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Why wasn't Mozart employed more by the aristocracy to compose music?

a) He had a bad reputation
b) He refused to work for them
c) He was too expensive
d) Competition from other composers

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

Mozart's lesser employment by the aristocracy was likely due to his desire for artistic freedom, his personality, and an evolving cultural landscape with a burgeoning middle class affecting traditional patronage systems, as well as competition from other composers.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is why was Mozart not employed more by the aristocracy to compose music. None of the provided options directly address Mozart's situation. However, historically, we know that Mozart did struggle to retain positions with the aristocracy during his lifetime.

Unlike his contemporaries, Mozart sought a certain independence and was occasionally perceived as difficult due to his insistence on artistic freedom and, occasionally, his abrasive personality. This, combined with a change in social dynamics and the rise of a bourgeoisie class, which challenged the traditional aristocratic patronage system, may have affected his employment opportunities. At the same time, competition from other composers and changing tastes in music also played a role.

Classical composers in Mozart's era often relied on the patronage of the aristocracy, but the cultural landscape was shifting. The emerging middle class began to shape the demand for music, affecting how and for whom composers worked. The invention of the Gutenberg press increased demand for music, broadening the audience and potentially diluting the exclusivity that aristocratic patrons sought.

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