Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

W.A. Mozart was an incredibly talented composer and performer. Check out these interesting facts about his musical life.

• Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a musical child prodigy. As a child, he could play keyboard instruments better than most adults. He was an excellent sight-reader and fortepiano player and performed for many nobles throughout Europe.

• Until he was almost ten years old, Mozart was very afraid of horns. Once, when he heard a blaring trumpet, he grew pale and almost fainted!

• Nannerl, Mozart’s older sister, was also good at playing the piano. When they were young, Wolfgang and Nannerl played many duets together.

To learn more, visit Alberti Publishing.

Illustration by Heidi Cabrera.
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Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

Check out these fun historical facts about Haydn...

• Franz Joseph Haydn was born in Austria.

• Haydn is called the “Father of the Symphony” because he composed more than 100 symphonies—all of which are still performed to this day.

• Haydn taught composition to Beethoven.

• Haydn liked to play pranks. As a boy, he sang in a choir, but was thrown out when he cut off the pigtail of another singer!

To learn more, vistit Alberti Publishing.

Illustration by Heidi Cabrera.

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Sonata

Some interesting facts about sonatas and particularly, Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.

• A “sonata” is often written for a solo instrument.

• Most sonatas have two or more separate sections called “movements.” They can be so different that they don’t even sound like the same piece!

• A “sonatina” is a small sonata—usually shorter and easier to play than a sonata.

• One of the most famous piano sonatas is Beethoven’s "Moonlight Sonata." The sonata received its name when a music critic, after hearing the sonata played, remarked that the piece made him think of moonlight reflecting off a lake.

To learn more, visit Alberti Publishing.

Illustration by Heidi Cabrera.
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