#240 Mozart A Life

In "Mozart: A Life" by Paul Johnson, the host discusses the life and genius of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, emphasizing his unparalleled work ethic, creative output, and profound influence on music. Mozart's relationship with his father, Leopold, is highlighted as a unique and formative partnership that shaped his career from childhood. Despite a life filled with hard work and personal challenges, Mozart remained dedicated to his craft, producing a masterwork every fortnight alongside Joseph Haydn. His approach to music was both intellectual and sensuous, constantly solving compositional problems while delighting listeners. The host draws parallels between Mozart's life and modern entrepreneurship, noting his flexibility, improvisational skill, and the strategic breaking of rules. Mozart's death at 35 was marked by tranquility and gratitude, leaving a legacy that epitomized his life's theme: "Never despair."

• Mozart's music appealed to a range of audiences, from the general public to highly knowledgeable individuals.
• He did not judge his pieces by difficulty or popularity, indicating a non-elitist perspective.
• Good taste was a central demand in Mozart's work, though he did not express this explicitly.
• Despite his rapid composition speed, Mozart maintained high taste without serious lapses.

"Mozart often discussed with his father the way some of his pieces appealed to the many, some to the really knowledgeable, and a few to both. Some would make you sweat, as he put it, and others were childishly easy. He did not judge either by difficulty or popularity."

This quote highlights Mozart's diverse appeal and his neutral stance on the difficulty and popularity of his pieces, emphasizing the importance he placed on good taste over other metrics.

"Composed, is never guilty of a serious lapse of taste. He is the only great composer of whom this may be truthfully said."

This quote underscores Mozart's consistent ability to maintain good taste in his music, setting him apart from other composers.

• Mozart's warm spirit was undiminished by his misfortunes and disappointments.
• He had a deep love for God, his family, his friends, and his work, which he saw as a form of divine service.
• Despite living a short life, Mozart's legacy is marked by his creative concentration and hard work.

"The world got him cheap in his day. He knew it. He had many misfortunes and many disappointments in a life of constant hard work, lived at the highest possible level of creative concentration."

This quote captures the essence of Mozart's life — one filled with hard work and creative dedication, despite not receiving due recognition or compensation during his time.

• Paul Johnson authored "Mozart: A Life," which provides an in-depth look into Mozart's life and work.
• Johnson's biographies are known for being concise and to the point.
• The book is part of a series of biographies by Johnson, which also includes figures like Winston Churchill, Socrates, Napoleon, and Eisenhower.

"This is the third book by Paul Johnson that I've read for the podcast."

This quote indicates the speaker's familiarity with Paul Johnson's works and sets the stage for discussing Johnson's biography on Mozart.

• Mozart was a child prodigy, showing immense talent from a very young age.
• His father played a crucial role in nurturing his talents, believing Mozart to be a gift from God to music.
• Mozart's work ethic and natural abilities allowed him to produce a significant body of work without sacrificing quality.

"There was never a month, often scarcely a week, when he did not produce a substantial score."

This quote emphasizes Mozart's prolific output, highlighting his exceptional work rate and dedication to his craft.

"He soon came to the conclusion that he had fathered a genius, and being a highly religious man, that he was responsible for a gift of God to music."

This quote explains the father's perception of Mozart's talent as a divine gift and his commitment to fostering his son's musical development.

• Mozart's father, Leopold, was a highly ambitious and knowledgeable musician who focused his efforts on his children's musical education.
• Leopold's strong religious beliefs influenced his approach to Mozart's upbringing and career.
• Despite being seen as a tyrant, Leopold sacrificed his own musical aspirations for the sake of his children's progress.

"He specialized in the violin, and he published the year of Mozart's birth, a handbook of instruction and a theoretical work that made him well known in musical circles throughout Europe."

This quote provides context for Leopold Mozart's expertise and influence in the musical world, which he leveraged to promote his children's careers.

