To celebrate my 300th entry for this blog, I want to talk a bit about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
The BBC Music Magazine had a large spread about Herr Mozart and his marvelous music a few months ago. They also had some myths to squash and some new ideas to try. I know that many of you do not have access to this remarkable magazine (and I highly recommend it!) so, I'll list some of their findings.. I don't think they will mind.
Mozart Myths (outlined by Wordsmith Misha Donat)
1. He died in a pauper's grave.
Not so. He was buried in an unmarked 'simple' grave like other members of Vienna's middle class.
2. He had Tourette's Syndrome.
Not so. His scatological letters would seem to indicate that, but such talk was common in middle class Vienna.
3. He died rehearsing the Requiem.
Not so. The last rehearsal sing-through happened earlier.
4. Salieri poisoned him.
Probably not. Even though his wife said the dying and delirious Mozart mentioned it. She didn't believe it.
5. He wrote Symphonies No. 39 to 41 as a testament to himself for posterity.
Don't think so. He was a pro, not an egoist.
6. As a teen, he wrote out Allegri's Miserere after one hearing.
Probably not. But he could have.
7. He threw dice to trigger musical ideas.
No evidence of this, although he might have used alphabetization on parts of his music.
8. Mozart increases your intelligence.
No. BBC reports.. but I believe it. Look what it's done for me. (Hmmm) I didn't get admitted to Mensa until I had become a fan of Mozart's music.
9. He wore brightly colored wigs.
No. He rarely wore wigs, in spite of what is shown in the movie, AMADEUS.
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BBC's Unusual Uses for Mozart (Wonderfully written by By Jeremy Pound)
1. Making Wine
A Tuscany wine-maker pipes Magic Flute music over his vines and makes a special wine called Flauto Magico.
2, Stopping Student Drunkenness
Officials at Pittsburgh University pipe Eine Kleine Nachtmusik throughout the campus from 10 pm to 2 am. They claim that it reduces drunken activity.
3. Making clearer water
A doctor of alternative medicine claims that water that has had Mozart music played at it produces nice clear crystals when frozen.
4. Making Contented Cows
A Spanish dairy farmer plays Mozart's Concerto for Flute and Harp to his 700 cows and they reward him with an extra six liters of milk each.
5. Making Tastier Eggs
In 2003, Mannheim Mozart Festival organizers played Mozart music for 14 days to 3,000 hens. Production didn't rise much, but everybody said the eggs were very tasty.
6. Calming down Dogs
"It's quieter in the kennels now," say the keepers.
7. Trying to get sharks horny
They played Eine Kleine Nachtmusik to a shark.. didn't work.
8. Increase smartness of rats
Mozart music made them move more quickly, but rock music made them slow down.
9. Sportier Greeks
A trainer subjected his Greek athletes to Mozart music before each workout, and four months later the team won six gold medals.
10. Get rid of obnoxious young people
In London, lots of wise guys were hanging around the Metro and making trouble, so Mozart music was piped out to them. They immediately left and didn't return.
11. Fattening Premature Babies
Playing Mozart melodies to premies in Israel, it has been found that they get bigger sooner and are able to go home earlier than would be expected before.
12. Fattening Fish
Bream in Athens grow more rapidly when exposed to Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.
13. Making ham tastier.
Pigs get a little Mozart at night, it calms them down, they sleep better, they wake up refreshed... they dash off to piggy heaven, and the honey ham is delicious.
14. Dissolving sewage more quickly
Berlin sewage workers say the Magic Flute music stimulates microbes to do a better job in breaking down waste.
15. Making plants photosynthesize more quickly?
A 2001 paper from Trinity University, Texas, made this assertion. However, the paper researchers were listed as B. Spears, J. Brahms, and W.J. Clinton.
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Don't forget to try Mozartkugeln!
Paul Fjuerst introduced his Mozartbonbon in 1890. Mozart Balls are marvelously delicious... a pistachio marzipan center wrapped in nougat and dipped in chocolate.... ummmmmm! Go to Salzburg for the best ones.. their birthplace. Also, if you are adventurous you might try Bachwuerfel (Bach Cubes).. square coffee and nut truffles... also delicious.
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