Are there any recordings of Mozart playing piano/harpsichord/keyboard?

Question

I know this is probably a silly question but I was curious. Are there any recordings from this time (late 1700's--around the time of the American Revolution)? If so, where? If not (which I am assuming is the answer) is there anything written about Mozart's playing ability that one can read?

Thanks!

I didn't think it was such a dumb question considering around this time is when Benjamin Franklin lived (and was fighting a war) and he's the one who invented electricity. Also, even before electricity, weren't there many things hand-pumped for power? I thought I would ask in case such early recordings existed. I see now that the technology wasn't invented utnil about 100 years later. What a shame, eh?

Answer 1

No, Mozart died well before there was any recording technology.

You should check out Alfred Einstein's biography of Mozart for quotes from Mozart's cotemporaries regarding his playing skill.
http://www.amazon.com/Mozart-His-character-his-work/dp/B0007F9HVQ

Also, the Mozart chapter in Harold Schonberg's "The Great Pianists" has some revealing and surprising things to say about Mozart's style and technique. If you don't own this book and it's companion "The Great Composers", then get them. Not in depth, but informative, and he is very careful not to pass along apocryphal anecdotes. So the information is reliable.

Happy reading and listening!

Answer 2

I agree with the others that classical music in general and Mozart in particular, has many different moods and feels. You cannot classify an entire composers work into one category like that. Mozart's operas, his Night Music or his Requiem are all very different and should be played according to the feel of that particular composition. Each conductor will bring their own interpretation to the number as well. If we had a definitive recording of how the composer wanted the number played, then maybe you could make a statement for that particular composition but that still would not cover the artist's entire body or work. I like Beethoven because of the boldness and drama of his music. But even there, you find great variation in his composition between the 5th and the 6th symphonies for example. The 9th symphony is not like any of his previous compositions. Even J.S. Bach has a variety in his compositions. I think to declare a number either staccato or legato is generalizing too much.

Answer 3

Mozart died in 1796, before electricity was invented, so there are no recordings of him playing anything.

But there are plenty of recordings of artists playing the music that Mozart wrote.

There is a ton of information about Mozart out there. Just google "biography of Mozart" or something.

We know that he was a child prodigy and an absolute musical genius.

Answer 4

Recording did not begin until 1890. Mozart died in 1791. The first recording commercially released was "Semper Fidelis" by the US Marine Band (under John Philip Sousa) in 1890.

Answer 5

There was way to record things back then...

Answer 6

Yes, they just put out a retrospective CD of some of his early studio work.

Answer 7

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