Movie Music Monday – Amadeus

This feature gets a little “culture” today as I feature a selection from one of the greats.  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on this day in 1756.

Mozart was one of the most influential, popular and prolific composers of the classical period. He composed over 600 works, including some of the most famous and loved pieces of symphonic, chamber, operatic, and choral music. 

Mozart was born in Salzburg to a musical family. From an early age, the young Mozart showed all the signs of a prodigious musical talent.

By the age of 5 he could read and write music, and he would entertain people with his talents on the keyboard. By the age of 6 he was writing his first compositions. Mozart was generally considered to be a rare musical genius, though Mozart said that he was diligent in studying other great composers such as Haydn and Bach.

In 1984, Peter Shaffer adapted his 1979 play, Amadeus, for the film of the same name.  The film and play were based on an 1830 play by Alexander Pushkin entitled “Mozart and Salieri.” The plays and film focus on the rivalry between the two composers.

The film stars F. Murray Abraham and Tom Hulce as Salieri and Mozart.  When the film came out, I remember thinking, “The guy from Animal House is playing Mozart?!?”

Honestly, Hulce is amazing!  I had no idea he could act like that!  He is a joy to watch as he captures Mozart’s quirkiness.

There are so many great pieces from Mozart that I could have chosen, but I limited myself to the movie’s soundtrack. 

My choice is one that is almost instantly recognizable by its nine opening notes –  Eine kleine Nachtmusik.  It is also called Serenade No. 13 for strings in G Major. The German title means “a little night music”. It is one of his most famous works.

Here is the first movement, the Allegro. 

Happy 269th Birthday, Mr. Mozart!!