What was Mozart's favorite instrument?

Answer 1

Dude, I don't know how Mozart could have decided which instrument he liked! He showed great prowess with very many instruments, including but not limited to viola, piano, organ, and probably wind instruments too. Personally, I think Mozart would have liked each instrument for its own unique sound and tone, and so he probably would have most liked the creation of the perfect blend of intruments, as is displayed by his fantastic symphonies and serenades and operas and concertos. If you want to see what I mean, rent the movie 'Amadeus' or take in a night at the symphony when they play mozart. He wrote great sonatas and other solo pieces; but his genius is best displayed by the numerous ensembles that make him one of the most popular composers in history.

Answer 2

As a performer, Mozart's favorite instrument was the piano, although he could play all stringed instruments and his earliest prowess was on the violin, which he began playing at the age of three. The piano was the instrument of choice for a performer because it was the most versatile instrument in existence (and remains so today). But as a composer, the answer is probably different. In his letters, the two instruments that clearly emerge as those of which he was most fond of composing for were the clarinet and the viola. That explains why amongst his greatest works are the six viola quintets, which represent a true pinnacle of music, and the two clarinet works he composed in his last two years, the Clarinet Quintet, K. 581 and the Clarinet Concerto, K. 622. These are, inarguably, the two greatest compositions ever written for that instrument.

Answer 3

Although people will say the piano, that couldn't be more incorrect. The piano was merely a vehicle for composition for the young Mozart. Mozart thought highly of the viola, yet despite this, it is commonly accepted that the clarinet (the basset horn in particular) was his favorite instrument. There are many written records by Mozart in letters to his father of his love for the clarinet. One would think that he would have composed more literature for his favorite instrument, but the lack of compositions is probably due to a number of factors. First, Mozart needed commissions to maintain a living and so he mostly wrote for what he was being commissioned to write for. Second, the clarinet was relatively new to the scene and virtuosic players were few and far between. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Some sources say organ - and I've heard an organ piece by Mozart that was surprisingly "Bach-like". Certainly the organ gives the most possibilities for sound and harmonic complexity while played by a single person.

I've also heard that it was the viola, and that Mozart loved to play viola in string quartets (with Haydn!). His Sinfonia Concertante for violin, viola and orchestra places the viola on equal footing with the violin as a solo instrument.

Then there are those that claim it is the piano... and of course his Piano concertos are outstanding, particularly IMO the D minor K466.

Being a violist myself, I personally think it was the viola.

Here's a great quote from Michael Tree, violist with the Guarneri Quartet:

"Each time you play a different work by Mozart, you feel at the time that it is his best work ever." (paraphrased)

Answer 5

Mozart was widely recognized as being on of the great virtuoso pianists of his day. He wrote more music featuring this instrument than any others--and therefore it's not unreasonable to infer that he preferred this instrument to all others.

He was also an excellent violinist. In a famous letter written to him, his father complains that if Wolfgang would only practice more diligently, he could become one of the leading violinists in Europe (which, apparently, he never really did). The pieces he wrote that feature the violin are relatively few, compared to those composed for piano.

Answer 6

It certainly wasn't the flute. Mozart hated the flute, which is so sad for me being a flute player.

My flute teacher told me that he actually was commissioned by a guy to write 2 flute concertos and an extra little piece for the flute. So he wrote the first concerto and little piece and ran off with the money. The guy who commissioned the pieces wrote a letter to Mozarts father demanding that Mozart write the second concerto. Mozarts father sent a letter to Mozart telling him to write it, and Mozart said that he didn't want to write a concerto for an instrument he hated so much.

He did end up writing the concerto, kind of. He took an oboe concerto, transcribed it into D major, and added a bunch of octave jumps to make it harder. If you listen to that one oboe concerto and Mozarts 2nd concerto in D, they sound identical.

So sad.

Answer 7

Violin is Mozart favorite instrument.

Answer 8

He loved instruments of the string family including: harpsichord, pianoforte, piano (the latter two are different and all 3 are in the strings family, look it up), and violin. He was also a very good vocalist and was known to accompany himself on solo works.

Answer 9

The piano. He even played it while upside down.

Answer 10

The Piano, facinated by it