A fresh, accessible guide to Mozart's life and works Over a period of roughly twenty years, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed more than 600 finished pieces of music. If you were the director of a major symphony orchestra, you could program only works by Mozart for an entire year—and still you would barely have scratched the surface of the composer's immense, and immensely moving, body of work. The Mostly Mozart Guide to Mozart is an accessible, insightful, and entertaining resource for music lovers looking for a deeper understanding of the genius of Mozart. It combines a brief and revealing account of his life and times with a comprehensive survey of his major compositions. You'll also discover accounts of major performances, fascinating anecdotes about Mozart and his works, comments from artists past and present, and tips on what to listen for when you listen to Mozart. And, a selected discography will help you develop a fantastic collection of recordings by the finest modern musicians playing Mozart's greatest music. Filled with insightful quotes from fellow composers, critics, and Mozart admirers, as well as informative illustrations, The Mostly Mozart Guide to Mozart answers all of your questions about this transcendent genius and his music, and probably some you never thought to ask.

Collection of essays in a single volume for nonspecialists with information about each of Mozart's compositions, where, when, and why it was written, what it is like, and what special significance it may have within the composer's oeuvre.

Mozart authority H.C. Robbins Landon leads a team of more than 20 of the world's greatest Mozart scholars in an exploration that touches virtually every facet of the composers life--from the profound influence of his father, to his emotional attachment to his wife, even to his personal attitudes toward death. Two 8-page photograph inserts.

What makes Mozart's music so great? Why does a minor chord sound sad and a major chord sound happy? What's the difference between opera and operetta? From Bach to Bernstein, this definitive guide offers a complete survey of the history of classical music. Whether you already love classical music or you're just beginning to explore it, The Complete Classical Music Guide invites you to discover the spirituality of Byrd's masses, the awesome power of Handel's Messiah, and the wonders of Wagner's operas, as well as hundreds of more composers and their masterpieces. This guide takes you on a journey through more than 1,000 years, charting the evolution of musical instruments, styles, and genres. Biographies of major and lesser-known composers offer rich insights into their music and the historical and cultural contexts that influenced their genius. The book explores the features that defined each musical era - from the ornate brilliance of the Baroque, through the drama of Romantic music, to contemporary genres such as minimalism and electronic music. Timelines, quotes, and color photographs give a voice to this music and the exceptionally gifted individuals who created it.

This book examines the challenges and delights of Mozart's solo piano works. All the sonatas, fantasies, rondi, as well as the most important variation sets and assorted pieces, are included. No other publication deals with this repertoire in such detail. The author guides us through each composition addressing their specific aspects and problems, offering practical advice and interesting alternatives as well as historical background and formal analysis when relevant to interpretation. Clear references to the numbered bars discuss text interpretation, emotion, association, dynamics, articulation, phrasing, tempo, rhythm, pedalling and technical problems. Renditions of all notated ornaments and possibilities for improvised ornaments are given in separate sections, as well as listening suggestions.

Mozart Speaks is a tapestry of letters, documents, contemporary accounts, and insightful commentary--a guide to Mozart's thoughts on almost every subject. Topically organized excerpts from Mozart's writings convey his daily preoccupations and pleasures, his experience of the musician's life, and his observations as he traveled throughout Europe. At the heart of the book are Mozart's ideas about music: his artistic code, his teaching methods, and his views on the art and craft of composition. Book jacket.