Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a prolific composer and pianist in the classical era. Although he died at the relatively young age of thirty-five, he composed an immense amount of musical works — more than six hundred. To this day, both fledging musicians and professionals spend hours practicing and performing his compositions.
Mozart was extremely famous from a very young age, unlike other composers such as Bach and Schubert who only achieved fame after their deaths. It is well known that Mozart was buried in commoner’s grave, and few people attended his funeral, but this isn’t an accurate representation of his fame. Then, only the nobility had the luxury of being buried in marked graves. Even at his death, Mozart was regarded as one of the best composers of the time. In fact, his memorial services and concerts were packed.
Mozart, a musical prodigy, churned out beautiful compositions. His melodies are sublime, towering over those of his contemporaries, perhaps because he was constantly experimenting with new forms and sounds. Mozart’s works seem so effortless and are quite seamless, yet they are able to contain many different emotions. His concertos, considered some of his best work, are especially imaginative and original. Many people say listening to his compositions often is an “otherworldly experience.”
But Mozart’s legacy can not only be measured with his compositions. He was also of great influence to later generations. Many famous composers, most notably, Beethoven, were affected by his works, similar to how Mozart himself was influenced by Bach. Often breaking new ground, Mozart’s unique sound greatly influenced the development of the genres he composed in.