WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
AMADEUS IN 1756
PERSONA
Salzburg...
On 27 January 1756 a powdery snow was steadily falling on the town of Salzburg, in Bavaria. In No. 9 Getreidegasse, Leopold Mozart was pacing up and down like a caged animal. From the next room, he could hear muffled sounds of footsteps and whispering: His beloved wife, Anna Maria, was about to give birth to their seventh child. It was a boy. They will called him Wolfgang.
Michel Parouty, From Child Prodigy to Tragic Hero
The family...
Anna Maria
Wolfgang's mother was born in 1720, at Hüttenstein, close to Saint-Gilren, at the edge of the Wolfgangsee river.
Of the seven children she gave birth to, only Wolfgang and Nannerl survived.
She died in Paris in 1778.
Leopold
Wolfgang's father was born in Augsburg in 1719. Elder son of a large family, he studied music and languages thanks to the support of his godfather.
His qualities as a musician enabled him to obtain a manservant position for a Salzburg earl.
In June 1756, he published his Essay of a thorough method of violin and was named court composer (hofkomponist) the following year.
He taught languages and music to his children and organized tours to show their talents.
Nannerl
Wolfgang's sister, Maria-Anna-Walburga- Ignatia (or Marianne, or Nannerl) was born on July 30, 1751.
She showed gifts for music since she was 4 years old and was recognized as a virtuoso.
She stayed with her father until her marriage in 1784 to which Wolfgang did not assist.
She lived her last days in Salzburg, the same city as Wolfgang's widow, Constance.
Wolfgang
Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus was born on January 27, 1756 at 20 hours and was baptized the next day.
A short time after, his first name 'Theophilus' was replaced by the German synonym 'Gottlieb'.
Later, Mozart used the Italian version 'Amadeus' (loved by gods).
SOCIETÀ
Salzburg
In 1756, was born Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the Master of classical music at 9 Getreidegasse in Salzburg, capital of an ecclesiastical principality, self-governed within the Empire of Germany.
Salzburg counted 10,000 inhabitants, all Catholics since 1733, whereas last Lutheran Protestants had fled to Prussia. At the time of Mozart, one inhabitant of Salzburg out of five relied on the Court to survive.
Masters and servants
At the time when Mozart lived, the prince-archbishop and some families of the nobility – assisted by minor nobility and civil servants –, reigned on Salzburg.
Among their servants, musicians and lackeys were considered as equal.
Music
At the XVIIIth century, music was interpreted by princes as well as by lackeys. Although music was subordinated by the will of masters and middle-class personalities, it would reach – thanks to Mozart – the classical era since the baroque one, associated to Bach. His music even reached the romantic era, nowadays associated to Beethoven.
IN DIRETTA
Obviously,
the little Wolfgang
did not compose anything during the year of his birth...
...One will have to wait until
1761