1756-1791

STUDYGUIDE
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SCREEN EDUCATION

This study guide to accompany the film In Search of Mozart has been written for middle to senior secondary students. It provides information and questions for discussion in Music Appreciation, Music Performance and History.
It is hoped that students will gain: (a) a deeper understanding of the life and times of this amazing composer (b) an insight into factors that contributed to Mozarts talent and abilities as a performer and composer of the day (c) an understanding of the demands Mozart faced (d) an understanding of the inspiration Mozart has been to contemporary performers (e) an understanding of the variety of Mozarts music and the incredible output

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The Child Genius

olfgang Amadeus Mozart has been referred to as a child prodigy, a genius, able to play beyond his years, able to compose beyond his years, unparalleled in composition,

considered extraordinary. By the time he was six years old he could play the harpsichord and violin, improvize fugues, write minuets and read music perfectly at sight. Being born in Salzburg, what would have been the influences around the young child? What factors might have contributed to his exceptional talent? Did Mozart go to school? What made the young Mozart exceptional? What was unusual about his early compositions? Why was it unusual for him to play? The family embarked on a long tour three years in fact! Where did they go? What was the purpose of the trip? What effect do you think this would have had on Mozart and his sister? What was music for in the society at the time? What was it like to go to London? Who were some of the composers that Mozart would meet? What do you think it would have been like to be in Mozarts shoes? Can you think of a parallel situation in todays society? What opportunities are there for highly talented (gifted) children today? What type of environment today would be encouraging for a child with Mozarts abilities? Could a tour, similar to what the young Mozarts took be organized today without pre-booking? Why? What expenses do you think would be incurred? Make a rough budget for the type of tour the Mozarts would have taken and make an estimate of the cost of the three years. How would Leopold Mozart have made money in order to support the tour? Leopold Mozart and his wife obviously felt the tour would be a good idea for the young artists. Why do you think they felt this way? What types of difficulties would you encounter if you wished to do the same type of tour today? What types of music would the young Mozarts have heard on their travels? Whose compositions might they have heard?

SCREEN EDUCATION

The Classical Attitude

t the time of Mozarts birth, the world was changing. Passing was the intensity of religious feeling. Gone was the older order, the love of the dramatic and grandiose. A new age had arrived,

one that would see magnificent changes in the style of art and music. Philosophers and writers especially Voltaire (1694-1778) and Denis Diderot (1713-1784) saw their time as a turning point in history and referred to it as the Age of Enlightenment. What was Enlightenment thinking? How did this thinking affect the society? Did the movement affect Mozarts compositions or the nature of the composer and society? Mozart it has been said wrote in every genre of music of the day by the time he was sixteen. What were the musical genres for which he composed? Who played the music he wrote? For whom did he write the music? Where were the various types of music performed? In what ways was Mozart a product of the Enlightenment thinking? Not only had Mozart written in all genres but by his late teens he was also considered a Master of all genres. What are some of the qualities that set Mozarts music apart from other composers at the time? VIENNA was one of the music centres of Europe during the Classical period. It was the seat of the Holy Roman Empire (which included parts of modern Austria, Germany, Italy, Hungary and the Czech Republic). Trace a map of Europe today and colour the corresponding areas. What type of society would have made up Vienna in the eighteenth century? How did Mozarts music reflect the type of society he was part of? How did the society support artists/composers in those times? How do you think artists/composers are supported these days in Australia? Do you think there is a difference between Australia, Europe and the USA in relation to the arts particularly music? Classical music i.e. that of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven is often considered today as Serious music. How would this music have been seen by the society of the time? In what ways was the music supported? In what ways was Salzburg similar or different to Vienna? The Classical Orchestra was a standard group of four sections: strings, woodwind, brass and percussion. The number of musicians was greater in a classical orchestra than in a Baroque group and composers enjoyed exploiting the individual tone colours of the instruments. What do you notice about the instruments used in the film in comparison with todays instruments? Look at a score of one of Mozarts symphonies and write down the

SCREEN EDUCATION

instruments for which it is scored. In what ways did the Concerto in A for Violin of 1779 demonstrate some of Mozarts musical abilities? During the Classical period, what differences would an audience expect to hear between the first movement of a symphony and the first movement of a concerto? With the Piano Concerto in E Flat, how did Mozart change the opening of the Concerto? Was the piano of the day as large as that of today? How many movements are there in the Major instrumental works of the time? In what ways were the movements different from each other? What do you notice about the speed of many of the excerpts presented in the film? What is it about these segments that might have been different from the music prior to the Classical period in which Mozart was composing? What is it about Mozarts music that makes performing or conducting it so rewarding for the various artists in the film.

