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HUM110CL Module 5 AVP B Transcript

Title Page

Welcome to this presentation on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Mozart excelled in writing different types of music. Opera was a very popular entertainment during Mozart’s era. Some of his best works are opera. Mozart brought a new excellence to this form.

Slide 2

Title: The Marriage of Figaro

Slide content:

• Created in 1786

• Considered one of the greatest operas ever written

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The Marriage of Fiagro. 1786. Wikimedia Commons. Web. 13 May 2013.

Narrator: You have read about The Marriage of Figaro, considered one of his best operas. On the opening night of the first production of Figaro, there were so many requests for encores (a second performing of a section of the opera) that the emperor had to issue an edict restricting how many encores could be requested. Mozart’s Figaro is funny, full of action and intrigue, incredible music, and fully entertaining. Even today, it is still considered one of the greatest operas ever written. {Music plays}

Slide 3

Title: The Magic Flute

Slide content:

• Created in 1791

• Queen of the Night’s Aria

Scene clip from Paramount Home Video’s The Magic Flute Directed by Ingmar Bergman

Narrator: Another popular opera of Mozart’s, and his last one, is The Magic Flute. Written three months before Mozart’s death, Magic Flute is both light-hearted and fun, but also, it has some decidedly dark undertones. The Magic Flute tells the story of a young prince and princess who fall in love. But, before they are allowed to marry the princess’s mother, the Queen of the Night, orders them to kill the King of the Sun who also happens to be the princess’s father. To be able to carry out the visitation to the King of the Sun’s land, a magic flute given to the two lovers will give them special powers to help their mission. The aria the Queen of the Night sings to her daughter ordering her to kill “Dad” is considered one of the most difficult pieces of music to sing in opera. Listen to this aria from Ingmar Bergman’s The Magic Flute version. Hum along and see if you have the “pipes” to sing this one. View this scene from The Magic Flute.

Slide 4

Title: “Symphony No. 40 in G Minor”

Slide content:

• Written in 1788

• Main theme is introduced quickly

• Creates feeling of restlessness

• Emotional powerhouse

Narrator: Mozart wrote incredible symphonies. One of his best is: “Symphony No. 40 in G Minor.” Mozart wrote this symphony very quickly in 1788. This symphony adds a new development. Usually a composer will give a lengthy introduction of musical notes before the main theme of the piece is played. In Mozart’s #40, very quickly, the main theme is introduced, and this quickness will be a motif or pattern for the entire work. It creates a feeling of restlessness throughout the piece, and creates a great deal of emotion. Symphony No. 40 is classical in its organization, but up until this time, the emotion of a symphony is very controlled. Mozart is the first to make a symphony an emotional powerhouse.

Listen to part of “Symphony No. 40” now. {Music plays}

Slide 5

Title: “Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major”

Slide content:

• Created for a small setting

• Slower more sensual piece

• Piano is the main soloist

• Compare to “Symphony No. 40” and The Magic Flute

Narrator: You have listened to parts of large works of Mozart’s that were meant to be heard in big opera or concert halls. Now listen to something more intimate, that was meant to be listened to with a smaller group of people in a more private setting. Mozart’s “Piano Concerto # 21 in C Major” is a slower and more sensual piece. The piano is the main soloist with a full orchestra providing accompaniment. This piece shows Mozart’s subtlety and adept control of the elements of music.

After listening to this piece, compare this listening experience to that of “Symphony No. 40” and The Magic Flute, and you will have a good feel for the depth and breadth of Mozart’s compositions.

Slide 6

Title: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Slide content:

• Died in 1791

• “Requiem”

• Amadeus by Miloš Forman (1984)

Narrator: Unfortunately, the world lost Mozart at too early of an age. At the end of his life, Mozart was so poor, that when he died, his family had to bury him in a pauper’s grave (a mass gravesite that contained all of those bodies of poor souls who could not afford a burial). Recently, Mozart’s remains have been identified and reburied in a proper grave.

At the time of his death, Mozart was working on a funeral piece, Requiem, for an unidentified patron. Mozart never completed it.

The movie Amadeus by Miloš Foreman is a fictionalized account of Mozart’s life and his relationship with an Italian composer Salieri. It is a beautiful, funny, well-written and directed movie that brings Mozart to life and shows his genius and foibles as well. If you have the chance, take some time to watch this movie; you will not be disappointed.

Slide 7

End of presentation

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