Mozart: A Life - Johnson, Paul

Eminent historian Paul Johnson dazzles with a rich, succinct portrait of Mozart and his music \nAs he s done in \""Napoleon,\"" \""Churchill,\"" \""Jesus,\"" and \""Darwin,\"" acclaimed historian and author Paul Johnson here offers a concise, illuminating biography of Mozart. Johnson s focus is on the music Mozart s wondrous output of composition and his uncanny gift for instrumentation. \nLiszt once said that Mozart composed more bars than a trained copyist could write in a lifetime. Mozart s gift and skill with instruments was also remarkable as he mastered all of them except the harp. For example, no sooner had the clarinet been invented and introduced than Mozart began playing and composing for it. \nIn addition to his many insights into Mozart s music, Johnson also challenges the many myths that have followed Mozart, including those about the composer s health, wealth, religion, and relationships. Always engaging, Johnson offers readers and music lovers a superb examination of Mozart an.