Top 10 Interesting Facts about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus by Barbada Krafft – Wikimedia commons

Top Ten Interesting Facts about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on 27 January 1756 at Getredegasse 9 in Salzburg. He was the son of Leopold Mozart and Anna Maria. He was the seventh and youngest child of Leopold and Ann.

Five of his siblings died during infancy.
He was baptized the day after his birth, at St. Rupert’s Cathedral in Salzburg. He was then given the name Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart.

He showed prodigious ability from his earliest childhood. He was competent on the keyboard and violin. In the article are the top ten interesting facts about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

1. He was a prolific composer of the Classical period

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart by Johann Nepomuk della Croce –  Wikimedia commons

Did you know that the Classical period was an era of classical music between roughly 1730 and 1820? Well, let me guide you to know more about Wolfgang Mozart. Mozart had more than 800 works despite his short life.

Many of his compositions are acknowledged as pinnacles of the symphonic, concertante, chamber, operatic like Idomeneo, and choral repertoire. His music had a charming melodic beauty with the richness of harmony and texture. They were formally elegant.

2. His father was also a composer

Leopold Mozart byPietro Antonio Lorenzoni – Wikimedia commons

Despite the fact that he was a composer, he was also a music teacher, violinist, and conductor. He was into music as his son. Leopold taught his children languages and academic subjects. He was Wolfgang’s only teacher.

He also taught his son violin and composing. Wolfgang’s first ink-spattered composition and efforts were amazing. Leopold though quit composing when his son’s musical talents became evident.

3. He was the fourth violinist of Count Leopold Anton von Firmian

As a native of Augsburg, Mozart was a minor composer and a very experienced teacher. Mozart worked as a violinist in the musical establishment of the then-Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg.

4. His family always made journeys when he was young

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart by Anonymous – Wikimedia commons

His family made many several European trips where Mozart performed as child prodigies. Of course, he produces meaningful output in some domains to the level of an adult expert. He performed an exhibition in 1762 at the court of Prince-elector Maximilian III. The family trip was challenging and the travel conditions were primitive.

They had to wait for invitations and reimbursement from the nobility. They also endured long near-fatal illnesses far from home. There was also family separation for long periods for example Anna Maria and Nannerl were left home when the son and father left for Italy from1769-1771.

5. He was employed at the Salzburg court

Mozart Wolfgang by Kriehuber, Josef – Wikimedia commons

After Mozart had finished his music education in the Accademia Filarmonica adi Bologna in Bologna, Italy, He returned to Salzburg. He was employed as a court musician by the ruler of Salzburg, Archibishop Colloredo. He made many friends and admirers in Salzburg and had the opportunity to work in many genres.

6. Mozart’s appearence was deceiving

As described by tenor Michael Kelly, Mozart was a remarkably small man, very thin, and pale. He had a profusion of fine, fair hair of which he was rather vain. His early biographer Niemetschek wrote that there was nothing special about his physique.

He was small and his countenance, except for his intense eyes, gave no signs of his genius. He spoke with a tenor voice.

7. He was determined to play music for the Emporer

Although Mozart worked for Archbishop Colloredo, he was planning a bigger career. He wrote to his father that his main goal was to meet the Emporer in some agreeable fashion. He hoped that he whipped his opera to the Emporer it would make him happy. Fortunately, Mozart met the Emporer.

The Emporer was to support his career and a part-time position. Archbishop Colloredo was not happy seeing his music composer leaving with half the salary that he gave him. He refused his proposal to resign but later dismissed him in an insulting way.

8. Mozart was married to a trained Australian Singer

Constanze Mozart by Hans Hansen – Wikimedia commons

The courtship of the couple did not entirely go smoothly. This is because Mozart faced a challenging task in getting his father’s permission to marry Maria Constance Aloysia Mozart. The two separated briefly until the father sent his approval through the mail.

The couple finally married on 4th August 1782 in St. Stephen’s Cathedral. They had six children including Xaver Wolfgang and Carl Thomas Mozart who married but were childless. The lineage of Mozart died in his hands.

9. Mozart became bankrupt in his later years

Around 1786, Mozart ceased to appear in public concerts. His income then shrank. Even the general level of prosperity and the ability ofthe aristocracy to support music had declined. He was forcd to move his family from Central Vienna to the suburb of Alsergrund.

Mozart began to borrow money from his friend Mason Puchberg oftenly. He always sent him a pitiful sequence of letters requesting for loans.

10. He was buried in a common grave

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart by Leopold Bode – Wikimedia commons

Mozart was buried in a common grave! Can you believe that? A common grave actually, was a plot that belonged to the owners of the cemetery rather than to a private individual. To be precise, there were no mourners attending! Then how was the deceased mourned and support for his family shown?

Well, after all, he was buried in a commons grave. Mere reasons were given that the day he was buried, there was a storm and snow. The tale though was considered false because the day as reported, was calm and mild and Mozart’s grave was subject to excavation after ten years. This is because it was not the grave of aristocrats but a common grave.

Mozart was a great composer of all times. He left a legacy of creating his first musical compositions when he around four or five. He also influenced composers Johann epomuk Hummel, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Fernando Sor, Mikhail Glinka, Max Reger, and Frederic Chopin.