If you have had a special Mozart experience you would like to share, or something about how you first met Mozart or so, feel free to write me a letter and I will publish it on this page. The fan letter of the month will be chosen and put up every time.
The most recent story will be listed first. September 2000 may be found further down the page.
OCTOBER 2000
"My Mozart Story"
by StanziAll my life the beauty of classical music has constantly touched me. I have never been able to fully describe how I feel when I listen to it, for it is too powerful. As a child I would listen over and over to the Mozart, Beethoven and Bach tapes that I had. They were my prized possessions. I can remember wondering, as I listened, what it was about this music that made my heart ache and my eyes fill with tears. Mozart has always held a very special place in my heart. For one birthday my parents gave me a CD of "The Magic Flute" in English. For months afterward I pranced around the house singing the arias for the Queen of the Night--or trying to. Later on I persuaded my brothers to help me put on a finger-puppet show of "The Magic Flute", the video of which is still in our basement somewhere. All through grade school I continued listening to my favorite composer along with the modern, popular groups (priding myself on being able to name many of Mozart's symphonies by listening to them and knowing all the lyrics to every Blink-182 and Jewel song). In freshman year of high school I gave a speech on why everyone should listen to Mozart and other composers. I have played piano for nine years and have sung in a choir for seven years. Every time something by Mozart comes by for me to play or sing, I am thrilled. I just "discovered" the movie Amadeus last year. It hit me like no other movie ever has. The actions, the humor, the deep emotions, and above all Mozart's heavenly music touched the deepest part of my heart. I reveled in hearing all the melodies I knew so well, and watching the operas being performed. The movie hit a climax for me when I heard Mozart's mighty Requiem. I had never heard it before, and as I listened to the Confutatis for the first time I began to cry. I cried until the last Amen of the Lacrimosa, overcome by the sheer emotion and power in the notes. I knew that Amadeus had changed my life, my understanding of human beings, and my love and respect for one of the greatest composers who ever lived.
SEPTEMBER 2000
Mozart Story
by Sarah|
I had always known Mozart's music. Classical music was popular in my family, and usually strains of Vivaldi, Bach, Handel and Mozart could be heard around the house. But as I grew older pop music replaced classical. I entered high school still listening to classical but many other kinds of music took precedence. In the ninth grade I met a girl named Addie. We became very close through our mutual love for the oboe, the instrument we played. Addie listened almost solely to classical music. Whenever we talked on the phone I could hear beautiful music in the background. Inspired by the music she listened to, classical held a prominent place in my life. Addie knew we shared a love for music so one day, at a sleepover, she told me she had something to share with me. That something was Amadeus. She held the movie up to me saying, "Here, I think you'll like this." I sat down on her couch not knowing how much the movie I was about to see would affect me. As it opened with Mozart's Symphony no. 25 I realized this was no ordinary movie. I listened, enthralled with the immensely powerful music filling my ears. The operas amazed with me their emotion. As the movie finished with his Requiem and the credits rolled with his Piano Concerto no. 20 I turned to Addie to say something, anything. Instead I started sobbing uncontrollably. The power of Mozart's music overwhelmed me. I listen to classical much more often now, and it is usually Mozart. His melodies entrance and delight. I find his music glows with life at every measure. I know Amadeus' story is not always correct and much of it has been dramatized, but nothing can change the music. For my birthday Addie and I went to see The Magic Flute and in a few days we are going to see Don Giovanni. I can't wait to get lost in the music and let it carry me away. I love Mozart's music and I am so grateful to have discovered its power. |
