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Leopold Mozart

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Leopold Mozart was born in Augsburg in 1719 and was a composer, violinist and music theorist. He is best known as the father and teacher of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He studied in Salzburg, but was expelled from the university in 1739 for poor attendance. In 1740 he began working as a professional musician and his first publication appeared, the Trio Sonatas opus 1, the copper plates of which he engraved himself. From 1743 he played violin in the court orchestra of the prince-archbishop of Salzburg. In 1763 he became deputy Kapellmeister, and he rose no higher. In 1747 he married Anna Maria Pertl. Of their seven children only Nannerl and Wolfgang survived.

Music and breakthrough

His music includes Passion cantatas, symphonies and concertos. The records in the source list include his Concertos for Trumpet, Die Bauernhochzeit, Die musikalische Schlittenfahrt and a Kindersinfonie. Whether he was really successful as a composer is disputed. The Grove Dictionary says that his works were widely circulated around 1756, but other biographers do not find him particularly remarkable.

Influence

As a teacher he was a great success. In 1756, the year Wolfgang was born, his Versuch einer gründlichen Violinschule appeared, a comprehensive textbook for the violin. It was reprinted and translated many times, and musicians still use it to learn how people played in the eighteenth century.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Die musikalische Schlittenfahrt and notice the bells and the whip that depict a sleigh ride. Hear how an eighteenth-century orchestra can tell a story without words.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

Categories: Artists