Dynamics The softness or loudness of the sound F E AT U R E D W O R K
Overture to The Marriage of Figaro
Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart
BORN: January 27, 1756, in Salzburg, Austria
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a child prodigy who showed promise at an early age. Watching his older sister practice the piano led to his basic understanding of musical concepts. It wasn’t long before his father, an accomplished composer and musician, tutored him to advance his playing. When he was six years old, he and his sister started performing for audiences. The stress of touring presented frequent health issues within the family and made for a difficult childhood. These obstacles didn’t stop Mozart from carrying on as a composer and a performer. As he got older, Mozart eventually arrived in Vienna where he wrote music, taught lessons, and performed in various venues. His life wasn’t long, but he performed often and collaborated with other composers to create timeless art. He continued to write operas, string quartets, symphonies, and more until the end of his life, becoming one of the most well-known composers in history.
FUN FACTS • Mozart had many different pets, including a horse, a dog, and two songbirds: a starling and a canary. • He was disorganized and would refuse to organize his music. Decades later, Ludwig Ritter von Köchel catalogued everything and saw how much music Mozart had written. • He spoke 15 languages! Traveling the world as a musician helped him pick up on languages from nearly every stop.
DIED: December 5, 1791, in Vienna, Austria