• Mozart's lifelong dedication to music resulted in an innate ability to compose with ease and precision.
• His work became an inseparable part of his identity, reflecting a deep integration of his craft into his being.

"Music entered so completely into his physical and intellectual system that it became his nature."

This quote illustrates how Mozart's constant engagement with music from a young age made it a fundamental part of his existence.

• Mozart enjoyed humor and laughter, balancing his intense work ethic with a love for enjoyment.
• His life was a blend of beauty, humor, and relentless industry, which are reflected in his compositions.

"Together with beauty and the unrelenting industry needed to produce it."

This quote encapsulates the essence of Mozart's life, combining his pursuit of beauty with his unwavering dedication to his work.

• Musicians in Mozart's era were often treated as household servants, with limited recognition and financial reward.
• Mozart's talents were not fully appreciated during his lifetime, and he faced financial struggles despite his genius.

"Musicians existed for the comfort and well being of their masters and mistresses."

This quote highlights the subordinate status of musicians during Mozart's time, contrasting sharply with the respect and admiration that Mozart's work commands today.

• In the 18th century, castration of boys for musical purposes was a common practice.
• Boys between six and eight were castrated without anesthesia to preserve their high-pitched singing voices.
• Mozart was familiar with the prominent castrati of his time, approximately 4000 were created during the century.
• The practice was done for the sake of entertainment, which highlights a disturbing aspect of historical societal norms.

"And it says, the castration was performed without anesthesia on boys between six and eight. Mozart knew all, they call him the Castrati. Mozart knew all the great castrati of his day. About 4000 of them were created in the 18th century."

This quote emphasizes the brutal historical practice of castrating young boys for the sake of maintaining their high singing voices, which Mozart was aware of, indicating the normalized inhumanity within the music culture of his era.

• Mozart's father, a prolific letter writer, taught his family to write detailed letters.
• These letters have provided a unique personal record and insight into Mozart's life and the era.
• Mozart's family preserved their correspondence, which has significantly contributed to historical knowledge about the composer and his time.

"Prolific letter writer and taught his wife and children to write detailed letters, too. They kept their letters carefully. Once Mozart's own letters begin to appear, we have a personal record unique among the great composers."

This quote highlights the meticulousness with which Mozart's family approached letter writing and their preservation, which has allowed for a unique personal record of Mozart's life and thoughts, distinguishing him among composers of his time.

• Mozart's letters were known for two main characteristics: playful wordplay and scatological content.
• He treated words as musical notes, improvising with language as he did with music.
• Mozart and his family frequently included scatological humor in their letters, a fact repeatedly noted in historical records.

"So it says the letters have two characteristics. First, Mozart played with words in exactly the same way as he improvised on the clavier, treating words as though they were notes."

This quote captures Mozart's creative approach to language in his letters, drawing a parallel between his musical improvisation and his playful use of words, indicating a multifaceted creativity.

• Young Mozart contributed to his family's finances by performing and selling his compositions.
• The letters discuss the family's financial struggles and Mozart's role in supporting them.
• Mozart sold his works to publishers outright, missing out on potential royalties, a common practice that modern artists have learned to avoid.

"Young Mozart was able to contribute to family funds by performing at ticket only concerts and by selling his works to publishers."

This quote outlines how Mozart, from a young age, was financially supporting his family through performances and sales of his compositions, reflecting the economic realities for musicians of the time.

• Mozart's experience reflects the importance of understanding the business side of music.
• The transcript draws parallels between Mozart and modern artists like Jay Z and Russ, emphasizing the evolution of music as a business.
• The concept of artistic entrepreneurship is highlighted, with modern examples showing the potential for artists to maintain control over their work and achieve significant financial success.

"And so when you sell back in his day, he would sell his work to the publisher, right? So it's like you get a small amount, so the publisher buys it, but then as they go, resell it, or there's no royalties."

