World History Biographies: Mozart: The Boy Who Changed the World with His Music

World History Biographies

by Marcus Weeks

At 5 years old, he composed a minuet. By six, he was performing for royalty. The compelling story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is a timeless tale of musical genius, its rewards, and its pitfalls.

Author and musician Marcus Weeks takes us around Mozart's world—from the Royal courts of 18th century Europe to the opera houses and balls where Mozart enjoyed triumph and fame. We meet the kings and queens of the age, learn of the young Mozart's favorite games, see the clothes he wore, and the new musical instruments of the time. The lively text also gives readers an appreciation of Mozart's vast legacy of immortal music.

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Genres: Biography, Music, Nonfiction

64 pages, Hardcover

First published February 27, 2007

About the author

Marcus Weeks é colaborador frequente de enciclopédias e livros de referência, atuando também como consultor de vários títulos da editora britânica Dorling Kindersley. É autor de diversos livros, como Se liga na filosofia e O livro da psicologia.

Possui uma vasta lista de talentos e interesses. Quando não está escrevendo, é professor de música, dá aulas de inglês para estrangeiros, administra uma galeria de arte, afina e restaura pianos, é editor de música, arranjador, compositor, entre muitas outras coisas. Mora em Hastings, na Inglaterra.

Ele também escreve sob o pseudônimo: Nicholas D. Satan

Reviews

[Snash4]

Somebody - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wanted - Mozart was a child prodigy in music. he became a musician and moved to Vienna against his fathers wishes.
But - In Vienna he encountered money problems
So - he composed many pieces which included sonatas, operas and quartets.
Then - he married Constanze and died on December 5th 1791

Summary
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wanted to become a musician like his father was. He moved to Vienna against his fathers wishes. But in Vienna he encountered money problems. So he composed many different pieces which include Sonatas, operas and quartets and he also taught music lessons. Then he married constanze and died 9 years later of December 5th 1791.

[Maggie Panning · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this biography dry, buy my seven-year-old son was always highly engaged when we read it.

[Ebony and Ivory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Timeline was kinda wonky but I enjoyed this and it was very informative!

[Treasa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid biography of Mozart for children. This book is well written and easy to read, which is what I have come to expect from National Geographic's wonderful non-fiction for children. Mozart's life is broken up into four major parts and then divided into smaller sections within those four parts. Each two-page spread is generally a new "chapter" (with some exceptions in which the chapter lasts four pages). The text is accompanied by numerous illustrations from the time period with informative captions, interesting sidebars, and a comprehensive timeline that runs along the bottoms of the pages throughout the book. In the middle of each of the four major sections of the book is a two-page spread that discusses some aspect of history or music that is applicable to Mozart but that would not be directly addressed in his biography. These discuss opera, musical instruments, the Age of Enlightenment, and what it would have been like for Mozart to travel when he was a child. These "asides" add a great deal to the experience of reading this biography.

Overall, this is a great biography of Mozart. It is an effective combination of the basic facts, interesting anecdotes, and a little bit of this and that thrown in. It's only too bad that it doesn't come with a soundtrack so the reader can hear some of the amazing music that is mentioned. :)

[Tobias · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the book, "Mozart The Boy Who Changed The World With His Music", I learned a lot about Mozart. His early life was very different than ours he was homeschooled and at age 3 he was already picking notes out of the piano. Later when he was 8-12 he went on many concerts across Europe to play to the noble and rich families. Many families loved Mozart because he was young and talented. Mozart was also very hard-working because on one trip he got sick and nearly died. Later in his life he got a job which he hated (Konzertmeister). His died ended short when he was 36 because he got sick and no treatments were invented. If you want to learn more about Mozarts life go read this short biography.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fair spread, with interesting facts in a well-laid out format. I was irked at his choice to spell Maria Theresa, Empress of Austria, as Maria Theresia; and quite disappointed that Mozart's arch nemesis, Antonio Salieri, was not mentioned at all--not one single time.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy reading. Learned some new things.