Why Mozart Rocks So Hard. Artistic Genius Explained by Leon Botstein

In this segment from his Floating University lecture, Leon Botstein, President of Bard College, explores what makes an artist good.

[jackjack]

Mozart didn't always gave lessons just to earn money. When he heard 8 year old J N Hummel play, he was so impressed he offered to teach Hummel while having Hummel living in his house for free. J N Hummel had lessons from Mozart for 2 years, a valuable experience that made him the great pianist composer of the Romantic Age, who later inspired Chopin, Schumann and many others

[elmohead]

That was a severe understatement of Mozart's genius.

[unclespeller]

Perhaps the most frustrating video on YouTube. He could have let us hear the two versions. The red, corrected version at 2:44 is readable, but the five staves of black above appear to have an additional bass line, and the layout is not nearly as readable.

[jazzydrums]

Yea he needs way more than two minutes to concrete a point

[mostrolopo]

I love the video, but PLEASE, try to expand on WHY is it that Mozart's music is considered a much higher quality work of art. Or is it something that it is impossible to describe, yet the consensus of ages and cultures prooves that Mozart's music was great?
Thank you for these videos and for your time and help.

[acevaptsarov]

Any idea where we can see those two examples? Also, it would be amazing to see the notes from Mozart's lessons!

[mattdivoooo]

Can we talk about what audio was playing during the intro. Loved that.

[jaydotdiver]

Guess that's why the University is floating.

[MrAmritasya]

Title should be "Mozart rocks hard. Genius appreciated by Leon Botstein"

[angusmcmillan]

That story about Attwood and Mozart is well known, nothing wrong with the way the guy tells it but the title given to the video is ridiculous clickbait!

[MeiZu]

Fascinating!! I love so much Mozart ❤️ compositions, he is my favorite!!

[MrFpam]

In this very brief example he is not trying to prove that Mozart is the greatest musician of all time. He is simply showing that even somebody who knows little about music can detect the difference between good and excellent, or between talent and genius. It was a very simple piece so you can't expect too much from it!

[sirdelrio]

A harmonization exercise. Soooo revolutionary. It's not like that is what is done in every single music school. What a hack.

[CrowdPleeza]

I think many people who are considered geniuses or highly skilled at something are doing something that's a natural fit for them.

I think many people are geniuses. It's just a matter of applying your genius to the right things for you.

[johnkiunke]

Wait, none of Attwood's music survives, but it's competent?

[JaredChJared]

Wait so what was the difference then? You built up to the answer to the question in the title but failed to actually answer it!! I've been begging for evidence and technical explanation of why the compositions of Mozart were more "genius" than the rest of ours. I don't believe they were!

[schowers]

i just watched a crappy video that was a very disappointing.

[SashaFilmsUnlimited]

I very much liked the video but it still hasn't proven to me that Mozart is the greatest musician of all time. If I could hear the first piece and the Mozart version, I would probably be convinced

[mtv]

Bach is the greatest musical genius on top of Mozart and Beethoven!