SCREEN EDUCATION

Mozart and Employment

ccording to Roger Kamien: The tragic irony of Mozarts life was that he won more acclaim as a boy wonder than as an adult musician. His upbringing and

personality were partly to blame. In his childhood, his complete dependence on his father gave him little opportunity to develop initiative. Even when Mozart was twenty-two, his mother tagged along when he went to Paris to seek recognition and establish himself. A Parisian observed that Mozart was too good natured, not active enough, too easily taken in, too little concerned with the means that may lead him to good fortune. Who were Mozarts employers in (a) Salzburg, (b) Vienna? What were these people like? What were some of the works Mozart wrote whilst in their employment? How did Mozart get on with his employers? How did the Enlightenment movement help or hinder Mozarts opportunities for supporting himself and family? Why did Mozart seek permission to leave Salzburg? In Vienna, Mozart organized his own Concert Series. Mozart was considered one of the first entrepreneurs of musical concerts. What was involved in putting on a Concert Series? What types of demands would this have put on Mozart at the time? Was Mozart good at handling his finances? What expenses would he have had to be responsible for? Besides composing and performing, what other ways could Mozart earn a living? In 1778 Mozarts mother died and the relationship with his father broke down. How did these factors affect Mozarts compositions? Who did Mozart stay with in Vienna? What was the eventual outcome of this friendship with the family? What was the fathers response?

SCREEN EDUCATION

Mozarts Music

ozart was among the most versatile of all composers; he wrote masterpieces in all the musical forms of his time. All his music sings: even his instrumental melodies seem to grow

out of the human voice. What are other ways Mozarts music has been described by the performers and conductors of his music? What are other personal factors that contributed to Mozarts depth of emotion in his compositions? In what way was Mozart at one with his society? How was this different from Haydn? What did Haydn think of Mozarts music? What factors contributed to the drama in Mozarts music? List the compositions that are cited in the film and correlate Mozarts age with the composition. Why do you think it is the slower movements that are chosen to be performed? What do the faster movements convey? Do you get the feeling that although Mozart is a genius he is writing more out of need to make a living, rather than his own creative necessity? How does the film give us an insight into this dilemma? If Mozart had had more money, do you think he would have composed as much music? Discuss. Mozart was a master of Opera. In what ways was Opera (a) a medium for his emotions, (b) a vehicle for his musical abilities and (c) an expression of Enlightenment Philosophy? List the major Operas and say how they demonstrate these aspects. What was Mozarts opinion of the voice? How many compositions did Mozart write in his life? What are the last major works that he composed? How old was he when he died? Would this have been considered young at the time? How is it viewed today? How does this age compare with other composers before or after Mozart? What are the challenges today that artists face when performing music by Mozart? What aspects of performance would have to be considered when performing music of Mozart? What do you think is the legacy that Mozart left for the musical world?

SCREEN EDUCATION

Going Further
Visit Mozart websites to gain further reflections on Mozart Read Mozarts letters to get an understanding of how Mozart felt about his situation Ask music teachers for their response to playing Mozarts music Keep a diary of the concerts that are performed, especially this year, as a tribute to Mozart Collect articles that are also especially written in recognition of Mozarts contribution to music. Explore the Mozart Effect.

References
Nicholas Slonimsky, The Concise Biographical Dictionary of Composers and Musicians. Roy Bennett, History of Music: New Edition. Geoffrey Hindley (ed.), The Larousse Encyclopedia of Music. Eric Blom (ed.), Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians Volume 5, 5th Edition. Roger Kamien, Music: An Appreciation, 8th Edition. Charles R. Hoffer, The Understanding of Music, 3rd Edition. Anne Friend is a teacher at Presbyterian Ladies College.

In Search of Mozart is distributed in Australia by: Gil Scrine Films, 44 Northcote Street, East Brisbane, QLD, 4169. Tel: 07 3391 0124. Fax: 07 3391 0154 Email: gil@gilscrinefilms.com.au Web: www.gilscrinefilms.com.au

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