This quote explains the traditional music publishing model that Mozart was part of, where composers sold their works for a one-time payment, lacking the concept of royalties—a stark contrast to the business-savvy approach of some modern artists.

• Mozart was highly experienced as a composer and performer by the age of 16.
• The transcript compares Mozart's early expertise to modern prodigies like YouTube tech reviewer Marques Brownlee (MKBHD).
• This comparison illustrates how exceptional talent and early starts can lead to significant experience and success at a young age in various fields.

"Mozart was then 16 and no longer an infant prodigy, but for all practical purposes, an adult performer and composer and a very experienced one."

The quote describes Mozart's level of expertise and maturity at a young age, comparable to contemporary young entrepreneurs and creators who start early and achieve success.

• Mozart worked under the constraints of his era's societal structure and authority figures.
• Archbishop Colloredo, a key authority in Mozart's life, imposed strict rules and had a significant impact on Mozart's career.
• Despite these constraints, Mozart demonstrated resourcefulness and adaptability in his music.

"Mozart, who could turn anything into an advantage, rather like the economy of means."

This quote exemplifies Mozart's ability to turn constraints into creative challenges, showcasing his resourcefulness—a trait that is admired in both historical and modern figures.

• Mozart achieved mastery over musical composition and instrumentation.
• He valued working with others who shared his dedication to music.
• The transcript draws parallels between Mozart's comprehensive understanding of music and the approach of successful entrepreneurs like Sam Zemurray.

"Mozart achieved full maturity as a musician, establishing a complete mastery not only of the forms of composition, but of all the principal instruments."

This quote underscores Mozart's deep understanding and mastery of both the theoretical and practical aspects of music, which allowed him to excel and collaborate effectively with other dedicated musicians.

• Musical instrument makers have a particular approach to their craft, akin to how composers approach their compositions.
• There is a parallel drawn between the dedication of instrument makers and the dedication of composers.

"find out how music instrument makers approach their craft. And if he found that, hey, this guy thinks like me, he's approaching the creation of musical instruments the same way I approach my compositions."

This quote highlights the importance of understanding the mindset behind the creation of musical instruments and how it relates to the creative process of composing music.

• Great advertisers emphasize telling potential customers about the effort put into creating a product.
• Customers gain a deeper appreciation for the product when they understand the work behind it.

"If you study the great advertisers in history, they always say you need to tell potential customers what work and effort goes into the product that you produce, because they will have a deeper appreciation for what you do."

This quote underscores the advertising principle that customers value a product more when they are aware of the effort invested in its creation.

• Mozart admired Stein's obsession with crafting the best pianos.
• Stein's transparency about his work process on pianos resonated with Mozart.

"So he says he likes Stein's best, Stein's pianos best, because he was shown exactly how Stein had worked on them."

This quote reveals Mozart's preference for Stein's pianos, which stemmed from understanding the meticulous work Stein put into them.

• Stein made pianos for various composers, including Beethoven.
• Mozart was regarded by Stein as the most knowledgeable and interested in the instrument's capabilities.

"But he always found Mozart the most knowing of his patrons. Mozart was interested in everything to do with the instrument."

This quote expresses Stein's perception of Mozart as the most informed and curious about the pianos he made, distinguishing Mozart from other patrons.

• Mozart saw music as a means to stimulate profound thinking.
• He encouraged this practice among his listeners while playing the violin.

"He thought of music as a tool. For thought he said he liked to think profound thoughts while playing the violin, and he would encourage his listeners to do the same."

This quote conveys Mozart's belief in the intellectual power of music, both for the musician and the audience.

• Mozart's dedication to practice led to the development of unique talents and physical attributes.
• Constant practice affected his hand muscles, enabling him to play the viola with the necessary pressure.

"That practice is going to lead to talents that others lack. And in his case, he actually develops physical attributes that his competitors lack because he's practiced more than they did."

This quote explains how Mozart's extensive practice gave him advantages over his competitors, both in skill and physical capability.

