About A Mozart Melody

A Mozart Melody is a free, browser-based rhythm game built on one of the most instantly recognizable pieces in all of classical music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Eine kleine Nachtmusik." Its German title means "a little night music," and the work — officially Serenade No. 13 in G major, K. 525 — was completed in Vienna on August 10, 1787. In this game, Mozart's bright, energetic opening melody moves toward you, and you play it note by note, feeling the elegant, joyful spirit of the Classical style.

The piece is a perfect example of a serenade: light, graceful music written for pleasant entertainment, originally for a small string ensemble of two violins, viola, cello, and double bass. Its clear melodies and tidy structure make it a wonderful piece for learning timing, phrasing, and the feel of Classical music — ideal for music students, string and orchestra players, and anyone who loves Mozart.

Three difficulty levels

• Beginner — the melody is thinned to its essential notes at a relaxed tempo, perfect for learning the tune.
• Intermediate — more of the melodic line is filled in at a moderate pace.
• Expert — the fuller, faster melody for advanced players.

How to play

Notes fall in four lanes mapped to the D, F, J, and K keys, or tap the lanes on a touchscreen. Press each lane's key as its note reaches the strike line — long glowing notes are holds you sustain. Accurate hits build your combo and score, and you can save a shareable score card to challenge friends.

Did you know? — Mozart & his little night music

• The title comes from a casual entry in Mozart's own personal catalog, where he simply jotted down "Eine kleine Nacht-Musik" — really just noting he'd finished "a little serenade," not giving it a grand title.
• Mozart wrote it in 1787 while he was working on his great opera Don Giovanni.
• It wasn't published until around 1827 — about 36 years after Mozart's death; his widow Constanze sold the manuscript as part of a bundle of his works.
• The serenade was originally meant to have five movements, but one of the minuets has been lost and has never been found.
• The "K." in its catalog number (K. 525) stands for Köchel, the man who catalogued all of Mozart's works in order.
• It famously features in the Oscar-winning 1984 film Amadeus — and its title inspired Stephen Sondheim's musical "A Little Night Music."