Salzburg Blog- Mateo

Salzburg was a city that reminded me of Leavenworth. Its large tourist industry was apparent in the Mozart museums, candy stores, and cardboard cutouts on the sidewalks, as well as the abundance of Sound of Music memorabilia in its souvenir shops. As someone who much prefers a culturally immersive approach over a touristic one when traveling, I did not have much use for the kitsch-y Mozart souvenir stores or Sound of Music factoids. However, the tourist industry in Salzburg is a crucial part of its economy, and I thoroughly enjoyed the Mozart concerts. Though some pieces felt homogenous, I discovered new symphonies and pieces by the composer that I now listen to on a regular basis. Mozart certainly was a genius.

My favorite piece performed was Mozart’s Symphony No. 25 in G minor. The returning theme is reminiscent of modern pop songs in its catchy, simple form, but interwoven with more classical Mozart-isms; while written in G minor, the repeating B section is overall in a major key, only shifting into a minor variation near the end of the piece. This variation is extremely powerful; while the former B section begins happily, there is an ominous undertone that creates a sense of uneasiness behind the joyous facade. Arguably, this piece foreshadows the Romantic era in its strong contrast of emotions and minor themes. The required balance of phrasing here creates a sense of constriction and that perhaps Mozart was unable to break free of it to develop further musical meanings. To me, this music tells the story of someone trapped in the musical and societal forms deemed acceptable. There were many ways in which Mozart was unconventional and pushed norms, but his music was crafted to be popular and adhered to forms and standards of the time.