It is well known that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had a great influence on European classical music. However, it is not always clear just how great this influence was. It is quite possible that Mozart did not leave a significant mark on musical history, and instead, the great compositional styles of the 18th century could have been produced without his having ever set foot in Europe.
This is not to say that Mozart was insignificant. On the contrary, his music was so popular that he was able to greatly influence the compositional styles of his time, which in turn had a great impact on later generations. While it is true that Haydn, who was Mozart’s senior by 22 years, had a greater musical influence, it is still interesting to consider just how far Mozart’s music reached during his lifetime.
Popularity
In keeping with established tradition, a great deal of Mozart’s music was dedicated to celebrations, such as weddings and parties. In fact, at the time of his death in 1787, Mozart’s music was so popular that Haydn was forced to quit his job as court composer in favor of becoming a full-time freelancer. It is estimated that Mozart’s last two years were financially the most successful in his entire life. He died a wealthy man.
Mozart’s music was so admired that European courts and aristocrats were often pleased to host private concerts by the composer. Even more impressively, Mozart’s music continued to grow in popularity right up until the early 1800s. This is remarkable because Mozart’s music was essentially unknown to the general public prior to the late 1700s. It was essentially the upper classes who had heard of and enjoyed Mozart’s music, and it was these same people who had the means to promote his music to the wider world. The only explanation for this growth in popularity is that Mozart’s music was both innovative and highly appealing.
Influencing Styles
It is well known that Mozart had a great influence on the compositional styles of his day. His music was described as having a ‘classical’ flavor, and it is clear that at least some of this flavor was derived from his studies under the most prestigious violinist of the day, Pietro Antonio Domingo. The list of composers directly influenced by Mozart is quite extensive, and it includes some of the greatest composers of all time. This is evident from the fact that Mozart’s music was performed at the most important concerts of the time, and it was frequently recorded for posterity.
It is quite possible that Mozart’s greatest legacy may be to the styles that he influenced. It is quite easy to demonstrate how his influence changed the way that music was composed. For example, it is quite popular to play the violin nowadays in a fashion that was not always practical or possible during the era of Mozart. The only practicality that musicians had to contend with was that there were only so many notes available on a violin and, therefore, only so many melodies that the instrument could actually manage. Today, with the possible exceptions of a couple of decades around 1910, instrument manufacturers have generally focused on expanding the possible notes that a violin could play rather than trying to improve its sound quality.
The Incomparable Haydn
It is also quite important to note that Haydn was not only Mozart’s senior by 22 years, but he was also his superior as a musician. It was not just that Mozart admired and respected Haydn, but Haydn actually considered himself a greater composer than Mozart, which led to a great deal of friction between the two men. The only way that Haydn could feel greater than Mozart was by being compared to him. The fact that he was Mozart’s senior and his superior as a musician could make it quite clear to anyone that Haydn was the more significant of the two.
The Difference In Demeanor
One of the most significant differences between Mozart and Haydn is that the former was a very quiet man, while the latter was very voluble. It is quite well known that Mozart was very modest and did not want to attract too much attention to himself. However, this did not mean that he was not ambitious or that he did not want to improve. On the contrary, it meant that he wanted to avoid conflict and competition, which in turn sometimes caused him to be quiet. Haydn, on the other hand, wanted to make his voice heard above all else, and this sometimes caused him to be a little loud or abrasive. This difference in demeanor makes a significant difference in the overall feel of their music, which also has a significant impact on the way that it sounds. It is not just that Mozart’s music is generally more mellow and less dissonant than Haydn’s, but it also has a greater sense of cohesion. This is quite a feat considering that Mozart’s music was composed over a longer period of time and was considerably more complex than that of his senior colleague.
The Ultimate Test
It should not be lost on anyone that this article is essentially an exercise in comparison. The question is not meant to be rhetorical, and it is quite possible that Mozart’s musical influence was not as great as we have been led to believe. However, it is quite important to consider just how much effect he had on the compositional styles of his time, and this can still be ascertained by anyone who has ever heard of or played Mozart’s music. The fact that some of these styles have lasted to this day is proof of just how great Mozart’s musical influence was, and this is reflected in both the amount of music that he composed as well as the length of time that it took for this music to reach its full potential. It is quite a feat to have had an influence this great, and it still continues to this day.