Who was a better musician - Mozart or Beethoven?

Answer 1

Here we go again making comparisons betwen two masters who wrote very different music.

I adore both composers' music, both for different reasons.

Mozart's mastery of voice leading, lucidity, sense of form and proportion, contrapuntal sleight-of hand, an incredible melodic gift......

Beethoven's vision, scope, the curious "foreground" and "background" aspects of his compositional style, the tightness and economy of his handling and working out of material.....

How can one make a choice?

I totally and laughably disagree with "squirtycream's" view of Beethoven as the "Curt Cobain" of his day. What a ridiculous notion. The writer of "Ode to Joy"?? The "Pastoral Symphony"??? The "Waldstein" Sonata????
The 3rd and 7th Symphonies????? C'mon man, buy yourself a clue.

Answer 2

While many will say that Mozart was Technically a better musician, Beethoven was the better from the start that he had.

Think of it like this.

You have two Grand Prix racing cars, driven by Driver X and Driver Y, racing down the M1, but you hold Driver X back for an hour.

If Driver X makes it to the other end of the M1 before Driver Y, even though Driver Y had the hour head start, he would have achieved more because he had the most to fight against.

Mozart & Beethoven were the same. While Mozart may have been a slightly better musician, he could hear, Beethoven on the other hand could not.

As it is an art, Music is about opinion, so in my opinion, Beethoven was the best because, even though he was the underdog, he still became one of times' great composers.

Answer 3

It's not an easy question to answer. Mozart was a perfect example of the "Classical" era, while Beethoven was a perfect example of the "Romantic" era. Both men were incredibly talented composers. The answer typically just comes down to a matter of personal taste.

I personally think Beethoven was the more brilliant composer. Mozart is amazing, and some of his stuff is just mind-blowing, but I think the sheer emotion of Beethoven was incredible.

Answer 4

I like to listen to Beethoven better. But to relax, I prefer Mozart. Mozart was a genius who composed his first symphony at age 4. Beethoven, on the other hand, composed music even though he was deaf. That makes it pretty hard to decide.

Answer 5

There is no real answer to this question. Someone who likes Beethoven is going to answer Beethoven and someone who prefers Mozart is going to answer Mozart.

Mozart and Beethoven both had different styles of composing. Mozart liked to compose using the strings to carry the melody while the winds and, on occasion, brass carried the counter melody. Beethoven, on the other hand, carried his melody with the Brass.

Also Mozart composed in a semi-baroque style, looking to past masters such as Bach and Handel. While Beethoven, like Haydn, looked to the future of music.

There is no answer to this question.

Answer 6

The were both great and amazing musicians and composers! the only difference was in the way they composed.Mozart never did any corrections on his works, however Beethoven had to look over them more times to correct them.This definitely does not mean that someone was better than the other one! They were both musical geniuses!

Answer 7

I am trying not to be biased because Mozart has always been my favourite composer. I would have to say Mozart though. The amount of music, its scope and variety plus the sheer beauty and pathos of so much of his composition is incomparable. He was more versatile than Beethoven and produced masterpieces in just about every type of music, from opera to chamber music, Masses to symphonies and concertos for various different instruments.
Having said that, I absolutely love the Beethoven sonatas and his piano music in general. Can't beat it.

Answer 8

talk about piano composition, i think is Mozart, but for orchestra, is Beethoven. their music is different, Beethoven's musics have a wider expressive range (that means he compose musics with mood of sad to happy etc....i think "wider expressive range" dont bring that meaning, rite.....my english is not so good lol....) while Mozart's music is more on scherzo and joyful....me personally prefer Mozart as better musician.

Answer 9

Mozart definitely. i don't know when Beethoven started composing, but Mozart started when he was only 5

Answer 10

Beethoven.

Answer 11

If you choose Beethoven, then you are obviously uneducated with the music of Mozart.