Leopold Mozart Biography

Biography of German Violinist, Teacher, Composer and Theorist

Oct 23, 2007
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Austrian Composer and Violinist Leopold Mozart - Karadar

Biography of Leopold Mozart - German composer, violin teacher, violinist, theorist - devoted father and first teacher of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

While Leopold Mozart is best known as the father of musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, he was a distinguished violinist, a violin teacher, composer and theorist. He was famous for his book Versuch einer grunlichen Violinschule (A Treatise on the Fundamental Principles of Violin Playing) on violin technique and music theory. Leopold Mozart was born on November 14, 1719 in Augsburg, Germany, to a respectable family of tradesmen.

Early Life of Leopold Mozart

As a child, Johann Georg Leopold Mozart sang in the choir of the Church of the Holy Cross. As fairly common those days, a talented and musically inclined child was usually planned for a career in the church. However, Leopold had no intention of becoming a priest. While in Salzburg University to pursue theological studies, he abandoned priesthood in favor of philosophy and law. He did not complete this either.

When his scholarship from Augsburg soured, Leopold discontinued his studies, instead, joined the service of Count Thurn and Taxis in Salzburg as a musician in 1739. Four years later, already active as a composer, he joined the Prince-Archbishop's court orchestra.

Leopold Mozart was respected in Salzburg. Aged 20, he was a musician at Salzburg Cathedral, and also taught violin at the adjoining choir school.

Leopold's Family: Wife Anna Maria Pertl, and Children, Nannerl and Wolfgang

In 1743 Leopold Mozart was appointed as fourth violinist in the musical establishment of Count Leopold Anton von Firmian, that time the ruling Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg.

He was 37 years old when he married Anna Maria Pertl in 1747. She was one year younger. The couple had seven children but only the fourth child, Maria Anna Wallburga Ignatia ("Nannerl" to family) and the youngest, Johannes Wolfgangus Chrysostomus Theophilus (Wolfgang Amadeus), survived.

When Wolfgang was born in 1756, Nannerl was already showing signs of being a musical prodigy. Salzburg was continued to be ruled by the Prince-Archbishop, the most important person in Salzburg, and employer of Leopold Mozart as a court musician. In 1763, Leopold Mozart was promoted to deputy Kapellmeister.

As was customary those times, Leopold devoted much more energy nurturing his son's talents than those of his daughter's. About the year 1760, Leopold's own career took second place to the education of his children especially Wolfgang Mozart, whom he took on numerous musical tours. Mozart's mother was in the support role to her husband in everything that had to do with the family.

Leopold's Best Year (1756) and Beyond

The year 1756 was the crowning glory of Leopold Mozart's life:

He gained international fame with his book Versuch einer grunlichen Violinschule, which deals with violin technique and music theory. It is said to be one of the foremost musical didactic works of the 18th century.
He was blessed with a son Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

A year after, he rose from the ranks as Court Composer to Deputy Kapellmeister.

Leopold's relationship with his son may have strained as Mozart decided to be independent, a musical artist who freelanced in Vienna and married Constanze Weber, but his influence on Wolfgang Amadeus was deep and lasting. Mozart looked up to him as a critic and as authority of good taste, especially those critical years when Leopold exposed and introduced him to the best musicians around the courts of Europe. He continued to value his father's critical proficiency even in his greatest success as a musical artist.

He died in Salzburg on May 28,1787.