Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Artistfacts

January 27, 1756 - December 5, 1791
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born to Leopold Mozart (1719–1787), a musician of the Salzburg Royal Chamber, and Anna Maria, née Pertl (1720–1778), at 9 Getreidegasse in Salzburg, Austria.
A child prodigy, Mozart began picking out chords from a harpsichord at the age of three. At four he was playing short pieces and he wrote two minuets for the harpsichord at five.
Leopold soon realized that he could earn a substantial income by showcasing his son in the courts of Europe. The child performer dazzled audiences by playing with his hands behind his back or keys covered by a cloth. After every performance the child Mozart would ask his audience "Do you love me?"
When he was 17, Mozart was employed as a court musician by the ruler of Salzburg, Prince-Archbishop Hieronymus Colloredo. Mozart was treated by Colloredo as one of his servants and he was expected to hang around each morning in case his services was required. When Mozart refused to waste his time the Archbishop yelled at him to get out. On the way to the door Mozart coolly remarked "I hope this decision is final".
Mozart composed works for the glass harmonica. The instrument's premier virtuoso in his day was Mariane Kirchgessner, a blind Austrian woman. Mozart wrote a beautiful quintet for her "The Adagio and Rondo in C, K617."
Mozart's most successful opera during his lifetime was the Die Entführung aus dem Serail ("The Abduction from the Seraglio"), which premiered on July 16, 1782. A knockabout nursery farce, it was popular due to its oriental setting at a time of war between Austria and Turkey. After its premiere, Emperor Joseph II anecdotally made the comment that the opera had "too many notes".
On August 4, 1782, Mozart married the fun loving, dark haired Constanze Weber who was a singer. He wrote the C Minor Mass K 427 in celebration of their wedding.
The Austrian composer loved to play billiards. A billiard table with five balls and 12 cues was among Mozart's estate when he died.
For three years, Mozart kept a pet starling. His notebook includes a tune the starling sang which he used in his 17th piano concerto, "GK453 in G major." When the starling died, Mozart buried it in his garden and wrote a poem to his "little fool."
Mozart died in his home on December 5, 1791 at 1:00 am, while he was working on his final composition, the Requiem (unfinished when he passed away). His last words were "You spoke of a refreshment, Emile: Take my last notes, and let me hear once more my solace and delight." The actual cause of Mozart's death is uncertain.
It would take you 202 hours to listen to all the music composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He wrote over 600 pieces, even though he only lived to 35.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is an anagram of "A Famous German Waltz God." (Source The Encyclopedia of Trivia.)

Comments

Be the first to comment...

More Songfacts:

The Memory RemainsMetallica

An unexpected guest vocal: Marianne Faithfull on the Metallica song "The Memory Remains." A star in the '60s, this collaboration helped revive her career.

Black WaterThe Doobie Brothers

The Doobie Brothers' swampy #1 hit "Black Water" is about the Mississippi River, evoking the rafting adventures Mark Twain and Huckleberry Finn.

BabylonDavid Gray

"Babylon," in David Gray's song, refers to London, which was once known as the "modern-day Babylon."

Personal JesusDepeche Mode

"Personal Jesus," a song about "being a Jesus for somebody else," was inspired by Elvis and Priscilla Presley.

Undone - The Sweater SongWeezer

Weezer's "Undone - The Sweater Song" was written as a sad song about depression, but listeners heard it as a funny, ironic song.

Don't Bring Me DownElectric Light Orchestra

Jeff Lynne sang the word "groose" in the chorus of "Don't Bring Me Down" as a nonsense placeholder, but left it in when he found out it means "greetings" in German ("gruss").