12/2/2018 https://www.thoughtco.com/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart-biography-723888?
print
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Biography
by Aaron Green
Updated March 17, 2017
Born:
January 27, 1756 - Salzburg
Died:
December 5, 1791 - Vienna
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Quick Facts:
Of the 41 symphonies that Mozart wrote, only two are in a minor key, both of which are in g minor (Symphony 25 &
40).
Mozart's music was often criticized as being too complex and "having too many notes."
Mozart was known to take familiar musical lines from one piece of music and insert them into another piece of
music.
Mozart Family Background:
On November 14, 1719, Mozart's father, Leopold, was born. Leopold attended Salzburg Benedictine University and studied
philosophy, but later he was expelled due to poor attendance. Leopold, however, became proficient in violin and organ. He
married Anna Maria Pertl on November 21, 1747. Of the seven children they had, only two survived Maria Anna (1751) and
Wolfgang Amadeus (1756).
Mozart's Childhood:
When Wolfgang was four (as noted by his father in his sister's music book), he was playing the same pieces as his sister. At the
age of five, he wrote a miniature andante and allegro (K. 1a and 1b). In 1762, Leopold took the young Mozart and Maria Anna
on tour throughout Vienna performing for nobles and ambassadors. Later in 1763, they began a three-and-a-half year tour
throughout Germany, France, England, Switzerland, and other countries.
Mozart's Teenage Years:
Amid the many tours, Mozart wrote music for a number of occasions. In 1770, Mozart (only 14) was commissioned to write an
opera (Mitridate, re di Ponto) by that December. He began work on the opera in October, and by December 26, after eight
rehearsals, the show was performed. The show, which included several ballets from other composers, lasted six hours. Too
much of Leopold's surprise, the opera was a huge success and was performed 22 more times.
Mozart's Early Adult Years:
In 1777, Mozart left Salzburg with his mother to search for a higher paying job. His travels lead him to Paris, where,
unfortunately, his mother became deathly ill. Mozart's efforts to find a better job were unfruitful. He returned home two years
https://www.thoughtco.com/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart-biography-723888?print 1/2
12/2/2018 https://www.thoughtco.com/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart-biography-723888?print
later and continued working in the court as an organist with accompanying duties rather than a violinist. Mozart was offered an
increase in salary and generous leave.
Mozart's Mid Adult Years:
After the successful premier of the opera Idomenée in Munich in 1781, Mozart returned to Salzburg. Wanting to be released
from his job as court organist, Mozart met with the archbishop. In March of 1781, Mozart was finally released from his duties
and began working freelance. A year later, Mozart gave his first public concert consisting entirely of his own compositions.
Mozart's Late Adult Years:
Mozart married Constanze Weber in July of 1782, despite his father's constant disapproval. As Mozart's compositions
flourished, his debts did too; money always seemed a bit tight for him. In 1787, Mozart's father died. Mozart was deeply
affected by the passing of his father, which can be seen in a lull in new compositions. Less than four years later, Mozart died of
miliary fever in 1791.
Selected Works by Mozart:
Symphonic Works
Symphony No. 25, K. 183 - g minor - 1773
Symphony No. 35 Haffner, K. 385 - D Major - 1782
Symphony No. 36 Linz, K. 425 - C Major - 1783
Symphony No. 38 Prague, K. 504 - D Major - 1786
Symphony No. 39, K. 543 - E flat Major - 1788
Symphony No. 40, K. 550 - g minor - 1788
Symphony No. 41 Jupiter, K. 551 - C Major - 1788
Opera
La finta semplice, K. 51 - 1768
, K. 87 - 1770
Idomeneo, K. 366 - 1781
Die Entführung aus dem Serail, K. 384 - 1782
Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492 - 1786
Così fan tutte, K. 588 - 1790
Die Zauberflöte, K. 620 - 1791
Requiem
Requiem Mass, K. 626 - d minor - 1791
https://www.thoughtco.com/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart-biography-723888?print 2/2
