27 Jan 2024 - MGOL - Wolfgang Mozart - Birthday

When God decided to compose music, he created WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART.

Remembering the best Composer ever to grace the 12 notes - on his Birth Anniversary today - 27 January. Full name - Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart. Better known as Mozart (Austria. b. 27 January 1756  d. 5 December 1791)

Wolfgang Mozart

Born in Salzburg Austria, Mozart in his brief life of just 35 years composed more than 800 works with his first composition by 4 and a full Symphony at the age of 6. His works are regarded as the best in the history of mankind spanning symphonic, concertante, chamber, operatic and choral music. He was also an acclaimed pianist apart from being the greatest Composer and Conductor.

I am indeed blessed to have heard his music for the first time at the age of 3 and his music became an integral part of my life ever since and has made a deep impact on my ideologies towards the understanding and creation of music.

My Concept of Vocal Sonata is inspired by him. Thank You Sir!

His most famous picture. A painting in 1781 by Austrian Painter Johann Nepomuk della Croce

The Mozart House - 9, Getreidegasse, Salzburg, Austria.
Wolfgang Mozart was born on the third floor and lived here until 1773

What was Mozart’s music like?

A contemporary of Mozart – Composer Antonio Salieri explains this in a film – Amadeus (1984) directed by Milos Forman – a film based on a purely fictional relation written first by Alexander Pushkin in 1830 as a Russian Play and then a British musical play in 1979 by Peter Shaffer adapted for the screen for this film - about the jealousy and hatred of Salieri towards Mozart and the personal life of Mozart. This however is purely fictional and far from the truth according to Scholars and Researchers who have the proofs of a very cordial relation between the two.

Though the description of the music by Mozart is the best one can get, I for one just don’t want to believe a word about the film’s story line. As for the direction and especially the acting by the actor who played Antonio Salieri – F. Murray Abraham rightfully won an Oscar for his class act!

Here is the script text about – Mozart’s music described by Salieri. Superb screenplay by Peter Shaffer.

"On the page, it looked nothing. The beginning simple, almost comic. Just a pulse. Bassoons, Basset Horns. Like a rusty squeezebox. 

And then, suddenly, high above it. An Oboe.  A single note hanging there unwavering, until a Clarinet took it over. Sweetened it into a phrase of such delight.

This was no composition by a performing monkey; this was a music I've never heard.

Filled with such longing, such unfulfillable longing. It seemed to me that I was hearing the voice of God.

But why? Why would God choose such an obscene child to be his instrument?

It's not to be believed. This piece had to be an accident. It had to be. It better be." - Antonio Salieri.

How did Mozart compose?

Again using the reference of the same film Amadeus (1984) – A 35 year old Mozart is dying alone...with his family away. Salieri has supposedly poisoned him and is around to make sure that Mozart is dead. (This by the way is not how Mozart actually died, so i don’t want to believe this film scene too) But am sharing it here to drive home a different and much more important point.

Mozart – on his deathbed creates his last composition – long overdue for a patron who has already paid him advance. It’s a funeral mass called Requiem.

The first 38 seconds...Mozart discusses the meaning of the lyrics and the concept – Confutatis – eternal flames. The composing starts at 40 seconds....Look at the genius of Mozart, his composing in various layers of music for a piece- multi track composing 231 years ago...that too in the head - the various elements of scale, time of speed, rhythm beats, various types of voices – tenors, altos, sopranos, bases.  Various instruments plus the Harmony, Countermelody, Obliques, Arpeggios – all technical terms in composing and creating the orchestra for any music. The best part is every time he reads – he can hear the music even as if playing in real time and even as it gets more and more complicated – there is a method in his madness of creation – Simply out of the world!  Salieri’s bewildered looks every now and then in total disbelief is the perfect testament to that.

The best part of the scene....putting it all together at 5.00 min mark in the video timeline till the end....Mozart remembering his life, his wife and his son as he dies.....pure magic – the voice of God  – conducted and recorded for this film by the famous Sir Neville Marriner and his world famous Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Orchestra (UK). This is exactly how it would have sounded even in the day of Mozart.  The film won the Oscar for the best film and direction in 1985. (10 nominations across categories and 8 won)

PLEASE CLICK THE SUB TITLE OPTION IN THE VIDEO BELOW – ENGLISH TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING.

His best known music piece

I bet you have heard this somewhere – in some form or the other – The First Part or Movement called Molto Allegro - of his best known Symphony - No. 40. The whole symphony is – The story of life – This first part sums it up in less than 8 minutes. No composer could and will ever come even remotely close to this – Period! (American way of saying – that’s it. Nothing more to add) Played here by Mozart Kammerphilharmonie Orchestra from Romania, Conducted by Christian Badea. The full symphony is in 4 parts.

Mozart composed this masterpiece in July 1788 at the age of 32 immediately after the death of his infant daughter and is said to have got this tune on his way back from the graveyard. So its the story of life – One can clearly hear the argument with the supreme creator. I am speechless every time I hear it. 

Till recent time- In many parts of Europe, if you purchased a Tape Recorder, Cassette Player or a CD Player – the salesman would play this piece for you and if it sounded all right. The verdict would be – This is good electronic device you are purchasing! That is the power of his creation!

P.S – I was little over 3 when I heard it for the first time. Imagine the impact it can have at that age. I am still in heaven of music till this day!

Music – A direct connection hotline with the Supreme Creator. This 9 minute piece is the second of a 3 part composition by Mozart called the Concerto for the Flute, Harp and Orchestra K 299 composed in Paris April 1778 at the age of 22.

Mozart’s legacy has stood the test of time. See this video. The Flute is played by a 17 year old Anna Komarova and the Harp by a 9 year old kid named Alisa Sadikova (Both Russian) at the concert of the Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory Music School, St. Petersburg, Russia. The Conductor of this performance - all musicians in their teens - is Arkady Steinlucht. What maturity and passion in the players! What beauty and sweetness in the composition! Remember the words of Salieri in the first video of this article. That's Wolfgang Mozart – The Voice of God.

Mozart's statue in Vienna (Austria)

Mhaaro Prannaam (My Salutations) to the most important Musical Guru of my life!

- Dr. Salil Latay

Pune, India

27 January 2024, Saturday

First published in 2022...now a re run.

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