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Leopold Mozart

Johann Georg Leopold Mozart (November 14, 1719 – May 28, 1787) was a composer, music teacher and violinist. He was born in the city of Augsburg (Germany), and was legally a citizen of the Diocese of Salzburg (now in Austria), but spent much of his time in Vienna, Austria, (all within the Holy Roman Empire). He is best known today for being the father and teacher of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as well as writing the well-known book, Versuch einer gründlichen Violinschule, but in his time, Leopold Mozart was well-known for his own musical compositions.

Leopold Mozart's music is inevitably overshadowed by the work of his son Wolfgang, but his Cassation in G for Orchestra and Toys (Toy Symphony), once attributed to Joseph Haydn, remains popular, and a number of symphonies, a trumpet concerto, and other works also survive. He was much concerned with a naturalistic feel to his compositions, his Jagdsinfonie (or Sinfonia da Caccia for 4 horns and Strings) calls for dogs and shotguns, and his Bauernhochzeit (Peasant Wedding) includes bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy, a dulcimer, whoops and whistles (ad. lib.), and pistol shots.

Most critics would agree that he reached a high point of his creativity around 1760. After that, the amount of time he put into composing as well as teaching violin gradually decreased until 1771, when he wrote his last composition. He did, however still concentrate on his job as Kappellmeister as well as many of his and his son's concerts all around the world. He did however mention that he hated those in a letter to his daughter. He wrote, "Every day there are concerts; and the whole time is given up to teaching, music, composing and so forth. I feel rather out of it all. If only the concerts were over! It is impossible for me to describe the rush and bustle."^[1][2]

His oeuvre was extensive but it is hard to establish either the scope or the quality of it; much is lost and it is not known how representative the surviving works are of his overall output. Some of his work was erroneously attributed to Wolfgang and some pieces attributed to Leopold were subsequently shown to be the work of Wolfgang. Much of what survives is light music but some more significant work survives including his Sacrament Litany in D (1762) and three piano sonatas, all published in his lifetime.

Mozart was often characterized as being unpleasant by others working with him, particularly those in the chapel where he was Kappellmeister. His relations with his wife and his two children were also criticized, particularly with his son Wolfgang. It is said that he was exploiting his son as well as profiting from and commercializing his incredible musical talents. In Wolfgang's early years, there was definite influence of his father on his first compositions.

Leopold believed that Wolfgang was a miracle of God and that he was given the duty by God to educate him and show his talents to the whole world. Once he described his son as "The miracle which God let be born in Salzburg." After numerous arguments, there was a split between father and son. After that, their relations improved but they started to regard themselves as fellow musicians rather than father and son.^[3][4][5]

1. ^ Boerner, Steve. "The Mozart Project: Leopold Mozart." 10 May 2006. The Mozart Project. 10 May 2006 [1].
2. ^ "The Mozart Experience: Biography: Leopold Mozart." 10 May 2006 [2].
3. ^ Boerner, Steve. "The Mozart Project: Leopold Mozart." 10 May 2006. The Mozart Project. 10 May 2006 [3].
4. ^ "Mozart, (Johann Georg) Leopold. "Micropædia: Encyclopædia Britannica. 15th ed. 1995.
5. ^ "Mozart."Macropædia: Encyclopædia Britannica. 15th ed. 1995.

• A French Edition of Leopold Mozart's Violinschule
• Free scores by Leopold Mozart in the Werner Icking Music Archive