This is a biography of Leopold Mozart, who was the father of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Leopold was a composer, violinist, and writer on music. He received his education from the Jesuits in Augsburg and was expelled from the Benedictine University in Salzburg for excessive absences. He took up a post as a house musician in Salzburg and published his first compositions during this time. Leopold was appointed as a violinist to the Salzburg court chapel in 1743 and later became Vice-Kapellmeister. His two surviving children, Maria Anna and Wolfgang Amadeus, were born in 1751 and 1756, respectively. Leopold published his famous treatise, Versuch einer Gründlichen Violinschule, in 1756, which was widely used in the second half of the 18th century. After 1760, Leopold devoted much of his energy to his children's musical education and took them on tours of major musical centers throughout Europe. While criticized for exploiting his children, Leopold believed it was his mission to reveal their talent to the world. Leopold composed many sacred works, symphonies, serenades, divertimentos, concertos, chamber, and keyboard music. He made his last trip to Vienna in 1785 where he was partially satisfied with Wolfgang's success before he died.
