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"People make a mistake who think that my art has come easily to me. Nobody has devoted so much time and thought to composition as I. There is not a famous master whose music I have not studied over and over."

Key Points

  • The Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a child prodigy who started to write music before the age of five.
  • Although he lived only thirty-five years, Mozart made significant contributions to nearly all musical genres, including the symphony, sonata, concerto, chamber music, sacred music, and various types of opera (buffa, or comic; seria, or serious; and Singspiel, or with spoken dialogue).
  • Mozart's music is notable for its lyrical melodies, colorful orchestration, and dramatic content.
  • One of Mozart's best-known works is Eine kleine Nachtmusik (A Little Night Music), a serenade for strings.

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