I know there have been lots of similar threads, but I wanted to post one in the Music theory for a more technical perspective. Let's keep this strictly nerdy and cut out the sentimental "voice of God" nonsense. It may be impossible (and some might argue detrimental to dissect music like that, but those shouldn't probably hang around Music Theory form), but we can try. Ironically though I am very much a fan, I find it almost easier to "argue" that it's not that great.
I think Septimal posted somewhere a fairly technical explanation about Mozart's greatness but I don't remember where.
It's on Brilliant. That's a pianoforte. It sounds like middle period Mozart to me, no chromatic surprises in what I listened to. Maybe later there is a slight excursion.
Well there are like 4 major musicians that are well known. Mozart, Chopin, Bach, and Beethoven. Well, that's a lie there are so many more that are famous to the common musician. Yes, propaganda has definitely increased their popularity but, their skill made them famous. Consider the talent that he has. He was a child prodigy and was playing for royalty at the age of 5, or something like that. Mozart also started a new style of music that was not used in his era. I mean as a person, Mozart was not great at all. He was narcissistic and knew that he was good at music. He made sure everyone knew that as well. It depends on your perspective. Mozart is not the only one.
I know there have been lots of similar threads, but I wanted to post one in the Music theory for a more technical perspective. Let's keep this strictly nerdy and cut out the sentimental "voice of God" nonsense. It may be impossible (and some might argue detrimental to dissect music like that, but those shouldn't probably hang around Music Theory form), but we can try. Ironically though I am very much a fan, I find it almost easier to "argue" that it's not that great.
I think Septimal posted somewhere a fairly technical explanation about Mozart's greatness but I don't remember where.
"Mozart is the greatest composer of all. Beethoven created his music, but the music of Mozart is of such purity and beauty that one feels he merely found it -- that it has always existed as part of the inner beauty of the universe, waiting to be revealed."
Mozart was probably musically the most gifted person who has ever lived. And while other composers might be described as 'tortured geniuses' Mozart appears to have been quite at ease with his own genius. Why his music appears so natural and so inevitable.
So much for the OPs request for technical discussion and his wish to avoid the sentimental voice-of-God nonsense. It was worth a try. Note: This is not a comment on the contributions of individual posters, but on the general trend of the thread.
Fair point. I must admit to being unable to respond with any advanced understanding of musical construction, on the merits of Mozart, as I severely lack formal instruction on the matter.
The closest I can come to a "technical" explanation is that Mozart's music always seems to "fit" perfectly: The various melodies combine with one another as fluidly as any other composer, and consistently so, even as his music is undeniably complex and multi-layered.
Melodies, counter-melodies, arranged in one form or another... And yet, harmony and beauty are not only maintained, but put front and center for the listener to enjoy, to the point that the music can even appear "simple" at first glance. Come to think of it, I'm not sure one can adequately render justice to the quality of Mozart's music by discussing its technical aspects alone.
This might be true. In my case, I have no trouble analyzing specific works by Mozart in detail and pointing out their interesting and sterling qualities. But I don't have any broad stylistic generalizations to make about them.
Many of us mentioned they like the melodic phrases of Mozart and the harmony to those phrases. I think the most interesting part of Mozart's music is the tension he created and integrating it into the fine melodic details. The emotional colors and are endless and each change of note in the harmony changes the emotions. sometime drastically. I do not know much music theory but hearing the changes in harmony makes the pieces so intriguing and enjoyable.
well the Mozart was among the first ones to compose such a beautiful music so that makes for a certain admiring.
And his music was and still is very beautiful to listen to, it just makes your spirit feel free.
I mean if you listen to the best mozart music he composed like this one:
You will see why he was so great
If l knew what made Mozart's music so great, I would simply copy the formula or recipe and the music would then be diluted to mediocre. Glad I'm not able to do that.
Learn how to compose jingles and tunes for little children (it's a very valuable tool, if you want to write commercial soundtracks or library music these days).
Then use all these techniques with more sophisticated harmony and development of the themes instead of just repeating a melodic loop.
His harmonic language is primitive, but his melodic isn't: Mozart likes to use different modes - like hindu major and many others - for his melodies. If you are interested in the different modes of the 12tet scale, check the Forte classification of the pitch class sets and rotate the starting position of the scale 7note scales to derive all the modes.
What makes Mozart good is that he makes music seem so natural. It's like each note arrives in his head with a pre-destined purpose and he guides it to a precise spot in his music, making it seem like the note belongs there and has always belonged there.
DavidA makes a valid point. Mozart's music isn't easy to listen to solely as a consequence of excellence, but Mozart's mastery at finding the "right" notes to follow one another do help give it a sense of inevitability and ease. People who don't care for Mozart, or the Classical style in general, often say that the music is "too predictable." Of course if were really predictable those people could write it themselves! Mozart's work is actually full of subtlety and irregularity, but his art was to make it all sound natural and inevitable. That makes it "easy to listen to."
I rarely agree with you - but you make some excellent points here. Esp what you say about Mozart's knack of finding the right next note. Eric Blom said that Mozart's strongest point is not in the originality of his material (though I do disagree with him on this) but the way he arranges it.
Mozart, for me at least, has been like the advice of an elder. When young, I assumed it to be stuck in the past and rudimentary. Yet now, when slightly less young, and after actually having listened to more than a half of a piece, I realize it is such incredible music.
Many forget that music for many years had the primary purpose of refreshing the soul. I can't think of a piece that does that better than Mozart 41, it is such a grande exaltation of everything joyful. The counterpoint in the last movement, as well as similar counterpoint in the first movement of the Prague... they just get better the more I listen.
Mozart was writing largely to entertain. Music had a certain function back then, largely social. What other composer would have a collection like this:
Get this CD, it explains much in the booklet notes.
That's Vanhal of a claim. Sorry, you sym phony to me. But if you can deliver, I'll eat Hummel pie, take you out on a Benda, and have Sammartinis (unless, of course, you haven't the Stamitz for it).
What makes Mozart's music so great? Let's see, huh…I guess that it is because it does not succumb to overly-Romantic tendencies. It retains an Apollonian classical detachment. At least, that's how I rationalize it. Look at me, I'm digging Mozart! Yeah, man, I'm really getting' into it! See me dancing?
Who says Mozart's music is great or any composer's music is great? What makes a composer's music stand out as great? Is there a greatness committee? Why Mozart? Why not Tubin?
I had a can of greatfruit and orange slices. Now THAT was great!!
Ummmmmmm! I love grated cheese images. If only they could make the computer convey the aroma! They have video conferencing on the web why not transmission of smells?
Okay, forum dwellers. What would you do if I gave you the secret answer as to why Mozart's music is so great? You must promise me not to use the secret to become another one of the great composers. Can you do that? Can you promise me? Otherwise, I will simply bury the secret under the deepest sub-forum I can find on TC.
Beethoven, Bach, Mozart and Goldstein doesn't sound that good anyway.
While I'm waiting for responses, I'm off for some cheerios & milk; some Whole-y Gruel.
The "greatness" of Mozart's music might be an impediment to someone who approaches it. Often times the rhetoric of genius gets in the way of an honest, unaffected response to music.
I don't want anyone to simply "appreciate" Mozart; I'd rather see them actually moved by it.
Glenn Gould did this for me with Bach; Giuliano Carmignola did this for me with Vivaldi.
Let us remember that "great" music is not produced by solitary "geniuses," but comes out of the context surrounding it as well, and to "live" it needs living, breathing performers to infuse it with "greatness."
Otherwise, I have no use for the idea of "great" music. It is just an idea.
Mozart for pleasure. Beethoven for serious listening.
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