Compleat Mozart [Hardcover]

With the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birthday in 2006, the music world's attention will again turn to the great composer from Salzburg - and this most-impressive book can serve as a guide to exploring the deeper recesses of Mozart's huge output of music(some 636 compositions). This is one of the finest - and certainly most complete - guides to Mozart's music in print. It is monumental in scope, scholarly in its research yet friendly in its prose. In "The Compleat Mozart," this enormous output (for 35 short years) is broken down into 15 categories:

VOCAL MUSIC
1. Music for the Catholic Church
2. Cantatas and Oratorios
3. Masonic Music
4. Theater Music
5. Concert Arias, Duets, Trios and Quartets
6. Songs and Vocal Ensembles
7. Canons

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
8. Church Sonatas
9. Concertos
10. Symphonies
11. Dances
12. Serenades, Divertimentos and Marches
13. Chamber Music
14. Chamber Music with Keyboard
15. Solo Keyboard Music

And within each of the above categories are many sub-categories (such as quintets, quartet, trios and duos for chamber music). So, it is easy to see why this book is called "The Compleat Mozart." You will find notes here on not only the more well-known genres and works but also the more obscure ones not found in most other books on Mozart (such as dances, masonic music, divertimenti, concert arias).

For each of the 15 categories, the authors first set the historical stage with some fascinating story telling of interesting background events and circumstances of Mozart's life surrounding the compositions. In this, Mozart's musical development as a composer is carefully traced from the first works to the late works with thoughtful analysis and curiously-detailed ancedotes. Then, each work is taken individually in order of its Kochel number, giving first the date and circumstances of composition then elaborating on the music within the various movements (musical forms, uniquenesses, significance, "firsts" etc). There is a good balance between the historical context and "program notes" - although at times there is a bit more on details like first publication and performance that might not be as interesting to some. There are also two pages of explanation of the Kochel System of numbering. With such details, one might expect such a book as this to be overly technical and dry; however, "The Complaet Mozart" is anything but this. There are plenty of fascinating and colorful details of Mozart's life and revealing personal quotations from his many letters to keep a flow more like a good novel. Also, the many nice illustrations of people, places and instruments add variety and help break up pages of pure text.

Other recommended books on Mozart's music that give lots of musical analysis are: (1) David Hurwitz' excellent 2005 book on Mozart (Unlocking the Masters Series), (2) Melvin Berger's "Guide to Chamber Music," (3) Steinberg's "The Concerto" and "The Symphony" and (4) Robert Harris' "What to Listen for in Mozart." These books all give a more detailed "play-by-play" of the major works where "The Compleat Mozart" gives more depth of the history and comprehensiveness of works covered. Each has its strength and scope, but the true Mozart afficianato should not be without this monumental and complete guide. It is a prestigious reference work that makes a fine lifelong investment for one's classical library (its not going out of style anytime soon). Additionally, the hardcover binding, thick paper, easy-to-read typeset and attractive layout are all really high quality and most attractive to satisfy the most discriminating bibliophile. It even feels special to hold and never ceases to inspire. Most recommended, especially as a way to expand one's horizons beyond the core repertoire. 5 stars (not 4).

And that about says it all. Some pieces are graced by a paragraph, and some (Sym. 41, various opera) by a couple of pages. I won't let this book go (along with Alfred Einstein's study); I consult it all the time before listening and purchasing Mozart music. I find the reviews right on. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

I have been doing a major project at school which Mozart and his life are a base. My teacher ordered this book for our use and i was enthralled by it. I have always been a fan of mozart and there is not much that i don't already know about, but this book is one of the best i have read. The information is absolute in its entirety. A little slow on the uptake, but once you are in, you are held in its power.

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