MOZART AT 250 - SO WHAT?

In January 1756 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Austria. He died in December 1791 - only 35 years later: a very short lifetime, even for those times when life expectancy was short. Mozart was a musician: a pianist, violinist and a composer. He was immature and lived somewhat recklessly. He died a poor man leaving his young wife and two small children with a difficult future. He doesn't exactly sound the kind of man you'd want your sister to marry; certainly not the kind of man you'd consider a hero.

So, why is there a fuss about this bumptious Austrian 250 years later? And, why do we in Africa care about him?

If Mozart were alive today, he'd have been seriously rich. Around the world, CD shops carry more of his CDs than any other musician - by far! Hardly a performance of music goes by without something of his on the programme. Even here in Gaborone, choir competitions prescribe his pieces. And the choirs love the music. They love its apparent simplicity and directness and they love its cheeky inventiveness. For, you see, Mozart was a ‘popular' musician: he wrote for people, not for an ideal. He had to make a living so he had to write what would sell. But the great wonder of Mozart is that he was such a talented and proficient musician that even if he wrote a simple tune like ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, How I wonder What You Are' he could make it great music. And he did.

Mozart lived in an age when all entertainments were live: no electricity, no recordings, no radio. There was a great hunger for live music and people with the talent of Mozart were called on constantly to produce music for all occasions: solemn church occasions, national celebrations, birthday parties, public concerts, banquets, funerals, the local club and, of course, the beloved opera. And Mozart wrote and wrote and wrote producing a quite staggering quantity of music - and all this in about 30 years.

In between all this he performed his music on the piano and conducted his operas; he married a well-known local singer, Constanza and had two children; he travelled Europe performing for the glamorous courts; he battled to sell his music to pay the rent and the food and wine bills. And, of course, he had to be the dutiful son and keep in touch with his father. After all, it was Father Mozart who had started it all. The old man was a very good musician himself and he decided that young Wolfgang was going to be a musician too - and a very good musician. He made the boy learn music as soon as he could sit still on the piano stool. He took the boy wonder on tours of Europe when he was barely 8 years old, playing for kings and emperors. He was always there driving his son on.

Mozart had many great triumphs in his lifetime - along with deep disappointments. He never got a proper job like other musicians did and so had to sell his music to live. His operas were very popular - especially the comic operas and he did well out of them.

And then, as if he had burnt himself out, he died at an age when most of us are just beginning to be really productive. As was the custom then, he was buried in an unmarked grave. But, he became the very icon of the musical genius and no-one is admired more for his ability to make effortlessly striking music. If, in our lifetimes, we can bring joy to someone, that is a great achievement. Mozart has brought joy, pleasure and wonderment to millions and millions of people for 250 years. Wow! That says it all.

Happy 250 th ,Wolfgang!