Yesterday was Wolfgang Mozart’s 262nd birthday, and what better way to celebrate than to spend an evening with the Ann Arbor Symphony enjoying their Mozart Birthday Bash.
Did you know Wolfgang wrote his Symphony No. 1 at the ripe old age of eight? And that Mozart had a favorite pattern of notes, three notes rising, the fourth falling, which were included in both his first symphony, written as a child, and his last, Symphony No. 41, a symphony he probably never heard performed before his death at age 35?
I didn’t know any of that either.
Last night we learned all that and were privileged to hear both Symphony No. 1 as well as Symphony No. 41. And though you could clearly hear his childlike interpretation of music in the first, it was much more intricate that I could have imaged at age eight.
And Symphony No. 41? The fourth movement was my favorite, the most intense, the most intertwined, the most triumphant. It’s eight and a half minutes long. Get a cup of tea or coffee and settle back to listen, it will be time well spent. There’s so much going on in this movement, let it take you where it will.
Now, take a moment to listen to the first notes of Symphony No. 1. The juxtaposition between that first symphony and the very last symphony movement he ever wrote was breathtaking. Isn’t it amazing what he created within his short lifetime?
And on top of all that, the evening’s guest soloist, Chad Burrow, performed Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major. On a basset clarinet. Be still my heart.
All in all it was a special evening for this clarinetist.
As I sat listening to the symphony building up to the final moments, the music swelling, the entire hall entranced, I gazed up, lost in the music, and wondered. On this birthday was Mozart’s music being played all across the world? Were there concert halls and high school auditoriums and living room stereos playing Mozart in celebration? And was he listening from somewhere, tapping his toe, smiling a bit wistfully, happy to hear his work, glad not to be forgotten?
I like to think he was.
So, as Maestro Lipsky said last night – Happy Birthday Wolfie. Thank you for your gift to us all. I hope you enjoyed the Ann Arbor Symphony’s gift to you.
I know we did.
January 28, 2018 at 1:29 pm
Good information about Mozart and Symphony 41. We’ve renewed our interest in the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra of late, so perhaps we’ll have an opportunity to hear these. Thanks for the post!
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January 28, 2018 at 7:52 pm
Oh I hope you do! I love going to the Ann Arbor Symphony, and am lucky enough to have my Aunt who lives in Ann Arbor take me with her. I think you’ll really enjoy hearing great music live once in awhile!
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January 29, 2018 at 10:39 am
We’re thinking that we need to support our symphony while we can — they really are quite good!
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January 29, 2018 at 1:06 pm
Excellent! It’s always good to play to a full house.
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January 28, 2018 at 2:48 pm
Every time I got in my car yesterday, Sirius was playing Mozart — awesome stuff!! Thank you for the info on the Basset clarinet — I’d never heard of one before, and I used to play the clarinet. Shameful how little we know, isn’t it?
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January 28, 2018 at 7:53 pm
See? There WAS Mozart everywhere!
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January 28, 2018 at 4:19 pm
Aww, I’m from Ann Arbor. ❤ the Michigan Theater. Glad you had such a great time!
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January 28, 2018 at 7:53 pm
Love AA! We always have a great time when we visit to hear the symphony!
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January 28, 2018 at 7:43 pm
You inspire me to rustle up some Mozart for tomorrow’s drive! Thanks, Dawn!
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January 28, 2018 at 7:54 pm
Oh good! Enjoy! How much longer before you get there?
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January 29, 2018 at 3:05 am
Mozart was on the radio here too, but I was so busy jumping in and out of my truck doing chores that I didn’t listen even enough to hear about his birthday .. and yet I love Mozart. Thank you, thank you for this reminder! I have Mozart’s Moonlight Sonata on right now …. yum.
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January 29, 2018 at 8:34 am
I should look for that one…I think we can extend his birthday at least one more day.
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January 29, 2018 at 8:10 am
I missed the birthday celebration but will celebrate today by listening to some Wolfie (love it) today while I work on cards! 🙂
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January 29, 2018 at 8:34 am
Sounds like good music to do cards by!
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January 31, 2018 at 4:00 pm
As someone who doesn’t listen to classical music, I am moved by your tribute to Wolfie’s birthday. (Also to thinking of you enjoying the music!)
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February 7, 2018 at 8:04 am
262 years old and still relevant. That’s a classic!!!
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February 7, 2018 at 8:47 am
Sure is! I wonder what he’d think about it all.
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February 7, 2018 at 11:38 am
I always liked Mozart’s music. Here’s the 4th movement that’s fun to watch (came across it by accident). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiX3z_fOR5k
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February 7, 2018 at 11:40 am
Meant to say that it really shows all the parts going on in the music.
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September 18, 2018 at 10:40 pm
I don’t know why I didn’t see this when you posted it way back in February. But it’s very very very cool!!!
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