Mozart Packet

An Exploration of Wolfgang A. Mozart,
his music and his time

The Mozart Packet is to be used in conjunction with the Mozart Gazette web page. All links are needed are on this web site (although the URLs are listed in this packet.)

This packet is divided into lessons.While each lesson should take approximately one class period to complete, it is possible that you might take more or less time on an individual lesson. You must, however, complete these in the order that they appear in the packet. Several lessons require that you completed a previous lesson or lessons.

All lessons should be saved to your directory and spell checked. Save all printouts with this packet.

Lesson 1

1. Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria in what year?

·How long did he stay there?

·When did he leave?

2. He began playing music at an early age. What Instruments did he play?

·Did anyone help develop this talent? Explain your answer.

·What was his childhood like? What were his teenage years like?

3. It has been said that Mozart was a prolific composer. What does prolific mean?

·List the types of music Mozart wrote, and how many. http://search.britannica.com/frm_redir.jsp?query=wolfgang+amadeus+mozart&redir=http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~tan/Mozartreq/mozartpage.html

4. By some accounts Mozart died a poor man. In reality, he was not poor, but had requested a modest funeral according to the standards of the day.

·What year did he die?

·Where is he buried?

5. Mozart's music is still popular today. In your opinion, why is his music still popular?

Name at least five movies that use Mozart's works.

6. Based on the sites you visited, create 10 more questions (with answers). You may want to check out: http://www.hearts-ease.org/cgi-bin/conservatory_works.cgi?ID=39 and check out the “Info” on the various works!

Lesson 2

1. Salieri was born in Italy, in what year?

2. Who brought him to Vienna and why?

3. Salieri had many pupils. Name a three of his famous students.

4. List the types of music Salieri wrote, and to the best of your ability how many of each.

5. What was Salieri’s relationship with the emperor like? What evidence do you have that it was favorable or not?

6.He died in an insane asylum. What year did he die? Where is he buried?

·Salieri’s music is not very popular today. In your opinion, why did is music fail to achieve greatness?

·Visit the Amadeus and Salieri page (http://www.mozartproject.org/essays/brown.html). The author charges that this movie is a “Fictional ornament”. Scroll down to the Obsessively jealous personalitysection and find at least two facts that dispel Salieri’s jealousy.

Lesson 3

1.Open Excel, new workbook. Label sheet one – Mozart- Salieri Comparison

2.In row 4 Label cell C Mozart, D Salieri, E Total, F Difference

3. In Column B Label Cell 5 Opera, 6 Piano Concerto, 7 Symphony. Continue labeling column B to reflect the genre of music the composers created (at least 7 styles should be listed – 3 have been inserted for you). You may also include additional data such as age at death and average number of works per year.

4. In cell E5, create a formula that adds the total for the two composers. Use fill down this formula for the entire row

5. In cell D5 create a formula that will display the difference between the two composers (Mozart minus Salieri). Use fill down for the column of data.

6. Print the results. Make sure the gridlines and row/column headings are showing.

·Print the formulas (Tools – Preferences – View, make sure formula is checked)

·Attach your results to this packet.

Lesson 4

·Open Inspirations and start a new document. Using the graphic organizer, create a diagram that links similarities, and another that show the differences between Salieri and Mozart. These differences should be from your spreadsheet.

·Make sure you are detailed. Include as much data as possible. You may include graphics.

·Printout the graphic organizer and attach it to the packet.

Lesson 5

·Using the printout of your graphic organizer you are going to write your essay.

·Open MS Word or AppleWorks WP. Begin by writing an introduction. What is this essay about? Make sure your essay includes paragraph(s) that show the similarities as well as the differences.

·You should be using the graphic organizer to write this essay!

·Be sure to save your work and make sure you proofread your essay, spell check.

Your essay should include an introduction, similarities, differences and a conclusion.

·Formatting should include 1-inch margins, serf font (12 or 14 pt), and justified alignment.

·Print out your final copy and attach it with the graphic organizer to your packet.

Lesson 6

Select one opera from the list below. Using the Groves Dictionary of Music (http://www.grovemusic.com/) research the history of its opening. Visit the synopsis page for each and read the plot.

