Amadeus, the Movie Essay

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart baptized as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart lived from January 27, 1756 to December 5, 1791. Mozart was a very influential and prolific composer of more than 600 works, including symphonies, concertante, chamber, piano, opera, and choral music. Regarded as a child prodigy, Mozart composed and performed in the European courts from the age of five, and was engaged at the Salzburg court at 17. Mozart’s musical style can be classified as Classical, although he learned from many of his contemporaries throughout his musical career. In order to better understand Mozart’s genius it is best to begin looking at his earliest contributions to the musical world as a child. From there, an exploration of his

This paper discusses Mozart's life, his compositions and his importance to the world and the world of music. It explains how Mozart's music is still some of the most popular classical music played today and his life is still studied because his music is so well known and liked.

Wolfgang was busy during his childhood, playing, and practicing his music; he did not get much of a chance to really experience being a child. His father was constantly pushing him to be better, to play hard, and to make more money. Mozart and his father were evidently close, there are many different views to how Leopold fathered his children; some say he was a money hungry truant, others say he was sweet, sensitive, wanted the best for his children, and that the money didn’t matter. I believe that Leopold want the best for his children, and maybe a little money out of it. Eventually, Mozart wanted to leave his native home of Salzburg, he was most likely tired of his father constantly trying to control his life. Having knowledge of the lack of jobs in Vienna, and disregarding his fathers pleads, Mozart left his home anyways, heading for Vienna with no steady job.

He is what most people consider a musical prodigy, yet evidence suggests quite the opposite. Mozart became so famous when he actually succeeded at a slower rate than other people, which goes to show the effects of hard work. People who have the free will and mental capacity to work harder towards their goals will come to succeed even quicker than a famed “child prodigy” like Mozart.

Throughout history there have been demonstrations of grit and the correlation to cognitive ability developing strongly through childhood. Mozart, was most commonly related to being a “child prodigy”, having an extremely high IQ and musically based talent (Ericsson, Prietula and Cokely 2007, p. 3). What is not universally known about the development of his ability

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was blessed with the a musical intelligence. This intelligence gave him the ability to perform and compose music. As a child Mozart was a prodigy since childhood. Mozart was composing music as early of the age of 5. His music wasn't pots and pans banging together. Mozart's music was extraordinary, he had composed 600 plus works by his mid 20s. He could feel the rhythm and knew exactly what to do with it. If this kind of intelligence does not fit Mozart, then I have no idea what could.

Then at age 25, Mozart broke free from Salzburg and became a great freelance musician in Vienna. This is where Mozart found and started some of his success. Mozart earned his living giving lessons to people and holding concerts. Mozart later wrote his piece “Don Giovanni” and then “The marriage of Figaro” and these were great pieces for his time. Eventually, Mozart's popularity disapeared and his music was found to be very complicated and hard to follow. Mozart's music was very versatile and his masterpieces had been in many forms. His piano concertos were and

     Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is said to be the greatest genius in western music history. Wolfgang Amadeus was born in Salzburg, Austria January 27, 1756 his parents were Leopold Mozart and Anna Maria Pertl. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s father was a successful composer, violinist, and assistant concertmaster at the Salzburg court. The

born in Salzburg, Austria, January 27, 1756. His father, Leopold, perhaps the greatest influence on Mozart's life, was the vice Kapellmeister (assistant choir director) to the Archbishop of Salzburg at the time of Mozart's birth. Mozart was actually christened as "Joannes Chrysotomus Wolfgangus Theophilus," but adopted the Latin term "Amadeus" as his name of choice. Mozart was one of seven children born to Leopold and Anna, however, only one other sibling survived.

Their range was so amazing and sounded as if it required a lot of practice. I admire them for lasting the whole show with spotless vocals. You most definitely have to have an acquired taste for the style of music that they were singing, but not to appreciate it. Throughout the opera I had to constantly remind myself to keep a positive outlook on the performance; nevertheless, I developed a great reverence for opera singers by the end of the opera.

Mozart himself was never a wealthy man. He often ran out of money, which was one of the main reasons his wife left him, and he could never provide for his family or take care of himself. Having this background, Mozart knew that many lower class residents were unable to understand Italian operas, so he asked for permission to write an opera in German, so everyone in the audience could appreciate his opera. Instead of writing in Italian, a language only the educated would understand, Mozart disregarded class standards and devised a show, The Abduction from the Seraglio, that everyone could comprehend. He wanted everyone of all classes to have an equal opportunity to recognize his work. Mozart’s forward thinking, and defiance of standards was what defined him as an enlightenment thinker. He created operas contrasting from all other ideas, and pursued his own concepts instead of adapting to the common ideas of the time. Mozart was unlike all composers, in the sense that he cared for everyone who came to appreciate his work, no matter their

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was probably the greatest genius in Western musical history. He was born in Salzberg, Austria on January 27, 1756. The son of Leopold Mozart and his wife Anna Maria Pertl. Leopold was a successful composer and violinist and assistant concertmaster at the Salzberg court.

The film Amadeus directed by Milos Forman in 1984 was a look in to the interesting and short life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mozart was considered a child prodigy and genius by possessing qualities such as: composing his first concerto at the age 4, first symphony by the age of seven, his first opera by twelve, being able to just hear a piece of music once and being able to play it back perfectly from memory, playing the piano with a blindfold on, or playing the piano upside-down and backward. The film was narrated by another composer, Antonio Salieri, who was portrayed has having a love/hate relationship with Mozart.

Mozart’s father was both a composer and a violinist, who began training him and his sister Nannerl musically at a very young age and took them on tours to demonstrate their talents (Hanning, 354). Mozart was a prodigy. It has been said that at the age of three, he had already been recognized to have perfect pitch and at the age of six he began composing (Hanning, 354). He was a virtuoso on the keyboard and prominent violinist (Grout, 540). Without a doubt, he was a master in music. In 1791, at the young age of 35 Mozart passed away (Hanning, 354). Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a renowned composer of the classical period. This prominent musical genius still impacts the world of music today in a significant way.

The documentary opens up with Charles Hazlewood, the narrator, stating, “The popular view is that he [Mozart] was born a genius, straight from his mother's womb. But in my opinion, his brilliance grew and developed from the loves and losses during his brief 35 years. Life was the driving force of his genius." This quote from the documentary outlines the plot of all three parts.