Wolgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, commonly referred to as Mozart, is one of the most renowned classical composers in History today. Throughout his musical era, Mozart produced over 600 compositions, including 21 stage and opera works, 15 Masses, over 50 symphonies, 25 piano concertos, 12 violin concertos, 27 concert arias, 17 piano sonatas, 26 string quartets and many other pieces. Mozart's music was not appreciated as greatly in his time as it may be today, because of it's very unique and different style compared to most other composers in his era. Mozart had a difficult time gaining [and maintaining] popularity in Europe, as his music was much more 'intense' and Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria, on January 27th, 1756, where he was raised along with his elder sister, Maria Anne Mozart[called Nannerl], by his father, Leopold, and his mother, Anna Maria Pertl Mozart. Amadeus' father, who was also a notorious musician, composer, and the Kapellmeister [Master of Music] to the court orchestra of the Archbishop of Salzburg, began instructing Nennerl in clavier [keyboard, piano] lessons at the age of seven and a half, when Amadeus was just three. Amadeus observed the fashion with none but obvious captivation, and as Nannerl later noted, took to spending much time at the clavier, picking out thirds, experimenting with the realm of music which he had been enlightened to. At just the age of four, Leopold began, as a game, Nannerl stated, to teach his son a few minuets and pieces at the clavier, which he could perform with pure precision. By the age of five, he had already begun composing small pieces of work, which Leopold wrote down as he played. Leopold, eager to display the ingenious talent of his children to the world, and his family traveled around Europe for several years during Amadeus' developing years. On these ventures Amadeus became acquainted with many other composers and musicians, perhaps one of the most influential being Johan Christian Bach, whom Amadeus met in London in 1764.