• Mozart had a highly personal approach to music, engaging intimately with musicians about their instruments.
• This approach is likened to Steve Jobs' philosophy of infusing his personality into Apple.

"Mozart had a highly personal approach to music. Nothing pleased him more than an intimate talk with a player about his instrument, what it could do or not do, and what it could be made to do by a masterful player."

This quote illustrates Mozart's hands-on and personalized method of engaging with music, paralleling the way Steve Jobs shaped Apple with his vision.

• Mozart lived during the first explosion of world population, which impacted the music industry significantly.
• This period saw an increase in music performance, musicians, spending on music, music printing, and instrument making.

"He lived at the beginning of the first explosion of world population, which meant, among countless other things, a cumulatively vast and rapid increase in the amount of music performed, the number of musicians, the amount of money spent on music, the spread of music printing, and the proliferation of instrument makers and their competitive ingenuity."

This quote places Mozart's life within the broader historical context, highlighting the growth of the music industry during his time and its parallels to the modern Internet era.

• Mark Andreessen's blog archive is recommended as a resource for career advice, particularly for founders.
• The advice suggests working in industries where founders still lead important companies, using the automotive industry as an example.

"Only work in industries where the important companies of that industry, the founders, are still in charge at the companies."

This quote relays career advice from Mark Andreessen, emphasizing the importance of choosing industries where founders are actively involved in leading companies.

• Mozart's meticulous attention to detail was a key factor in his success.
• His personality traits, such as charm and quick temper, made him memorable and endearing to friends.

"Attention to detail is the religion of success. This is a fantastic description of Mozart, the person."

This quote summarizes the essence of Mozart's approach to success, which was grounded in his acute attention to detail and his distinctive personality.

• Mozart had five main sources of income: pupils, opera commissions, public concerts, private concerts, and sales of compositions to music publishers.
• His work ethic was intense, often composing through the night after performing in concerts.

"Mozart's income came from five main sources. The first was pupils... The third one is he would give public concerts. The fourth one is private concerts... Then fifth, there was the sales of piano concertos, sonatos, and symphonies to a music publisher."

This quote outlines the various ways in which Mozart earned a living, highlighting his relentless work ethic and diverse income streams.

• Joseph Haydn recognized Mozart's genius and became a mentor to him.
• Their relationship was mutually beneficial, with each pushing the other to create masterpieces.

"Hayden said to me before God, and as an honest man, I tell you that your son is the greatest composer known to me, either in person or by name."

This quote reflects the high regard in which Haydn held Mozart, acknowledging his exceptional talent and the profound knowledge of composition.

• Hayden's relationship with Mozart was beneficial to both his personal and professional life.
• Their connection allowed Mozart to understand and relate to someone else's experiences.

Having that relationship with Hayden benefited Mozart, not only his personal life. But also in his personal life, too.

The quote emphasizes the significance of Hayden's influence on both the personal and professional aspects of Mozart's life, highlighting the importance of relationships in shaping one's career and personal growth.

• Mozart dedicated increasing time to creating operas, considered the pinnacle of musical achievement of the time.
• Operas were akin to luxury products for the wealthy elite.
• Mozart's instinct for dramatic music and his personal touch transformed opera from a rudimentary form into a multifaceted art.

More and more time creating for the opera, which is like the highest level. Mozart seemed to have acquired the instinct to make music dramatic, to animate people on stage, entirely from his own personality.

These quotes illustrate Mozart's dedication to opera and his natural ability to infuse drama into his music, revolutionizing the art form and elevating it to a new level of complexity and appeal.

• Mozart's work is often described as effortless, but his opera "Figaro" was the result of intense effort and expertise.
• The consistent practice over decades is what made his work appear effortless.
• Paul Johnson, the author, is a fervent admirer of Mozart, similar to the host's admiration for Jay Z.

Decade after decade of practice is going to make anything look easy. There was nothing effortless about Figaro. It was all hard, intense application of huge knowledge and experience, sometimes illuminated by flashes of pure genius.

