Great Composers Course: Mozart

Music. Learn, enjoy, appreciate.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote over six hundred works, including some of the most-loved pieces in the classical repertoire. These include the Clarinet Concerto, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, The Marriage of Figaro, the Requiem, and many others. Mozart’s life is a fascinating tale, from his beginnings as a true child prodigy, through to career challenges and triumphs, and fame and (sometimes) fortune.

In this music appreciation course, we will examine the life and music of Mozart, richly illustrated with many musical examples, portraits, and readings from Mozart’s letters. No prior musical knowledge is necessary.

Outcomes

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• identify aspects of Mozart’s musical style
• describe how Mozart’s music is related to the Classical period
• identify the genres of some of the music composed by Mozart
• name some of Mozart’s major works and describe their place in his musical output
• describe the main periods of Mozart’s career
• discuss significant events in the life of Mozart.

Content

Topics to be explored

• What do we think of when we think about Mozart?
• Myths and facts about Mozart
• Mozart’s place in music history
• Mozart’s musical style
• The Classical period: Music in Mozart’s time
• Major life events
• The early years
• Composing at age six
• Touring Europe
• Mozart and Marie Antoinette
• The Salzburg years
• Transcribing Allegri’s Miserere from memory
• Mozart and Aloysia Weber
• Mozart and Constanze Weber
• The Vienna years
• The death of Mozart
• Mozart’s piano music
• Mozart’s concertos
• Mozart’s operas
• Mozart’s symphonies
• Mozart’s chamber music

Music we will listen to

We will listen to many Mozart pieces, both famous and lesser-known. These include:

• Requiem
• Symphony No. 40
• Symphony No. 41 (‘Jupiter’)
• The Marriage of Figaro
• The Magic Flute
• Don Giovanni
• The Clarinet Concerto
• Rondo 'Alla Turca'
• Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
• The Violet
• The Coronation Mass
• The Haydn String Quartets (composed by Mozart, dedicated to Haydn)
• Piano Sonatas.

Intended audience

Designed for fans of classical music, beginners and experienced listeners alike.

Prerequisites

None.

Delivery style

This course will be richly illustrated with musical examples, illustrations and video clips. Susan Deas will use the piano to demonstrate musical concepts to the everyday listener. Questions will be encouraged, and there will be room for discussion throughout the course.