TITLE: The Marriage of Figaro (1785)

COMPOSER: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

• Transcribed by Johann Wendt (1791)

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

There were seven children born to Leopold Mozart and Maria Anna Pertl, however, only two survived, one being Wolfgang Gottlieb. The day after his birth, he was christened Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus. His father, Leopold, was not only a gifted violinist, keyboard and organ player, he was also quite famous as a music pedagogue in Austria and Europe. Leopold was very involved with his children's upbringing and success in music. He educated his children at home. Mozart was a child prodigy composing and performing in public prior to his seventh birthday. He toured Europe, with his father, throughout his childhood. The family lived in Salzburg. Mozart decided, against his father's wishes, to leave the service of the archbishop of Salzburg and move to Vienna.

By the time he was twelve, Mozart had written numerous works, including two operas. As a young man and no longer the infant prodigy, Mozart returned to Salzburg to the unsympathetic atmosphere of the archbishop's court. Despite an uncertain financial position and poor health, Mozart produced a fabulous legacy of opera, concerto, symphony, choral, and ensemble music.

MOVEMENTS: Nine

1. Overture 3' 36"
2. L'Introduzione 2' 11"
3. Se a casa madama 2' 09"
4. Se vuol ballare Signor Contino 1' 53"
5. Non piu andrai farfallone amoroso 3' 13"
6. Porgi amor 2' 10"
7. Crudel! Perche finora 2' 35"
8. Sull'aria che soave zeffiretto 2' 07"
9. Ecco la marcia 2' 36"

PERFORMANCE TIME: 22' 30"

INSTRUMENTATION: 9 Instruments

• 2 Oboes, 2 Bb Clarinets, 2 Bassoons, 2 Horns, 1 Contrabass

EDITIONS: Available for Purchase

• W.I.N.D.S. - New Dawn Society, Box 513, Northridge, CA, 91328

COMPOSITION SKETCH AND MUSICAL CONSIDERATIONS

From 1770-1840, music and wind bands, especially wind octets, flourished throughout Europe. The repertoire included several hundred complete opera transcriptions. The medium was ideal for entertainment purposes, indoor and outdoor. Many noblemen had their private Harmonien, thus fueling the demand for new octets. In the finale to Act II of Mozart's Don Giovanni, the character Don Giovanni is entertained by an octet with transcriptions from three contemporary operas. One of them being The Marriage of Figaro, that Mozart composed for the Liechtenstein octet. The Marriage of Figaro was the first of Mozart's greatest series of operas. The combination of Da Ponte's witty text and Mozart's brilliant music was a great success. The overture, in a bright presto tempo throughout, is a pure gem of spontaneous melody and skillful design. There are many contrasts of dynamics between the fast woodwinds and the triumphant horns. The overture from the opera is set for the "standard" wind octet: pairs of oboes, clarinets, horns and bassoons. Brightly contrapunctal throughout, the piece ends with a rapid fugue and fanfare. The transcription by Wendt is missing several measures from the original Mozart version. The conductor may wish to add these back in order to provide the audience and performers with a more authentic performance.

SELECTED RECORDINGS:

Transcription Recordings:

Complete Opera Recordings:

RELATED WEBSITES:

Mozart Page - http://www.w-a-mozart.com/

Mozart Biography - http://www.sciortino.net/wambiog.html

Mozart Midi File Page - http://midiworld.com/cmc/mozart.html

Mozart's Music - http://mozart.composers.net/html/music.html