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Product Description
From the author of 1791: Mozarts Last Year and general editor of The Mozart Compendium, this international bestseller has received widespread critical acclaim. Entertainingly and authoritatively written, and richly illustrated with contemporary paintings and engravings, it provides a vivid account of the last decade of Mozarts short but amazingly prolific career one of the most remarkable periods in the entire history of Western music.
About the Author
H. C. Robbins Landon is known internationally as a musicologist and is one of the world's leading authorities on Mozart. He has written numerous books on the subject including The Mozart Compendium, 1791: Mozart's Last Year and The Mozart Essays.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
H.C. Robbins Landon, one of the leading scholars of his day on the music of Mozart and Haydn, had the gift of writing for both scholarly and relatively popular audiences about classical music. This book is a very fine example, focusing on the last 10 years of Mozart's admittedly too-short life. For the most part, this book is definitely aimed at the "intelligent layperson" who may not necessarily have a strong technical background in music. It reads clearly on historical grounds, and readers can enjoy it for the coverage of the historical aspects alone. It does contain some relatively brief discussion of a more technical bent on Mozart's skill in composition, particularly in Chapter 8, covering the six quartets that Mozart dedicated to Haydn as well as a brief survey of Mozart's piano concertos. The book is copiously illustrated as well.
It must be admitted, however, that this book did appear originally in 1989, so that obviously any later scholarship by Robbins Landon and others must, by definition, be missing. Still, with that in mind, this makes a very substantial introduction for those who want to start to understand Mozart from that decade of 1781 to 1791.
It must be admitted, however, that this book did appear originally in 1989, so that obviously any later scholarship by Robbins Landon and others must, by definition, be missing. Still, with that in mind, this makes a very substantial introduction for those who want to start to understand Mozart from that decade of 1781 to 1791.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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2 reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Very fine book, of a certain vintage, on Mozart's last 10 years
30 Jun 2011
Format:Hardcover
H.C. Robbins Landon was one of the leading scholars of his day on the music of Mozart and Haydn, and this book is a very fine example of his scholarship with the former, focusing on the last 10 years of Mozart's admittedly too-short life. For the most part, this book is definitely aimed at the "intelligent layperson" who may not necessarily have a strong technical background in music. It reads clearly on historical grounds, and readers can enjoy it for the coverage of the historical aspects alone. It does contain some relatively brief discussion of a more technical bent on Mozart's skill in composition, particularly in Chapter 8, covering the six quartets that Mozart dedicated to Haydn as well as a brief survey of Mozart's piano concertos. The book is copiously illustrated as well.
It must be admitted, however, that this book did appear originally in 1989, so that obviously any later scholarship by Robbins Landon and others must, by definition, be missing. Still, with that in mind, this makes a very substantial introduction for those who want to start to understand Mozart from that decade of 1781 to 1791.
It must be admitted, however, that this book did appear originally in 1989, so that obviously any later scholarship by Robbins Landon and others must, by definition, be missing. Still, with that in mind, this makes a very substantial introduction for those who want to start to understand Mozart from that decade of 1781 to 1791.
A "must have" book on Mozart by an eminent scholar; profusely illustrated
27 Feb 2012
This deluxe paperback edition of "Mozart, The Golden Years" is a 250th Anniversary Issue (of Mozart's birth) of H.C. Robbins Landon's splendid book, originally issued in 1989. Landon is best known as an expert on the life and music of Haydn, but was also very knowledgeable about Mozart, Haydn's contemporary.
Landon focuses on the years Mozart spent in Vienna from 1781 until his death in 1791, the years that Mozart composed most of his many musical masterpieces. The opening chapter, however, provides a summary of his early years in Salzburg. The final year, 1791, of Mozart's life is only briefly covered in this volume. Landon has written a separate book, "1791, Mozart's Last Year," that covers in detail Mozart's most prolific year, his "annus mirabilus." In both books, Landon states that he has aimed for both readability and scholarly content. By and large, he has been successful in achieving that goal.
Besides discussing Mozart's life and music, Landon describes life in Vienna, already the musical capital of Europe, in the late Eighteenth Century. The last chapter deals with a possible Freemason conspiracy against the Austrian government in 1791. Mozart was a Freemason, but his role, if any, in such a conspiracy is unknown. In any event, Freemason activity was sharply curtailed in the years following 1791, and some lodges were closed.
Elsewhere, Landon has divided his attention about equally between Mozart's life and his compositions. There are excellent discussions of his chamber music and his piano concertos, in particular. The book is footnoted extensively and also contains seven appendices on various topics related to Mozart's Vienna years. The many illustrations, some in full-plate color, with informative captions are reason enough on their own to get this book. Since it is also being offered at a bargain price, I highly recommend that anyone with more than a passing interest in Mozart and his music get a copy while supplies last. You won't regret it!
(Another reviewer points out that new discoveries and scholarship since 1989 are not covered in this reissue. That shouldn't be a problem except for advanced scholars.)
Landon focuses on the years Mozart spent in Vienna from 1781 until his death in 1791, the years that Mozart composed most of his many musical masterpieces. The opening chapter, however, provides a summary of his early years in Salzburg. The final year, 1791, of Mozart's life is only briefly covered in this volume. Landon has written a separate book, "1791, Mozart's Last Year," that covers in detail Mozart's most prolific year, his "annus mirabilus." In both books, Landon states that he has aimed for both readability and scholarly content. By and large, he has been successful in achieving that goal.
Besides discussing Mozart's life and music, Landon describes life in Vienna, already the musical capital of Europe, in the late Eighteenth Century. The last chapter deals with a possible Freemason conspiracy against the Austrian government in 1791. Mozart was a Freemason, but his role, if any, in such a conspiracy is unknown. In any event, Freemason activity was sharply curtailed in the years following 1791, and some lodges were closed.
Elsewhere, Landon has divided his attention about equally between Mozart's life and his compositions. There are excellent discussions of his chamber music and his piano concertos, in particular. The book is footnoted extensively and also contains seven appendices on various topics related to Mozart's Vienna years. The many illustrations, some in full-plate color, with informative captions are reason enough on their own to get this book. Since it is also being offered at a bargain price, I highly recommend that anyone with more than a passing interest in Mozart and his music get a copy while supplies last. You won't regret it!
(Another reviewer points out that new discoveries and scholarship since 1989 are not covered in this reissue. That shouldn't be a problem except for advanced scholars.)
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