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Thoughts on W.A. Mozart?

Mr. Lin said:
... I'm getting towards the end of a book of Mozart's letters, which are mostly between him and his father...
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What is the title? I'd like to read this. Again thanks for everyones input. I'm looking forward to going back on Thanksgiving, better armed for discourse.
 
G'day all. The second movement (the Adagio) from Mozart's Clarinet Concerto was mentioned earlier. I think that is my all time Classical Music favourite.

The sense of melancholic beauty of that piece sometimes brings me to tears (borrowing from another thread. :D), yet that piece sounds so contemporary and fresh to me every time I hear it. :yes: Regards, Felix aka catman.
 
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WAM means to me one of the supreme composers ever. As for emotions, yes, we are talking about the Viennese Classicism here, and Romanticism which was meant for freeing expression as the main goal of Art was about to be born. However, deep expression in WAM ouvre is found in many places: the last period, of course, has a lot to do with that sublime out-of-this-world light (Die Zauberflute, the Clarinet Concert and Quintet, Requiem, etc). But not only: for example, in the Great C minor Mass (what a masterpiece, with harmonic modulations that go straight into Schubert and Bruckner), Don Giovanni (the Commendatore scene is as dramatic as one can get, with those menacing trombones), the Masonic Music in general and the Funeral Music in particular, the B flat serenade for 13 wind instruments and its nonconfessional santity, and the remote worlds of some of the late piano concerts and sonatas. I'm a believer.
 
guiller said:
WAM means to me one of the supreme composers ever. As for emotions, yes, we are talking about the Viennese Classicism here, and Romanticism which was meant for freeing expression as the main goal of Art was about to be born. However, deep expression in WAM ouvre is found in many places: the last period, of course, has a lot to do with that sublime out-of-this-world light (Die Zauberflute, the Clarinet Concert and Quintet, Requiem, etc). But not only: for example, in the Great C minor Mass (what a masterpiece, with harmonic modulations that go straight into Schubert and Bruckner), Don Giovanni (the Commendatore scene is as dramatic as one can get, with those menacing trombones), the Masonic Music in general and the Funeral Music in particular, the B flat serenade for 13 wind instruments and its nonconfessional santity, and the remote worlds of some of the late piano concerts and sonatas. I'm a believer.
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Totally agreed. What about the String Quartet No. 19 'Dissonance'? Mozart really did cover everything even before dawn!
 
davidro said:
btw, anyone who reckons Mozart exhibited his dark side only in Requiem should really try the Little G Minor - Symphony no. 25, not to mention the Great G Minor, no. 40.
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As I understand it, No.40 in G minor was VERY cutting edge in the context of the time period.
 
guiller said:
WAM means to me one of the supreme composers ever. As for emotions, yes, we are talking about the Viennese Classicism here, and Romanticism which was meant for freeing expression as the main goal of Art was about to be born. However, deep expression in WAM ouvre is found in many places: the last period, of course, has a lot to do with that sublime out-of-this-world light (Die Zauberflute, the Clarinet Concert and Quintet, Requiem, etc). But not only: for example, in the Great C minor Mass (what a masterpiece, with harmonic modulations that go straight into Schubert and Bruckner), Don Giovanni (the Commendatore scene is as dramatic as one can get, with those menacing trombones), the Masonic Music in general and the Funeral Music in particular, the B flat serenade for 13 wind instruments and its nonconfessional santity, and the remote worlds of some of the late piano concerts and sonatas. I'm a believer.
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I entirely agree. And all this from a young man who never reached his full potential, since he died at 35 yrs! Astounding. I will just have to suggest that my cousin start to listen critically, rather than casually, to more Mozart. Perhaps then she'll not dismiss him so lightly.
 
GuyK said:
I entirely agree. And all this from a young man who never reached his full potential, since he died at 35 yrs! Astounding. I will just have to suggest that my cousin start to listen critically, rather than casually, to more Mozart. Perhaps then she'll not dismiss him so lightly.
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She should listen critically, but I think in order to get the full emotional impact one needs to just listen entirely for pleasure.
 
I find most pop music to be devoid of emotion. Formulaic. That's across pop genre's, including "new" country, etc.

But they call it pop because lots of people like it, right?

Mozart rocks to my ears. Maybe it's just a matter of personal taste.
 
qft:

Quoted For Truth

Interesting thread. I've not much to add except to say that after listening to a bit of Mozart I'm spoiled the rest of the day for pop music. It all sounds so simple that I can't enjoy it until the aura wears off.
 
Mr. Lin said:
She should listen critically, but I think in order to get the full emotional impact one needs to just listen entirely for pleasure.
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Agreed. However, my cousin is not currently likely to listen to this composer for pleasure. Therefore, I think I must challenge the intellect first.
 
Here's another one for you guys, I just got to this part last night. It's from the aforementioned book by Robert Spaethling title Mozart's Letters, Mozart's Life. According to Spaethling, in 1786 Mozart attended a masked ball dressed as an Italian philosopher. While there he distributed pamphlets with riddles and various moral anecdotes he had written. Here's one of them:

If you are poor but clever, arm yourself with patience, and work hard. If you do not become rich, you will at least remain clever. If you are an ass but rich, use your advantage, be lazy; if you do not become poor, you will at least remain an ass.
 
G'day all, interesting stuff. I don't know if this is true, but I did read somewhere recently that it is now thought that Mozart possibly had Asperger's Syndrome.

Certainly from what is known about aspects of his life, he certainly displayed fairly marked Asperger's traits. I feel in good company then, as I am 'blessed' with the same condition myself (late diagnosed Asperger's Syndrome). Regards, Felix aka catman.
 
mr. Lin said:
if you are poor but clever, arm yourself with patience, and work hard. If you do not become rich, you will at least remain clever. If you are an ass but rich, use your advantage, be lazy; if you do not become poor, you will at least remain an ass.
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:d:d
 
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