Have you ever seen the brilliant movie, Amadeus? It was released in 1984 and directed by Peter Schaeffer. It showed Mozart as a hilariously funny piano-playing man with an insane giggle, chasing after girls and composing stunningly beautiful music.
If you haven't seen it, get the DVD and watch it it is funny and cool and sad and gives you insight into a very creative persons life. (Oh, and it won 8 Oscars that year If you want to read more go to IMDB and look it up.)
Ive promised you lots about Mozart, (christened Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart) the famous composer born 250 years ago. A couple of wow moments in his short life just to get us all on the same song sheet:
He was 5 years old when he started composing music
5 guys, 5!
In total he produced over 600 compositions in his life
He composed in every genre symphonic, opera, piano, chamber and choral. (That's like doing rap, rock, jazz, blues and pop these days.)
What is always interesting to me is what was going on the world when Mozart was alive way back in the 1700s. Well, look at this
In history
Potatoes got introduced into Europe in 1756
The American War of Independence started in 1775
The American Constitution was signed in 1789 and George Washington became president
The French Revolution started in 1789
The Rosetta stone was found in 1799
In science
Hydrogen was identified in 1766
Hawaii was discovered in 1778
The planet Uranus was discovered in 1781
The first human flight in a hot-air balloon took place in 1783
Uranium was discovered in 1786
So why am I talking about Mozart on the HIP2B2 website? Because his music has a connection with maths! Mozart symphonies, concertos and sonatas in particular have complicated note patterns that stimulate mathematical thinking.
Studies in the UK have shown that if Mozart is played to a class during maths lessons they perform 10% better than usual. (You may want to talk to your math teacher about a sound system in class )
You see music has a direct effect on mood and behaviour. Very simply, soothing music relaxes, harsh music evokes aggression. So imagine what music written by a genius does.
See if you can find Piano Concerto no 21 in C major (K467) to listen to. Next time I'll write about this concerto...
Quick question: Do you know what the K stands for in the above concerto (K467)?
P.S. Don't miss the article in the next HIP2B2 magazine about the Beauty of Maths and the golden ratio.
