Mozart: works, analysis and meaning

Wolfang Amadeus Mozart is the most important classical musician of the 18th century and, without a doubt, his work has all the qualities of an unprecedented musical genius. Therefore, today he is a universal reference.

It is well known that Mozart was a child prodigy who, at just 5 years old, was already capable of playing the piano and composing. It is not surprising his vast work, which covers genres as diverse as symphonies, serenades, operas, concert arias, motets, masses, orchestral concertos, sonatas and chamber music for various formats.

Mozart's work was framed within musical classicism, which distanced itself from the emotional and "confused" style of the Baroque, its predecessor. Classicism was characterized by seeking in music an ideal of beauty based on balance, as occurred in parallel in the visual arts of the 18th century.

Classicism wanted the melodic line to stand out over the harmony, that is, to be clearly intelligible, which is not This was the case with the baroque style, when the melody was frequently lost in the contrapuntal fabric of the more complex compositions. variegated. Harmony in classicism, therefore, tended to be consonant, rhythms regular, and style bright.

It was this moment in history that witnessed the birth of the forms sonata Y symphony, and where the concerts would reach a wide diffusion. Mozart had a masterful development in these genres and, although he applied the stylistic criteria of his time, he also knew how to break some rules and demonstrate, through it, his genius. Let's get to know these and other of his most valuable and emblematic compositions:

Symphonies

Symphony No. 40

The Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550, was one of the last symphonies composed by Mozart. It was composed in the year 1788. Although it is not certain that Mozart could have released it, the researchers suggest that he did, since the hassle to review it later and make adaptations, which would only make sense after having it listened.

It is structured in four movements: molto allegro; andante-menuetto; allegro trio Y allegro assai. The orchestra formation for this symphony consists of two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, flute and first and second violins, violas, cello and double basses.

Serenades

Serenade No. 13 for Strings in G major (G): Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

Better known as Eine Kleine Nachtmusik or A little night tune, this serenade was composed in the year 1787. Although Mozart wrote five movements, only four remain: Allegro, Walking romance, Menuetto Alegretto Y Rondo allegro. It is a piece of chamber music, whose formation consists of two violins, viola, cello and an optional double bass.

Piano Sonatas

In addition to sonatas for other instruments, Mozart composed a total of 25 piano sonatas, including 18 solo sonatas, 6 four-hand piano sonatas, and one two-piano sonata. They were composed between the years 1774 and 1789.

Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major KV 545

This sonata is known as Sonata Facile or Sonata Semplice. It was composed in the year 1788. It is made up of three movements: Allegro, Walking Y Rondo. It has the particularity that in the first movement, when it corresponds to re-expose the initial theme in the same key, C major, does it in F major, which breaks with the prevailing criteria of the time.

The Turkish March or Piano Sonata No. 11, in A major, KV 331 (1783).

It is known as Turkish march to Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, KV. 331, composed by Mozart in the year 1783. The last movement, called Rondo Alla Turca - Allegro, is usually the reason for numerous versions in which young pianists put their creativity to the test, such as the example we have left you in this section. This movement is preceded by a Graceful walking with six variations and a Menuetto (minuet and trio).

Operas

Mozart composed a total of 22 operas, including serious opera, comic opera and singspiel. The latter is a genre of popular German opera written in that language, where the recitatives are usually spoken and the arias are less complex. The use of German was a revolution, since then the opera was always done in Italian.

The magic Flute

The magic Flute It is an opera composed and premiered in 1791, and at its premiere it was directed by Mozart himself, two months before his death. It is actually a singspiel in two acts with a libretto by the German Emanuel Schikaneder.

Both the librettist and Mozart were then going through a severe economic crisis, and they thought they would find The magic Flute some fortune. This piece uses many Masonic symbols, since its authors were part of the same lodge. It was taken by many as a revolutionary work.

Nowadays, The magic Flute is in the fourth place of the most important operas in history, and its most celebrated aria is "The queen of the night", written for a soprano of coloratura.

Don giovanni

Don giovanni, composed in 1787, is a humorous drama in two acts, with a libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It has the particularity of condensing in a single work the elements typical of serious opera as well as comic opera.

To differentiate the social status of the characters, Mozart made the recitatives of the noble characters accompanied with an orchestra, while the recitatives of the characters of the common people or the servants were made on the clavecin.

