Joseph Hayden, who admired
Mozart’s genius.
Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart
Biography (Life Story)
As can often be the case with
many artists, Mozart was not
as famous during his lifetime
as he was after his death.
But, even though times were
very difficult for him, Mozart
was able to write some of his
best works.
The Marriage of Figaro, Don
Giovanni, and The Magic
Flute are considered among
the best operas ever written.
Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart
Biography (Life Story)
Mozart became ill and died
on December 5,1791. He was
extremely poor when he died.
His burial the next day was
attended only by the person
who dug his grave.
Though he died at a young
age, Mozart’s music
continues to thrive as great
works of art even to this day
His name is known by people
all over the world.
Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart
Questions About Mozart






When was Mozart born?
Name two countries Mozart visited when he
was young.
In which country did Mozart suffer a
terrible loss? What was that loss?
Name one opera Mozart wrote.
When did Mozart die? How old was he?
What kind of music would you say Mozart
wrote – classical, contemporary, rap, or
rock?
Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart
Mozart’s Music
This is a partial listing of some of Mozart’s
compositions. Let’s Listen to a few! RealPlayer Needed.
 Allegro Sonata in C for Keyboard and Violin was written in 1762
and 1764 when Mozart was between 6 and 8 years old.
 Motet in G minor, "God is Our Refuge“ was written in 1765. How
old was Mozart when he wrote this piece?
 As the Battles of Lexington and Concord open the American War
of Independence, Mozart was writing Il rè pastore (K. 208). Here is
the Overture.
 Just before his death, Mozart wrote one of his most famous pieces,
The Requiem. The Introitus is the beginning of the work; Confutatis is
one of the middle pieces; and the Lacrimosa marks the end of the
Requiem.
Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart
Links To Mozart Information Web Pages
Salzburg Celebrates its most Famous son
http://www2.salzburg.info/mozart.html
See where Mozart lived during his lifetime
http://www2.salzburg.info/sehenswertes_27.html
Mozart’s Family Tree
http://www.mozartproject.org/biography/tree.html
Mozart’s Time Line
http://www.artsalive.ca/en/mus/greatcomposers/m
ozart/mozart-times.html