K. 9, Violin Sonata in G

K. 9, Violin Sonata in G

K. 9 as a whole remains consistent with the happy, sad, reminiscent three-movement format.  I found the Andante movement had a couple hints of darkness that I had yet to hear from his early works. 

To finish off these four violin sonatas(6-9), I’d like to comment about attention-seeking.  Leopold toured the continent seeking glory.  Glory as a great music teacher, father, and maybe even a man of superior genetics for having produced such a prodigy.  Mozart wanted attention from his father, which meant gaining recognition from his audience.  I’ll bet his father ate up Mozart’s cuddling with queens.  (I wonder how his mother felt.) 

Today, we have gobs of people trying to gain such attention.  They do this in three ways, often using facebook, youtube, blogs, etc. for catalysts.  

Quantity of attentions.  With this method, people strive to gain fame simply by doing the same things over and over again until someone notices.  Like a child at a toy store, shouting, ‘please, please, please, please, please…’  Large ad campaigns are ultimately devoted to this type of attention.  Leopold wanted as many people as possible to hear young Mozart.

Controversy of attentions.  Those of this persuasion, spill out provocative comments or actions.  History has produced numerous poignant satires, and such, that have knocked attentions into readers.  However, controversy can be a St. Bernard puppy.  You just don’t realize how much of a pain it will be until it grows up.  Today people who use this strategy are constantly trying to one up each other.  Eventually, hearers become desensitized, leading the emotionally unsure to dysfunctional means of attention mongering.  Mozart’s age alone may have been enough to stir controversy: add blindfolds, covered keys, and other challenges… Mass hullabaloo.

Quality of attentions.  Clearly, Mozart produced quality.  Unfortunately, most often, quality is not enough to gain lasting attention.  It needs the accompaniment of the other two.  Produce a quantity of quality, or a work of provocative quality. 

Have all three and who knows what could happen? (Still doesn’t guarantee any particular outcome).

In addition, quality is subjective.  I watch stuff critics think is profound, and say, ‘This is trash,’ (not that I’m an expert on quality).  The fact is, one doesn’t even need quality output to gain a broad set of attentions. (reality TV, *cough)  However, if one desires to create a lasting, difference-making fame, he or she must have all three.  If Mozart had only written Eine Kleine Nactmusick, would he be as admired as he is today?  What if his life had been ‘normal’ and his music unmoving?  Or what if he solely produced the works of his youth, never having matured his voice?

Getting attention is easy.  For example, I could drive my car through the local grocery store with a sign that declares why I want to be noticed.  Gaining the recognition I want without making myself sick from shameless self-promotion, however...

I'll end with this poem I find interesting:

Behold, our look-at-me culture

A girl fears to ask 

For the approval she seeks 

Their voices loom loud

If only one would hear

~Caveat Ties