The Marriage of Figaro

Composed between 1785 and 1786, The Marriage of Figaro or Le nozze di Figaro it is a comic opera in four acts, also with a libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, who was based on the play Le mariage de Figaro ou la folle journée by Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais when we have the information.

At that time, it was believed that comic opera could only be achieved with excellence by Italians. Mozart had to fight this prejudice. The success, however, was resounding.

Masses

Requiem Mass in D minor, K. 626

Mozart received this commission in 1791 from an unidentified messenger, who, without further explanation, gave him an advance of the money.

Already ill, Mozart believed that he read a message from fate in that mysterious episode and feared, in fact, that he would die at the end of the work, but death caught up with him before it was finished. Although it is believed to have been completed by Salieri, the mass was finished by Franz Xaver Süssmayr, following Mozart's own deathbed instructions.

Shortly after it was learned that this messenger represented Count Franz von Walsegg, a musician of medium recognition, who had the claim to dedicate this Requiem to his former wife and pass her off as his own.

One of the most famous sections of it is "Lacrimosa Dies Illa", of which Mozart could only do the first eight bars.

Motets

Ave Verum Corpus, KV618

Ave Verum CorpusIt is a motet, that is, a polyphonic piece of a religious nature. Although motets are not part of the structure of the mass, they are usually sung at solemn Masses. This is the case of this piece by Mozart, composed in 1791 for the festival of Corpus Christi, and and interpreted during the consecration of the host.

Concert arias

Bella mia fiamma, addio

Bella mia fiamma, addio, is a concert aria written in 1787 by Mozart for the singer Josepha Duschek. The concert arias consisted of pieces of long duration, conceived for voice and orchestra, where the singer had to show off his skills.

With text by Michele Sarcone, the piece has a formation for soprano voice, flute, two oboes, two horns and a string section. It is structured in two parts. The first, a recitative walking in E minor. The second, a walking in C major and allegro. This piece would inspire Ludwing van Beethoven to compose his famous concert aria Ah! Perfidious.

Two excerpts from the text of Bella mia fiamma they say like this:

My beautiful flame, goodbye!
Heaven didn't like to make us happy.
(...)

Stay, oh dear! Immature death
It separates me, oh God, from you.

See also: Passionate Beethoven: the most representative works, which includes a commentary on the concert aria Ah! Perfidious.

Brief biography of Mozart

Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgang Theophilus (Amadeus) Mozart was born on January 27, 1756 in the city of Salzburg. He was the son of Leopold Mozart and Anna Maria Pertl, and had a sister named Maria Anna, known as Nannerl.

His father, Leopold Mozart, was responsible for his initial training in music. But in addition, he soon noticed the prodigious abilities of the boy genius, which apparently increased the pressure and was of great economic benefit to the family. Hence he has been considered by some modern biographers as an exploiter.

However, other researchers maintain that what was done by Leopold Mozart was not as scandalous as it is claimed. For these, Leopold Mozart, a professional musician with a solvent career, would have done the same as any head of the family of that time, who was responsible for training his son in the company family.

At just 6 years old, he made his first tour of the courts of Europe accompanied by his sister. At 8, in the year 1764, he published his first compositions.

In 1768, at the age of twelve, he composed the opera The Feint Semplice, and a year later Bastien und Bastienne. Mozart also received classes from personalities such as Johann Schobert and Johann Christian Bach.

He was named Konzertameister (concertmaster) of the Archbishop of Salzburg Hieronimus Colloredo, for whom he composed Masses, concerts and serenades between the years 1772 and 1781, with a brief interruption of the contractual relationship in 1777.

He moves to Vienna and there, in 1782, he composes The rapture of the Serallo for Emperor Joseph II. That same year he married Constanze Weber, with whom he had six children: Raimund Leopold (1783); Karl Thomas (1784); Johann Leopold (1786); Theresia (1787); Anna (1789) and Franz Xaver Wolfgang (1791).

Leaving his job in the archdiocese, he worked as a freelance musician for the rest of his years, but this left him financially strapped. difficult despite his undisputed fame and influence, as it was not as lucrative as working for the court, and the family was numerous.

His last performance took place in 1791 with the concerto for piano and orchestra K. 595. He died on December 5, 1791 in Vienna, Austria.

Youtube Playlists

We have prepared for you a playlist that you can follow on the social networks of your choice. In addition to the pieces highlighted here, we have also included other Mozartian jewels such as Exsultate Jubilate and more. You can follow our list at Youtube under the name Mozart aeternus.