Posted on 01/27/2015 6:27:10 AM PST by nwrep
The greatest musical genius in the history of the world was born 259 years ago today.
Here is a silent toast to the magical music of Mozart.
From Wikipedia:
He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, operatic, and choral music. He is among the most enduringly popular of classical composers, and his influence on subsequent Western art music is profound; Beethoven composed his own early works in the shadow of Mozart, and Joseph Haydn wrote that "posterity will not see such a talent again in 100 years."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df-eLzao63I
Heck, we now have rap which has not only undone any effects of musical progress for the past two millenia, it has made sure that only the most illiterate and godawful POSs in the planet remain to practice the cr*p.
Rock me Amadeus.
The shadow, perhaps. But Haydn exerted more influence on Beethoven than Mozart ever did. And while Mozart was a prodigy, he didn't achieve the majesty in 600 works that Beethoven did in a couple of symphonies.
I love Mozart, but I think that Beethoven was more respectful of, and influenced by, Haydn, Handel, and his own Publisher, Clementi.
I don’t compare the two, but listen to them with different mindsets. Mozart, I listen to with my brain. Beethoven, I listen to with my heart.
Just my humble opinion, but Ludwig himself said that he “worshiped at the grave of Handel”, and was flabbergasted that Haydn attended a performance of his 3rd Symphony.. I don’t think he ever said anything quite like that about Mozart.
I may be wrong, and welcome correction, as I am not a classical Musician, but a mere bass-player. LOL.
” I don’t compare the two, but listen to them with different mindsets. Mozart, I listen to with my brain. Beethoven, I listen to with my heart.”
Good thing you have both.
Ize take Mozart first : )
LOL...as of this moment in time, yes. i still have both.
ping
LOL That old saw? Mozart could do things Beethoven couldn’t do. Like write for the voice and make everything seem organic and not merely inserted for shock value...and was a better orchestrator.
Like die at 34.
Like write for the voice
Yeah, cuz no one's ever heard of the Ode to Joy or the Choral Fantasy. The former is the most powerful piece of choral music ever written. And the second is a dress rehearsal for the first.
and make everything seem organic and not merely inserted for shock value
Right. "Shock value," like what Wagner and Handel and Bach wrote ... What you call "shock value" I call "majesty."
...and was a better orchestrator.
Arguable. But so what? Beethoven was a composer, not an arranger.
Mozart had a gift. Beethoven was touched by God.
The vocal writing in the Ode to Joy is simply brutal. Ask anyone who has sung in it. Verdi thought it was inept. And Verdi knew a lot more about writing for the voice than Beethoven did. The Choral Fantasy is a cliche addled and third rate. Mozart never wrote any bad music. Beethoven wrote a fair amount of it. The point is that Beethoven’s music has flaws. Mozart’s does not. I would put both Bach and Mozart above Beethoven.
A wonderful, if not difficult, choice. That`s a beautiful piece, one of his most graceful and elegant, and saying alot.
Thanks for the ping!
Classical Music Ping List ping!
Bravo, gentlemen. Very well done, thank you.
No! I mean, yes. In terms of piano music, Beethoven outclasses Mozart completely. It's not even close. In terms of opera and sacred music, it's Mozart hands down. The rough and tumble comes when assessing the chamber music, especially the quartets. Symphonically, Ludwig beats Wolfgang, just for the 9th alone, but the 4th movement of the Jupiter is a miracle of polyphonic exuberance. The concerti are a tough call. They both shine so brilliantly. We mortals are blessed to hear either.
I would put Bach above everybody, including Wolfie.
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