Tag Archives: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Was Mozart really a genius?
Bathed in an environment of music from birth, and blessed with an exceptionally good teacher (his father), Mozart was very good for his age. But a prodigy? A genius? He was pushed, prodded, and encouraged by his entire family to … Continue reading
Posted in Books about Music, General, Mozart, Music History, Piano pedagogy
Tagged David Shenk, Leopold Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Leave a comment
It’s okay to not love Beethoven
Tchaikovsky didn’t. He adored Mozart. And considered Bach, Handel, Gluck and Haydn mere forerunners to Mozart. From his diaries (1886): “… I shall start with Beethoven, whom it is usual to praise unconditionally and whom it is commanded to worship … Continue reading
Mozart nailed it
“True perfection in all things is no longer known nor prized—one must write music that is either so simple a coachman could sing it, or so unintelligible that audiences like it simply because no sane person could understand it.” Mozart, … Continue reading
Posted in General, Inspirational, Mozart, Quotes
Tagged Classical music, composition, Music, Musical composition, perfection, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
4 Comments
It can’t be this simple. Can it?
“Could it be that simply performing and not interpreting the work (however unfashionable that notion might be at this moment in history) is to render to it the greatest service possible?” James Conlon*, music director of the Los Angeles Opera, describing … Continue reading
Posted in General, Mozart, Music History, Music Reviews, Performance
Tagged Don Giovanni, James Conlon, Los Angeles Opera, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Leave a comment
Move over, Bieber
How the heck did I miss this? Jan Lisiecki is an incredible young pianist who is making quite a name for himself on the world stage. He’s one of “ours” – born and raised in Calgary. We in the music … Continue reading
Posted in Inspirational, Piano pedagogy
Tagged Jan Lisiecki, Piano Concerto, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
2 Comments
Music as medicine
Joy Morin at Color in My Piano posted the following quote today: “Music is the medicine of the breaking heart.” ~Leigh Hunt, English essayist and poet The Lacrymosa from Mozart’s requeim is the perfect medicine for a breaking heart – … Continue reading
Posted in Inspirational, Mozart, Theory
Tagged functional harmony, Lacrymosa, Theory, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
2 Comments
Mozart’s Letters, Mozart’s Life
I haven’t read many biographies of composers. I’ve start a lot, but finished very few. Robert Spaethling’s Mozart’s Life, Mozart’s Letters kept me spellbound. Not once did I get bored or bogged down in the details; I couldn’t put it … Continue reading
Posted in Books about Music, General, Inspirational, Mozart, Performance
Tagged Composers, Mozart, Mozart bio, Mozart's Letters, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Leave a comment