Il re pastore

1775 - Salzburg

http://www.mozartproject.org/compositions/k_208__.html

Idomeneo

1781 - Munich

http://www.metopera.org/synopses/idomeneo.html

http://www.mozartproject.org/compositions/k_366__.html

Le nozze di Figaro

1786 - Vienna

http://www.metopera.org/synopses/figaro.html

Don Giovanni

1787 - Prague

http://www.metopera.org/synopses/giovanni.html

Cosi fan tutte

1791 - Prague

http://www.metopera.org/synopses/cosi.html

Die Zauberflote

1791 - Vienna

http://www.metopera.org/synopses/zauberfl.html

Opera_______________________ Debut________________

Notes on opening:

Original cast:

Debut city/ theatre:

Commissioned by:

Reviews or comments on performances:

Interesting notes on debut performances:

Summary of the plot:

Lesson 7

Using your notes from Lesson 6 you are to write a review of the opera as if you were an “opera critic”. If necessary, check your local newspaper to see how theater reviewers review plays and/or movies. Move critics will comment on the performance of an actor, or the plot of the story or maybe the music. Use the historical data – how was this opera received by the public – was there something unusual about it? Was it not a hit then, but many years later? Feel free to use today’s terms like “Two thumbs up” or “A hit for the whole family!”

Spell check and proof read your document. Make sure you save your document as “Opera review” and print out a hard copy to attach to this packet.

Lesson 8

In this lesson you will be researching a world event that occurred within ten years of the debut of the opera you chose. Events can be found at one of the following sites:

http://home.about.com/homework/index.htm

http://digitalhistory.org/timeline.htm

http://www.wfu.edu/Academic-departments/History/whistory/timeline/namerica/17-18.htm

Encarta

To write the details of that event make sure you include the following:

Who, What, Where, When, Whyand How

After gathering the details write an essay about this event as if it recently happened.

Spell check and save as “world event.”

Print and attach to packet

Lesson 9

Interview with Mozart

·Visit the following site: http://www.bham.wednet.edu/bio/quest.htm

·Read what makes an interesting biography

·You are going to be using the facts obtain in Lesson 1 to write an imaginary interview with Mozart. To do this you will use the following format:

·Your Initials for Questions (caps) followed by a colon, then the question.

·WM for Mozart followed by a colon, then the answer. Place the questions and answers in quotes.

CL: “Tell me Herr Mozart, this I have heard that you have been working on another piece at the same time you were writing the “Magic Flute”. Can you tell me if this is true, and if so what is this mysterious piece?”

·WM: “Not too many people know this, but I have been commissioned to work on a Requiem. I’m afraid I am not at liberty to say more than that.”

·The questions you ask should be from the facts found in the first two lessons. You may include “rumors” about Salieri’s jealousy. The interview should have at least 10 questions, but may have more. Remember you can use the questions you created in lesson 1.

After you complete the “Interview” make sure you spell check, then save the document as “Interview”. Print a hard copy and attach to the packet.

Lesson 10

Create the Newspaper Page

You will be using all of the information gathered in lessons 1-9 to create a newspaper page from the era of Mozart

·Open a newsletter template from either AppleWorks Draw or Microsoft Publisher.

·Decide what country your newspaper will be from and give it an appropriate name (“Vienna Times” “Saltzburg Today”) OR visit http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/news/17th/178th.html or http://earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/past/index.html and name your paper after a real paper of the period.

·Copy and paste (or use insert) to place the opera review, Mozart interview and Historical article.

·Research a sport, invention, fashion or other social aspect of the time period to include in the newspaper. You may include this as another article, or an ad (for fashion or invention)

http://library.thinkquest.org/22254/inventions.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/discovery/bypeople/tull_01.shtml

http://web.mit.edu/invent/www/inventorsA-H/Banneker.html

http://www.history1700s.com/article1065.html

http://www.costumes.org/pages/18thhair.htm

http://www.clements.umich.edu/Spies/print-bostonmassacre.html

http://www.clements.umich.edu/Spies/print-stampact.html

http://www.clements.umich.edu/Spies/print-cagedbostonians.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/10556/english/high/history/hist06.htm

·Scan, or download a graphic to include in the newspaper. This could be a graphic of Mozart, Salieri or an invention. You may include more than one.

·Headlines should be in a larger font than the text and use a sans serif font. All headlines should be centered.

·All articles should be a serif font with the text alignment justified.

·You may add additional articles.

Remember this will be worth 50% of your grade on this project!