These quotes dispel the myth of Mozart's work being effortless, instead attributing his success to relentless practice, vast knowledge, and occasional strokes of genius.

• Paul Johnson's book on Mozart is filled with detailed classical music terminology that required the host to translate.
• Johnson's writing is appreciated for its clarity and the way it encapsulates complex ideas in short sentences.

The reason I like Paul Johnson's work and this book was a little harder for me to read because there's so much detail about classical music.

The quote reflects the host's struggle with the technical details in Johnson's book but also his appreciation for Johnson's concise and impactful writing style.

• Mozart was dedicated to his craft but also knew how to enjoy life.
• His balanced approach allowed him to be successful while also finding joy in his journey.
• The last letters of Mozart's life show his love for his wife, enjoyment of life, and self-perception as fortunate.

Of respect with the complete dedication that Mozart had to his craft. But he also did something that's smart. He enjoyed life.

This quote highlights the duality of Mozart's character, showing his complete dedication to music while also emphasizing the importance of enjoying life.

• Mozart's father's death marked a significant phase in his life, prompting reflections on mortality.
• Mozart's letters reveal his preparedness for the worst and his unique, comforting relationship with the concept of death.
• He lived each day as a gift, grateful and positive despite his awareness of life's fragility.

I have now made a habit of being prepared in all affairs of life for the worst, as death, when we come to consider it closely, is the true goal of our existence.

The quote reveals Mozart's philosophical approach to death and how it influenced his daily perspective on life, providing a sense of preparedness and tranquility.

• Leopold Mozart's role as a father was integral to Mozart's development as a musician and person.
• Their extensive correspondence provides valuable insight into Mozart's professional and creative life.
• Paul Johnson emphasizes the inseparable bond between father and son and its impact on Mozart's career.

Mozart without his father is inconceivable, and there's no point in considering it.

This quote underlines the profound and unique relationship between Mozart and his father, suggesting that one's understanding of Mozart is incomplete without acknowledging his father's influence.

• Mozart's flexibility and ability to adapt in his music-making process are likened to traits of successful entrepreneurs.
• His life is described as a "gigantic improvisation," with a remarkable rate of production.
• Mozart valued the quality and timing of musical elements over the quantity of instruments.

There is a sense in which Mozart's entire life is a gigantic improvisation.

The quote draws a parallel between Mozart's adaptive and improvisational approach to life and music, highlighting his prolific output and innovative spirit.

• Mozart's music was alive and subject to change, including improvisation and rewrites.
• Paul Johnson's passion for Mozart's work is evident in his writing, drawing comparisons to the multifaceted responsibilities of a founder.

All music was living to Mozart. It was never written in stone.

This quote captures the essence of Mozart's approach to music as an ever-evolving art form, reflecting his willingness to adapt and innovate.

• Mozart mastered the rules of composition, allowing him to break them creatively.
• Understanding the fundamentals was crucial before one could innovate effectively.

What he learned in writing symphonies was that the rules of composition must exist.

The quote highlights the importance of foundational knowledge in enabling Mozart to push the boundaries of musical composition.

• Mozart's life was brief but intense, marked by a significant commission to write a requiem towards the end.
• His death, caused by a combination of infection and kidney weakness, was met with composure and gratitude.
• His final works, Figuero and the Requiem, convey a message of hope and resilience.

Never despair.

This succinct quote encapsulates the overarching message of Mozart's life and work, as interpreted by the host, emphasizing perseverance and optimism.

• The host encourages purchasing the book through provided links to support the podcast.
• The podcast has covered 240 books with a goal of 1000, inviting listeners to join the journey for more insights.

Buy the book if you buy the book using the link that's in the show notes on your podcast player, you'll be supporting the podcast.

This quote serves as a call-to-action for listeners to support the podcast by purchasing the book, thereby gaining a deeper understanding of Mozart's life and work.