Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (MOHT-sart): the most complete geniius of all composers! He produced music more easily than most of us sing a song. He was a gifted pianist, violinist, and conductor. His "musical ear" was incredible. He could listen to complex music and later write it down totally from memory.

Mozart's father, also a musician, recognized his son's talent and provided him with early training. When he was eight he wrote his first sympnhony. His sister (Nannerl), was also very talented. Papa Mozart took the children on tours to perform in Vienna, Paris, and London. They performed for the royalty of each country and were greeted as "wonder children." Wolfgang's ability to read any music at sight astounded everyone. He could also improvise brilliantly for hours.

Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria. When he was a young man he moved to Vienna, the center of the classical music world. There he met "Papa Haydn." Haydn taught Mozart and they became very good friends. Although Haydn was much older, he learned from the brillant Mozart. Haydn knew that a musical genius such as Mozart was truly rare.

In addition to instrumental music, Mazart wrote many operas. One of his most famous is "Don Giovannni" or "Don Juan." Don means "Mr." or "Sir." Juan is Spanish and Giovannni is Italian. Both mean John

Don Juan's goal in life was to love all the women in the world! However, this got him into BIG trouble. He killed the father of one woman. At the end of the opera, the ghost of the father, along with demons, came to claim Don Juan as their own and take him to his "home" in the underworld. (Wait util you grow up to watch this one!) But it won't hurt to listen to and sing Mozart's beautiful music.

Mozart died very young, at age thirty-five. However, during his short life he composed volumes of music. His music is the ultimate example of the classical style. It is gracious, elegant, and refined, yet it has a sense of divine inspiration. Mozart's middle name, Amadeus, means 'beloved of God." When we listen to Mozart's music, we agree that he is "beloved of God."