Mozart+-+By+Phoebe


 * A brief biography:**

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on the 27th of January 1756 in Salzburg into a musical family and died on the 5th December 1791. He was and still is one of if not the most influential music composer to ever live. He has composed over 600 works.Including some of the most loved and famous symphonic, operatic, chamber and choral music.

Music was everything to Mozart, he quoted "Music is my life and my life is music. Anyone who does not understand this is not worthy of god". Mozart was always talented and decided to make music the centre of his life at a very young age.


 * Characteristics of the classical period:**

The classical period was from 1750 - 1820 Classical music can fluctuate in mood, Dramatic, turbulent music might lead into a care free dance tune. Not only do classical songs show a variety of different themes, these themes can contrast quite strongly within a movement, but there can also be a powerful contrast within a single theme. The mood shown in classical piece of music can change gradually or very suddenly causing the person listening to the piece to experience the conflicting emotions the composer expressed through the composition. Composers such as Mozart were able to compose their pieces with a large range of emotions and themes. Composers use a variety of techniques to accomplish this. This techniques include:


 * Rhythm:** The ability to change the rhythm in a classical composition adds diversity to the piece.Classical pieces can include unexpected pauses, changes in rhythmic patterns, syncopations or even changes from short staccato style notes to long notes or vies versa. These changes can occur suddenly or over a long period of time (gradually.)


 * Texture:** Classical music is practically homophonic, however texture has the same ability to change or flexibility as rhythm. A change of texture throughout a piece can occur in a smooth manner or suddenly. A composition may start off as a homophonic with a single melody and accompaniment and then shift into a more complex polyphonic texture including two simultaneous melodies or melodic parts played by different instruments.

Often classical pieces will sound symmetrical and balanced this is because they usually contain two phrases of the same duration. The second phrase in melodies like this can sometimes start like the first but end more definitely and conclusively. Baroque melodies tend to be not as symmetrical, more elaborate and harder to play/sing.
 * Melody:** Classical melodies are often the easiest to remember or to memorise and are often quite tuneful. The themes used though out them usually have a folk or popular flavour, even throughout the the most sophisticated or highly known classical pieces. Sometimes composers would use or borrow well known tunes but more often they would write original themes with a popular character.


 * Dynamics and the Piano:** As you can probably already tell, classical composers use a variety of techniques to achieve different emotional paths throughout their compositions. Dynamics have a predominant effect on this and are used to create builds in sound and intensity (Crescendo), to create a decreased sound leading to light quiet parts throughout the piece (decrescendo) and many other features often included throughout classical compositions. Changes in dynamics; like most techniques used in classical music, can occur suddenly or gradually. When you are wanting to change the dynamics whilst playing the piano you change the pressure you apply to the keys. If you wanted play loudly or forte you would press the keys with more pressure, if you wanted to play quietly or piano you would press the keys lightly. During the classical period the desire for more and more dynamics throughout compositions grew larger and the piano parts in classical compositions were often replaced by harpsichord parts. This happened around 1775. Although compositions written by composers such a Mozart were usually written with piano parts over harpsichord.


 * What is Sonata form?**

Sonata form has a total of three sections. These sections are; Exposition, development and recapitulation. The sections that are shown throughout sonata form are usually based around the ABA form. Definitions of sections: The first part of a composition in sonata form that introduces the themes.
 * Exposition:**

The part of the piece in which a theme or themes are developed or changed.
 * Development:**

To recapitulate is to restate the exposition in the tonic whilst constituting the third and final section of the typical sonata form.
 * Recapitulation:**

Sacred music is any music composed especially for religious or deity purposes.
 * Definition of Sacred Music.**


 * Sacred music composed by Mozart:**


 * Note:** These are not all of the sacred pieces Mozart wrote.

1. "Dominicus  2. Vesperae de Dominica  3. "Coronation"   4. Vesperae solennes de confessore   5. "Great"   6. Missa brevis   7. Missa brevis  8. Missa brevis  9. Missa brevis "Spatzenmesse"  10. Missa solemnis "Waisenhausmesse"  **Definition of Secular Music: ** Secular music is non-religious music. Secular means being separate from religion.

Any of the compositions Mozart wrote that were not for religious purposes were secular. Some examples include: 1.The Magic Flute. 2, Don Giovani
 * Secular music composed by Mozart: **

An instrumental composition is a composition intended to be performed by a musical instrument or group of instruments without vocals.
 * Choral Music:** Choral music is any music written specifically for a group of vocalists or a choir to perform. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Lato,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">Examples choral compositions written by Mozart include: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Lato,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">1.God is our refuge <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Lato,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Kyrie <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Lato,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Scandi coeli limina <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Lato,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. Die Schuldigkeit des ersten Gebotes. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Lato,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Grabmusik <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Lato,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Missa solemnis ("Mass No.4" or "Waisenhaus") <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Lato,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">7. Missa brevis ("Mass No. 1") <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Lato,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">8. Missa brevis ("Mass No. 2") <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Lato,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">9. Mass ("Dominicus") ("No.3") <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Lato,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">10. Benedictus sit Dues. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Lato,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">
 * Instrumental Music:**

Mozart's instrumental works include various piano sonatas, string quartets, string quintets, symphonies, orchestras and so much more.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Lato,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">