M: Mozart and the Beauty of Simple Things

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) has gone down in musical history as a master composer, an art that he took up at the tender age of five. His greatest claim to fame, however, is that he was a “Master of Melody.” His melodies are simple, clear, and stunningly beautiful. Mozart knew better than to overcomplicate his music, and understood that there is powerful beauty in simplicity.

If you’ve ever caught yourself humming the tune to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, then you’ve encountered the power of a simple melody.   His twelve variations on this old children’s song, Ah vous dirai-je, Maman (K. 265/300e), is a perfect example of the masterful way Mozart could take something utterly simple and transform it into something absolutely exquisite.

Here is a video, so you can hear this for yourself:

12 Variations on Ah vous dirai-je, Maman – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

What can we learn from all this? That as artists, we can stop beating ourselves up for not coming up with something impressive enough to make the world stop and take notice. If we can help others see the beauty of life’s most simple things, then we can make a powerful difference in the world.

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Photo Credit:  Mozart at Melk Abbey,  Saverio dalla Rosa  (Public Domain)

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This post was submitted as part of the A to Z Challenge, where participants agree to write an article that corresponds to each letter of the alphabet, posting every day of the month of April (except Sundays).

Here on The Artistic Christian,  my theme for the month is The Classics.  Each day I’ll examine a book, film, or work of art that has become a beloved classic and discuss what has made it such a success, and what eternal themes it contains that Christian artists can use as modern illustrations.

For daily reflections from my personal travels around the world, check out my companion blog, Everyday Musings, where my theme for April is Reflections From Around the World.