This activity will be divided into 7 chapters. This story will be narrated by another composer who lived during Mozart’s time, Antonio Salieri. Even though there was rivalry between the two composers, they both respected each other.

Chapter 1: Mozart – A child prodigy
The young composer could pick out tunes on the piano at the age of 3, and performed in front of the Royalty. He began composing by the age of 4. His early music was written mainly for the harpsichord (a type of piano). By the time he was 12, he had already composed 10 symphonies.

Chapter 2: Young Mozart
Here you will see Mozart at the age of 17. He was already employed as a composer but was considered to be a bit arrogant. Mozart was good and he understood it. Whilst visiting Vienna, he lost his position. He became relatively well known but ends up with no money and financial support. Many composers would try to meet him because they admired his talent, just like the video.

Chapter 3: Mozart – the Opera Star
Opera was Mozart’s means of making money. He got married at the age age 26 and struggled financially for various reasons. One of these reasons was due to the fact that his wife Costanze needed to visit SPA Hospitals (one in Baden) in order to have healthy children. As seen in the video, Mozart enjoyed conducting his operas very much.

Chapter 4: Death of Leopold Mozart in 1787 (his father)
This affected Mozart tremendously. Leopold had immediately recognized The potential in his son as a child and dedicated his life supporting his son’s talent. He was also a friend to W.A. Mozart until his death in 1787. That means that W. A. Mozart lost a confidant and guide and also a source of income, because Leopold used to support his son financially. Many think the ‘anger’ in W.A. Mozart’s Opera Don Giovanni is due to what happened to his father.

Mozart wrote this to his friend about his father’s death: “I inform you that on returning home today I received the sad news of my most beloved father’s death. You can imagine the state I am in”.

Chapter 5: Illness
In 1791 just after finishing his Opera ‘Magic Flute’, Mozart’s health deteriorated. He was composing one of the most iconic work, the ‘Requiem’, which remained unfinished at the time of his death. It was later completed by another composer, Frans Xaver Sussmayr. The ‘Requiem’ is powerful, energetic and beautiful to listed to. It also portrays Mozart’s feelings on helplessness during his last hours alive.

Chapter 6: Death
Mozart died on the 5th December 1791. It is probable that he died in his home accompanied by a person who was helping him write his ‘Requiem’ even though many people think that Mozart actually died in another composer’s home.

Chapter 7: Burial
Mozart was buried in what s called a common grave. The ‘common grave’ is a term for a grave belonging to a citizen not of aristocracy. It is widely believed Mozart was not just buried in a common grave, but a communal grave.

Listen to his composition ‘Eine Kleine Nachtmusik’ by clicking on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE3BTY1I7-0
and write your thoughts about it:

1. How was the tempo?
2. Can you describe the dynamics (soft/loud)?
3. What are your general thoughts about the music?
4. Can you list the instruments used in the music?
5. Are there any repetitions?

Enjoy!