Happy Birthday, Mozart!

January 27, 2009 /

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltNkfRFpeHc[/youtube]
Mozart, Clarinet Concerto, 2nd movement, performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Women’s Orchestra.

Today is the 253rd anniversary of Mozart’s birth, so I thought I would share this beautiful, beautiful piece of music with you.  From the first time I heard this piece, I was enraptured.  It was used in the film, “Out of Africa”, and I think the music from that movie made me love it as much as the beautiful cinematography, the costumes, and of course the compelling story.   If you haven’t seen it, it does hold up very well.

Of course, the all time wonderful Mozart film is “Amadeus”.  I don’t know how much of that one is true, and how much isn’t (everyone who really knows is long since dead, right?), but I like to think of him being that silly, vulgar, moody genius with the terribly pretty wife.

Happy Birthday, Wolfie.  Rest in Peace, and thank you for sharing your genius with the world.

11 Comments

  • amuirin

    January 27, 2009 at 8:51 am

    It is a very pretty piece.

    I’ve never seen ‘Out of Africa’ but I’ll keep an eye out, since you give it such a good review. I like how you’re doing these birthdays, in conjunction with yours.

    I think… not sure… but Chinese New Year is starting soon, if it hasn’t already.

  • Cherry

    January 27, 2009 at 9:02 am

    I love the movie Amadeus. I still remember seeing it in the theater at Sun Vally Mall (long since gone) and I had forgotten my glasses and sat in the very front row all by myself. I apparently thought sitting up there would make the huge screen appear more clear, or perhaps it was an excuse to sit away from my mother and grandmother. Who knows, but I still watch that movie and love it and am freaked out by the mass grave and am in aw of how he could hear every piece of the orchestra. When I imagine a musical genius writing music(which I do frequently?), I totally imagine that scene when he’s dying and dictating each piece. Who knows how much is true.

  • Ted

    January 27, 2009 at 1:13 pm

    I heard Michael Kamen talk about what makes for great orchestral music and he said that it’s all the little unexpected twists and turns this or that instrument makes during a piece without compromising the beauty or mood of the entire composition. I guess Mozart was one who could pull that off with seemingly relative ease, and that’s why he is so highly regarded.

  • J

    January 27, 2009 at 7:59 pm

    Amuirin, you haven’t seen “Out of Africa”? I highly recommend it. Really, really good stuff. And after 24 years, boy Meryl and Robert look YOUNG. Of course, so did I, in 1985. Amadeus is also a wonderful film. See them both. But they’re both kinda long, so not in one night.

    Cherry, me too. When I think of genius, I do sometimes think of that scene, with him on his death bed, dictating ‘Requium’.

    Starshine, of COURSE I remember that song. Totally on MTV every 20 minutes for awhile there. Fun to sing, and yet, so over the top lame.

    Ted, he was gifted in that way, wasn’t he? I love Mozart, but really, mostly this piece.

    clickmom, glad I can help. 😉 I don’t know if classical music makes you smart or not, because really, it’s just the popular music of its time. But some of it is really beautiful, and I enjoy it.

    Jimmy, well then, yay for ol’ rednecks! ‘Cause Wolfie rocks!

  • BiblioMom

    January 31, 2009 at 8:38 am

    My daughter is currently learning Mozart’s Theme from Symphony No. 40 for her piano recital in the spring. We celebrated Mozart’s birthday this week in our house and yesterday on her day off from school she wrote an report on Mozart. All of this Mozart talk made me really want to see Amadeus again (and Immortal Beloved) so I think I’m going to order them both from Amazon.