Why Mozart?
Date:
01/27/2012 Contributor:
The other day, while one of our January series of Mozart's Piano Concertos played on WFCR, I took a call in the studio from a gentleman with a question. "Why, with so much other great music, are you boring your listeners with all these Mozart Concertos?"
Whoa! There was a question I never expected to be asked. After all, even in the notoriously contentious world of classical music, if there was one thing I thought everyone could agree on, it was Mozart. But I've also learned the hard way over the years never to take anything so thoroughly for granted that it can't be justified if challenged. So I was prepared. Why Mozart? Why all the Concertos? Let me tell you.
Because no other composer or body of works better exemplifies what classical music is about and what we love it. That may sound a stretch, given the enormous range of eras, styles, sounds and functions of the music that gets stuck in the classical bin, however well or poorly it fits. But think about it, perhaps as you listen to a Mozart Piano Concerto (there are lots of 'em on Spotify, Rhapsody and YouTube, if you don't have any in your collection). What do you hear?
Elegant formal design, bespeaking a well-developed tradition. Attractive, singable melodies, developed in myriad ways. Expressive, wide-ranging harmonic movement. Complex interplay among the performing forces, especially between soloist and orchestra. A veritable rainbow of moods, from humor to pathos. And all these qualities and others in perfect balance. In works that sound both familiar and novel. That entertain and enlighten, but don't overwhelm. And which at the end leave the listener feeling a little happier to be alive and able to hear such music, and wanting to hear some more. Which we'll present the next weekday during the noon hour on WFCR. Why Mozart? Why Louis Armstrong? Why Shakespeare? Why baseball? Why a good meal, a good glass of wine, a good laugh, a good hug? Because, if you don't mind me going all Oprah on you, they remind us that, despite all the grief and pain we suffer through, life is worth living and worth enjoying. Every day. Happy birthday, Mozart!
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Comments
Why NOT Mozart?
A confesion: a lifelong musician, a deeply passionate devotee of Bach's music, and of a few other, seeminlgy incongruent great composers/musicians of past and present. I've spent incalculable hours listening to Mozart with score in hand, my peak Met Opera experiance (perhaps peak live music experience period) - The Marriage of Figaro, in an 90s production. Decades a listener of this station and particularly, a fan of this tradition in the porgramming cycle. Nevertheless, there's something about Mozart that ... bugs me.
And guess what? I'm not alone- can I say it's like the Glenn Gould take on him? Basically, that the music of Mozart's period, is largely a reaction against what Bach perfected in baroque music. Dripping with contrapuntal complexity? Not Mozart! (though try writing something as linearly ingenious as say, either the A minor or D major Piano Rondos), thursting for starkness and pathos that connects me to the eternal pain of life and the mysteries of nature- Nah, it's just too ... pretty. That's how I feel about Mozart. But, I celebrate the fact that such mastery presents me with misgivings. It's okay that I don't like Mozart as much as Bach. On the other hand, I occasionally get the feeling that many great classical musicians think Bach is not as much fun as Mozart. (BTW, I shouldn't be assuming it's Bach you love, since you just say "so much other great music"). There's still something toweringly relevant about Mozart's music to most people today, even if you don't like it as much as other music. I'd be more often glued to the radio if mostly you heard pre-1650 vocal polyphony, but I realize I am a little off the center there.
The fact is, though, Mozart's Piano Concertos are the ridiculously generous work of a consistent, devilishly beautiful mind. There are SO many of them, of every kind, and with fathomless invention- all the very same thing - a short half hour of mind-blowing music for piano and orchestra. I do have the Mozart problem, but I recognize, it's my problem. I learn something new each year you do this, so keep playing them, and to the guy who called in- Passion season is coming soon. Think how bored the Mozart fans will be.
Peter Blanchette
You got a problem?
Well, Peter, you may have a Mozart problem, seeing his era, correctly, as a reaction against Bach and the Baroque. But Mozart didn't have a Bach problem! As you know, Mozart studied and arranged Bach's fugues, the influence of which can also be heard in such late works as the "Jupiter" Symphony and the Requiem. And as you say, wait 'til Passiontide, and Bach's birthday. I'm sure I'll have something to say about JSB's place in the universe then.
You're Blog "Why Mozart"
There have been & still are so many great composers, and Mozart is one of my favorite's among them, easily ranking in my top 5. I could round out that top 5 with Beethoven, Handel(for his English language oratorios, especially Messiah-greatest work of music ever written by a man in my opinion!), J.S. Bach & Brahms. The main reason for my ranking Mozart as one of, if not the most talented composers in human history, is his compositions for piano accompanied by one or more instruments. It's primarily his piano concertos, piano quartets, piano trios, & violin sonatas that push Mozart right up to the top 5 for me. His music flows so easily and everything he composed just has a quality of ABSOLUTE PERFECTION that I feel is rare, even amongst many of the best!I read you're blog out of curiosity of what you might offer in calling Mozart undisputed all-time champ, and I must tell you that the last paragraph of what you wrote certainly rings true, especially this part: And which at the end leave the listener feeling a little happier to be alive and able to hear such music, and wanting to hear some more. """"
Why Mozart
I think all the points you list in your last paragraph could be applied to many composers. Too general. I love Mozart; however, as a great body of work completed during a full lifetime, and the embodiment of sheer musical genius that includes all your points and more, my vote goes to Beethoven.
But you know what? It doesn't matter. Favorites are fine, but discussions about "who's the greatest?" are inevitably pointless. I love music, that's all that matters.
Thanks for the comments. To
Thanks for the comments. To clarify, I wasn't trying to rank Mozart as number one all-time, or "better" than Beethoven, Bach, or any other composer. Just like them, Mozart occupies a unique place in the musical pantheon, and when challenged to do so, I had to explain what place that is. Maybe next December, I'll do the same for Beethoven. Hmm...I had better start thinking about that now!
About Your Program
Hi, in addition to my comments about Mozart above, I wanted to thank you for airing this great classical music program which I enjoy every day. Not only do you play the big name composers, but frequently music by composers I have never even heard of that deserve to be well known. I also greatly enjoy your commentary on what's playing and say keep up the good work, John and co.!! God bless :-)
Kurt Leith in Vernon, CT
(P.S. I wrote the comment on your Mozart blog and mentioned my top 5, Handel's oratorios, etc...)
Much obliged!
Thanks, Keith, that's very kind of you. Happy listening!