NSO Music for Young Audiences: Mozart Mash-Up

Mozar t M a sh -U p

MOZART'S BIG MUSICAL IMPACT Many people consider Mozart one of the greatest composers in Western music. His new ways of writing concertos, symphonies, and operas established patterns still used to this day. He also inspired other great composers, including another musical rock star, Ludwig van Beethoven. Mozart had a much-admired ability to write expressive music that made listeners feel a certain way, everything from joyful to fearful to heartbroken. And he notably created music that required great technical skill for musicians to play, but was easy for audiences of all ages anywhere to enjoy.

Cuesheet Performance Guide

NSO Music for Young Audiences

probably think because “ They I am so small and young,

A Few More Things to Do Listen for…how just four instruments create a wide range of sounds, which instruments sound the highest and lowest, and the different tempos (speeds) and moods of the music.

Think and Talk About…your favorite music from the performance.

Sing or play a little of it, and share three characteristics you liked with a friend or family member. Discuss how Mozart’s music differs from other classical music you know.

Imagine…what you felt and pictured as you listened to the music from the performance. Draw a picture or create a dance, story, or play expressing your ideas for one of the pieces.

Meet the Instruments…at the Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo” in the Hall of States—where you can try out some of the instruments played on stage.

nothing of greatness and class can come out of me; but they shall soon find out.

”

The Concert Program

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Musical selections include: Eine kleine Nachtmusik “A Little Night Music” Molto allegro from String Quartet No. 14, K. 387 in G Major Allegro vivace from String Quartet No. 16, K. 428 in E-flat Major Allegro assai from String Quartet No. 22, K. 589 in B-flat Major

Please Join Us…at the next NSO Family Concert performed by the full NSO:

Allegro from String Quartet No. 23, K. 590 in F Major

April 19, 2020—Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs (a Symphonic Spectacular)

David M. Rubenstein Chairman

Deborah F. Rutter President

Jordan LaSalle

Interim Senior Vice President Education

Gianandrea Noseda

Music Director National Symphony Orchestra

Additional support for NSO Music for Young Audiences is provided by A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation; the Kimsey Endowment; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Inc.; and the U.S. Department of Education.

NSO Music for Young Audiences is made possible in part by the generous support of Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather.

Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David M. Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program. © 2020 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Performed by NSO Musicians: Heather LeDoux Green, violin Wanzhen Li, violin Eric deWaardt, viola Eugena Chang, cello Hosted by Yesenia Iglesias

Presenting Sponsor of Performances for Young Audiences

David M. Rubenstein is the Presenting Underwriter of the NSO.

A YOUNG SUPERSTAR nce upon a time, a three-year-old boy climbed up to the piano, determined to play it like his older sister. Before long, the toddler mastered the keyboard, learned to play violin, and began writing his first music.

It might sound like a fairy tale, but it’s all true.

This child prodigy—someone with extraordinary talent at a young age—was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (pronounced MO-tzart).

As he grew up, Mozart never stopped writing music and amazing audiences. He wrote everything from a variation to the French tune you know as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” to symphonies and operas. At this “mash-up” performance, listen for a selection of this superstar’s music.

MEET THE PERFORMER S You know who else started playing music at a young age? The four musicians performing at the concert! Let’s find out how early and what they love about Mozart.

Heather LeDoux Green started playing violin at age three.

“Playing Mozart is always enjoyable because he wrote beautifully for the violin. It’s also fun to think of Mozart as a jokester—another reason Mozart is fun to play!”

Eric deWaardt started playing violin at age 10, then switched to viola. “I love the range of moods he creates in his music. One minute it’s like you’re joking around with friends and the next it’s the saddest thing you’ve ever felt in your life.”

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg in 1756 and died in Vienna, Austria, in 1791 at age 35.

TEN THING S You Didn’t Know About Mozart ❖ M usical talent runs in Mozart’s family—his father Leopold was a composer and his older sister Maria Anna (nicknamed “Nannerl”) was an excellent harpsicord and piano player. ❖ By age 8, Mozart wrote his first symphony. ❖ F or most of his childhood, Mozart (often with Nannerl) performed for royalty and other audiences all over Europe. ❖ The

whiz kid loved math and wrote numbers and mathematical equations on the walls of his home.

Did you know…math skills are important in music, for instance in helping organize rhythms and melodies? ❖ M ozart adopted a pet starling (bird) that could sing part of his Piano Concerto No. 17.

❖ A lthough he died at age 35, he still wrote so much music—more than 600 pieces—that a special cataloging system known as K (“Köchel”) numbering keeps track of it all. ❖ T he hardworking composer liked writing operas, and his The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and The Magic Flute are among the most performed operas in the world. ❖ M ozart joined the Freemasons, a secret brotherhood focused on values such as reason, liberty, morality, and charity. ❖ M ozart’s music appears in more than 300 popular films—everything from Alien to Amadeus to Runaway Bride—and TV series like “Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?” ❖ M ozart adored games, especially billiards (pool) and charades. He also loved puzzles, riddles, and jokes (even naming one piece A Musical Joke).

Eugena Chang began violin at age five, then switched to cello. “One of my favorite things about Mozart is [that] the music is simple and joyful for the listener but still engaging and complex for the performer.”

Wanzhen Li took up the violin when she was four and a half. “I love that Mozart’s music is able to speak so directly to the human spirit. Even after 200 years, his music can draw out so many emotions like joy, sorrow, excitement, and sadness.”

The grownup (left to right) Wanzhen Li, Eric deWaardt, Eugena Chang, and Heather LeDoux Green, form a “string quartet”— which is a group of four musicians who all play string instruments. At this performance, the quartet features two violins, one viola, and one cello. Most of the pieces you’ll hear were written to be performed by these four instruments.

