Mozart was a child prodigy. By the age of six, he was already composing and touring Europe with his father and sister. Born in Salzburg, Austria in 1756, Mozart emerged onto the music scene at a peak time for composers. Almost all royalty had court composers, and the flat baroque music was on its way out, soon to be replaced by a more full sound and complex instrumentation. After his childhood touring days were complete, he returned to Salzburg, but soon realized that Salzburg would be too small for him. After proceeding to anger the Archbishop he was working for in Salzburg with his immaturity and insolent attitude, Mozart moved to Vienna. He soon rose to the top of the music world, composing many operas that would become some of the most prominent, even today, such as Don Giovanni, the Magic Flute and the Marriage of Figaro. He was constantly performing, composing and teaching students. He married the daughter of a family friend, much against his father’s wishes, and they had two children together.
Mozart, high off of the fame and fortune that came from his success in the composing world, wanted to be like the rich aristocrats who came to his shows. He soon began to live lavishly, much beyond his means. He soon began to borrow money from friends, and could only afford offbeat venues, such as drinking houses or ballrooms in restaurants, for his concerts to be held. He was forced to move his family out of Vienna and into a suburb, where they thought it would be less expensive but it was in fact more expensive. Then, in the winter of 1791, while his family was on the brink of financial ruin, Mozart fell ill. His sister and his wife attempted to nurse him back to health, but he was so preoccupied with writing his final piece, the Requiem, that their efforts were in vain. In December 1791, Mozart died.
So what can we learn from Mozart’s life? All of us have potential. Whether it’s a lot or a little, we’re all at college, right? We got the grades, the resumes, the talent and the skill to get this far, so we must have potential. However, it would be easy for us to just waste this potential: to spend all of our money on lavish things, to choose the “safe” career path instead of our passions, to settle or to try to live beyond our means. Mozart ended up having only a small handful of mourners and was buried in an unmarked grave. Let’s pursue our passions, and remember that life is short. Mozart led an incredible life and became one of the most well known composers of all time, but he died in debt and miserable, striving to complete his last composition. He could have written so many other pieces, reached so much more of his potential. Be thankful for what you have, and realize your full potential. Don’t waste it on material things.
Source: http://www.biography.com/people/wolfgang-mozart-9417115
I never knew this about Mozart! The information you provided was very interesting to read because I only knew about the good parts of his life. I like how you put in a life lesson at the end, it’s always nice to finish a reading with a little inspiration. On a side note, the whole concept of child prodigies amazes me because I study psychology and I just can’t comprehend how a kid would be able to accomplish such greatness at such a young age. About your blog posts, I find them to be very easy to read, but in a good way! The topics you discuss are also eye-opening to what we thought we knew about history. Keep it up!
It always amazes me how one of the greatest musical minds to ever lived became broke and was buried in an unmarked grave. I think this really speaks to the choices we make in life and how great an impact a choice can make on our lives. Mozart who could play the piano upside down and play a song after just listening to it could not finds the means to fulfill his monetary wishes. All of us at college are at a very critical point in our lives where are decisions to do or not do will have tremendous impacts. Do I switch majors? Do I get a minor or maybe double major? Do I do X or Y and hope I don’t get caught and expelled? These are real questions that will affect our life in the future.
This is a very informative blog especially for someone who is not not familiar with the music legends of the past. I also enjoyed how you tied this post back into a relevant lesson that we all can learn. Its also funny that I only have ever heard about Mozart’s better times and his music but never the indiscretions that ultimately lead to his downfall. I would just add that it is very rare we witness a music talent like Mozart so I think we should cherish the great pieces he bestowed upon us. However, great blog just keep up the good work.