Musical Monday: A Belated Happy Birthday to Mozart

I was first introduced to the wonderful music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at a very young age, by way of the film Amadeus, starring Tom Hulce and F. Murray Abraham. Though years later, I found out that most of the film was fiction, it still gave a decent portrayal into the turbulent life of the child prodigy, and how his drinking and lifestyle led to an untimely death, thus leaving us all to wonder how much more music he could have written. No composer ever wrote such depth and such beauty, and even though he is not quite my all-time favorite (Tchaikovsky still holds that title), he is no doubt that greatest composer to ever live, hands-down. Because he celebrated his 256th birthday on Friday (personally, I don’t think he looks a day over 200), I decided to devote this first Musical Monday of 2012 to his honor.

Requiem Music for Those Whose Sports Teams Have Been Eliminated

I originally wanted this post to be about sports, but it is going to turn into one completely about music. With the baseball playoffs in full swing, winding down to the World Series, with hockey and football season underway, and many teams not rising up to potential, now is the time to immerse yourself in what I consider to be the greatest piece of music ever written, “Requiem” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

No piece of music ever written is so fiery, yet tranquil; calming, yet invigorating; sobering, yet harmonious. Below I have compiled the complete “Requiem” performed by the legendary German conductor Karl Bohm, performed sometime in the 1970′s by the Wiener Symphoniker.

This is the perfect thing to listen to if your team has just been eliminated, or finds themselves in a precarious situation. This music will perfectly match your immediate reaction of anger, followed by sadness, and then will sooth you into another season of frustrating baseball.

Please enjoy (and Yankee fans, this is for you!).

Though I like this version above, my favorite will go to the version performed by John Elliot Gardiner. I find his to be more quickly paced and enjoyable, and this comes after listening to the legendary piece conducted by Sir Neville Mariner for the film Amadeus, which is one of my favorite films. But still, no matter which version you listen to, all will capture the mood you are in, in its melancholy perfection. I know if the Giants lose the World Series, I will be listening to this two weeks from now—it just has that effect.