Photo by Emily Heckel

A YOUNG SUPERSTAR nce upon a time, a three-year-old boy climbed up to the piano, determined to play it like his older sister. Before long, the toddler mastered the keyboard, learned to play violin, and began writing his first music.

It might sound like a fairy tale, but it’s all true.

This child prodigy—someone with extraordinary talent at a young age—was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (pronounced MO-tzart).

As he grew up, Mozart never stopped writing music and amazing audiences. He wrote everything from a variation to the French tune you know as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” to symphonies and operas. At this “mash-up” performance, listen for a selection of this superstar’s music.

MEET THE PERFORMER S You know who else started playing music at a young age? The four musicians performing at the concert! Let’s find out how early and what they love about Mozart.

Heather LeDoux Green started playing violin at age three.

“Playing Mozart is always enjoyable because he wrote beautifully for the violin. It’s also fun to think of Mozart as a jokester—another reason Mozart is fun to play!”

Eric deWaardt started playing violin at age 10, then switched to viola. “I love the range of moods he creates in his music. One minute it’s like you’re joking around with friends and the next it’s the saddest thing you’ve ever felt in your life.”

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg in 1756 and died in Vienna, Austria, in 1791 at age 35.

TEN THING S You Didn’t Know About Mozart ❖ M usical talent runs in Mozart’s family—his father Leopold was a composer and his older sister Maria Anna (nicknamed “Nannerl”) was an excellent harpsicord and piano player. ❖ By age 8, Mozart wrote his first symphony. ❖ F or most of his childhood, Mozart (often with Nannerl) performed for royalty and other audiences all over Europe. ❖ The

whiz kid loved math and wrote numbers and mathematical equations on the walls of his home.

Did you know…math skills are important in music, for instance in helping organize rhythms and melodies? ❖ M ozart adopted a pet starling (bird) that could sing part of his Piano Concerto No. 17.

❖ A lthough he died at age 35, he still wrote so much music—more than 600 pieces—that a special cataloging system known as K (“Köchel”) numbering keeps track of it all. ❖ T he hardworking composer liked writing operas, and his The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and The Magic Flute are among the most performed operas in the world. ❖ M ozart joined the Freemasons, a secret brotherhood focused on values such as reason, liberty, morality, and charity. ❖ M ozart’s music appears in more than 300 popular films—everything from Alien to Amadeus to Runaway Bride—and TV series like “Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?” ❖ M ozart adored games, especially billiards (pool) and charades. He also loved puzzles, riddles, and jokes (even naming one piece A Musical Joke).

Eugena Chang began violin at age five, then switched to cello. “One of my favorite things about Mozart is [that] the music is simple and joyful for the listener but still engaging and complex for the performer.”

Wanzhen Li took up the violin when she was four and a half. “I love that Mozart’s music is able to speak so directly to the human spirit. Even after 200 years, his music can draw out so many emotions like joy, sorrow, excitement, and sadness.”

The grownup (left to right) Wanzhen Li, Eric deWaardt, Eugena Chang, and Heather LeDoux Green, form a “string quartet”— which is a group of four musicians who all play string instruments. At this performance, the quartet features two violins, one viola, and one cello. Most of the pieces you’ll hear were written to be performed by these four instruments.

Photo by Emily Heckel

Mozar t M a sh -U p

MOZART'S BIG MUSICAL IMPACT Many people consider Mozart one of the greatest composers in Western music. His new ways of writing concertos, symphonies, and operas established patterns still used to this day. He also inspired other great composers, including another musical rock star, Ludwig van Beethoven. Mozart had a much-admired ability to write expressive music that made listeners feel a certain way, everything from joyful to fearful to heartbroken. And he notably created music that required great technical skill for musicians to play, but was easy for audiences of all ages anywhere to enjoy.

Cuesheet Performance Guide

NSO Music for Young Audiences

probably think because “ They I am so small and young,

A Few More Things to Do Listen for…how just four instruments create a wide range of sounds, which instruments sound the highest and lowest, and the different tempos (speeds) and moods of the music.

Think and Talk About…your favorite music from the performance.

Sing or play a little of it, and share three characteristics you liked with a friend or family member. Discuss how Mozart’s music differs from other classical music you know.

Imagine…what you felt and pictured as you listened to the music from the performance. Draw a picture or create a dance, story, or play expressing your ideas for one of the pieces.

Meet the Instruments…at the Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo” in the Hall of States—where you can try out some of the instruments played on stage.

nothing of greatness and class can come out of me; but they shall soon find out.

”

The Concert Program

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Musical selections include: Eine kleine Nachtmusik “A Little Night Music” Molto allegro from String Quartet No. 14, K. 387 in G Major Allegro vivace from String Quartet No. 16, K. 428 in E-flat Major Allegro assai from String Quartet No. 22, K. 589 in B-flat Major

Please Join Us…at the next NSO Family Concert performed by the full NSO:

Allegro from String Quartet No. 23, K. 590 in F Major

April 19, 2020—Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs (a Symphonic Spectacular)

David M. Rubenstein Chairman

Deborah F. Rutter President

Jordan LaSalle

Additional support for NSO Music for Young Audiences is provided by A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation; the Kimsey Endowment; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Inc.; and the U.S. Department of Education.

NSO Music for Young Audiences is made possible in part by the generous support of Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather.

Interim Senior Vice President Education

Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David M. Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

Gianandrea Noseda

© 2020 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Music Director National Symphony Orchestra

Performed by NSO Musicians: Heather LeDoux Green, violin Wanzhen Li, violin Eric deWaardt, viola Eugena Chang, cello Hosted by Yesenia Iglesias

Presenting Sponsor of Performances for Young Audiences

David M. Rubenstein is the Presenting Underwriter of the NSO.