by Mel Mcintyre

Created on: February 02, 2009   Last Updated: January 23, 2011

Mention the name "Mozart" almost anywhere in the world and you get instant recognition.

And that should come as no great surprise. Mozart began writing pieces for the keyboard at the age of five and churned out masterpiece after masterpiece until his untimely death at the tender age of 35. In all, Mozart composed more than 600 musical works. That in itself is astounding. But what's even more astounding is how universally respected and admired his music has become.

On the one hand, he represents the epitome of the Classical period which lasted from approximately 1750 to 1820. On the other hand, his music has the power to appeal to different tastes on many different levels, so that whether or not his music is of the Classical period seems to be only of secondary importance.

A True Genius

What marks Mozart out even among other composers is the seeming effortlessness with which his music tends to flow. Everything appears to make perfect sense, and one phrase follows another with complicit ease. But to say his music is "simple" or "uncomplicated" is missing the point.

As Mozart is reported to have said himself:

"It is a mistake to think that the practice of my art has become easy to me. I assure you, dear friend, no one has given so much care to the study of composition as I."

Instead of simplicity, think of clarity. Mozart wrote music like a great author: nothing was wasted. Every piece is finely constructed, well balanced and clear. And that applies to his later works as well as to earlier ones.

Economical Writing

Mozart redefined many of the Classical forms including the sonata, the concerto, the string quartet, the symphony and the opera. Like Beethoven, he wrote with an economy of means in which every idea is exploited to the full. Like Haydn, he often incorporated irregular phrases in his music, more concerned about the overall effect than of sticking to some predetermined blueprint.

Mozart was able to travel extensively throughout his short life. His adventures brought him into contact with figures like J.C. Bach, Joseph Haydn, and Muzio Clementi, and also introduced him to a wide variety of music and musicians from across Europe. He encountered the Mannheim orchestra and the Italian opera, influences that affected the style of music he created.

Productive Times

The period between 1781 and 1791 is generally recognized as one of Mozart's most productive, a time when he was able to establish himself as a composer of merit. Even in his final year he battled

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