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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,479
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OP
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I'm looking for a good, readable biography of Mozart. What do you recommend?
I don't need a multi-tome work that covers every composition, etc, but rather something that will give me a good, overall survey of his life and work. I took a quick look using 'Search' but nothing jumped out at me.
Thanks.
![[Linked Image]](https://forum.pianoworld.com//gallery/42/medium/15854.png) Yamaha C3X In summer, the song sings itself. --William Carlos Williams
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 17,273
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
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'The New Grove Mozart' by Stanley Sadie (250pp) is a good book on everything Mozart, without getting bogged down into too many details.
If music be the food of love, play on!
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 9,392
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A book I cannot recommend highly enough is 'Mozart in Vienna' by Volkmar Braunbehrens. (I read it in translation by Timothy Bell.)
Obviously it only deals with Mozart's final years in Vienna (beginning with Entfuhrung), but the period produced his most precious works up to Zauberflöte and the Requiem. He led an exciting life!
It has been some years since I have read it (now cheaply available on Amazon), but I recall being thoroughly engrossed.
Jason
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,759
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1000 Post Club Member
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Die Krebs gehn zurucke,
Die Stockfisch bleiben dicke,
Die Karpfen viel fressen,
Die Predigt vergessen.
Die Predigt hat g'fallen.
Sie bleiben wie alle.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,479
3000 Post Club Member
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OP
3000 Post Club Member
Joined: Dec 2010
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Bennevis, argerichfan, and Janus--thank you for the suggestions.
Any more?
Yamaha C3X In summer, the song sings itself. --William Carlos Williams
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 17,273
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
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Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 17,273 |
This one won't suffice as an only book on the life & music of Wolfie, but if you don't mind a very personal view from an enquiring & perceptive mind, and somewhat antiquated English, and occasionally outdated stuff - this book was published in English in 1944 but is amazingly still in print -, I recommend "Mozart - His Character, His Work" by Alfred Einstein (distantly related to Albert of E = mc2 fame  ).
If music be the food of love, play on!
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 409
Full Member
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Full Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 409 |
There is an historical fiction type account of his life titled 'Sacred and Profane.' I can't tell you the author's name, and also be careful when searching as other writers have used this in their titles. Wish I could be more helpful than that.
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 61
Full Member
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Full Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 61 |
I recently read Peter Gay's Mozart: A Life. It's very short, but a good introduction.
My favorite part is when Mozart gets rejected by a girl. His response to her: "The girl who doesn't want me can lick my ass!" (I believe he sings this out at the piano). Good words to live by.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,479
3000 Post Club Member
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OP
3000 Post Club Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,479 |
Thank you all for the suggestions--more books for the nightstand stack.
Yamaha C3X In summer, the song sings itself. --William Carlos Williams
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 409
Full Member
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Full Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 409 |
"Sacred and Profane" by David Weiss.
Avail on amazon.com
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,543
3000 Post Club Member
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3000 Post Club Member
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If you find anything interesting in any of those biographies, please make a post and let us know.
Poetry is rhythm
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