Mozart: A Life in Letters: A Life in Letters
Page 18
I’ll write at greater length in my next letter. Could I now ask you to look out the 2 Litanies de Venerabili, or Holy Sacrament, that are performed at the Hours. One is by me and is in D – the score will be with it, the more recent one starts with a violin and bass staccato – you know the one, the 2nd violin has nothing but triplets in the Agnus Dei. Then Wolfgang’s great Litany.4 The score is with it, bound in blue paper. NB: make sure that all the parts are there, as these 2 Litanies will be performed here during the Hours on New Year’s Day. They must be handed in at the post on Saturday evening as the mail coach leaves on Sunday. The address needs to be written on it: À Monsieur Jean Nepomuc de Pernat chanoine e grand Custos de Notre Dame à Munic
We kiss you many 1000 times and send everyone our best wishes.
I am your old
Mzt
44. Leopold Mozart to his wife, 28 December 1774, Munich
On the evening of Holy Innocents’ Day,
as the post leaves tomorrow at noon.
Happy New Year!
On the very day that you were with His Excellency Count Saurau, 1 the first rehearsal of Wolfg.’s opera was held at 10 in the morning. People liked it so much that it has been postponed until 5 January 1775 so that the singers are more familiar with their parts and, having the music more securely in their heads, may act with greater confidence so as not to ruin the opera, which would have been an overhasty affair if we’d had to have it ready by 29 Decemb. In short, the music proved amazingly successful and will be performed, therefore, on 5 January. All now depends on the production, which I hope will go well as the performers are by no means ill disposed towards us. So it was a good time to inform His Excellency Count Saurau of our journey. I’m happy with that. I’m fully prepared to believe that they are all perfectly polite – that, after all, is their policy, but they suspect all manner of things. You or Nannerl must go to Herr Hagenauer and ask him to give her a letter of credit for me to one of his agents. For even if we receive a present straightaway, it’s often delayed and you can’t wait for it, indeed sometimes it’s not sent until later, and I can’t rely on this as everything here is slow and often confused. You need only inform Herr Joseph and give him my best wishes. I’ve some Spanish tobacco in a tin. Nannerl can fill a small snuffbox with it and bring it with her, as my Spanish tobacco is running out. There’s an oval pinchbeck tin in Wolfg.’s drawers, that’ll do. I again urge Nannerl to wear a man’s good fur coat and wrap her feet in straw.
Wolfg. has had to stay indoors for 6days with a swollen face. His cheeks were swollen both inside and outside, as was his right eye, for 2days he could eat only broth. So you need to protect your face and ears as you’ll be driving into the wind and it cuts into your face the whole time in a half-open coach. And if you get into the coach without having warmed your feet first, you’ll not be able to get them warm again for the rest of the day. I expect she’ll get in at Herr Gschwendtner’s, 2 so her fur boots should be taken there the day before and hung by the stove so that they’re warmed through and through and not put on until she’s ready to leave. I expect Nannerl will take some money with her for emergencies. If anything else occurs to me, you’ll hear from me on Monday before she leaves, otherwise I can’t think of anything else. Farewell, we kiss you both. Best wishes, I am your old
Mozart
[ Wolfgang’s postscript to Nannerl ]
My dearest sister,
Please don’t forget to keep your promise before you leave and call on you know who – – – –I have my reasons. Please give them my best wishes – – – but in the most emphatic and most tender way – – – and – – oh, I don’t need to worry, I know my sister, tenderness is second nature to her; I know she’ll do her utmost to give me this pleasure, and from self-interest too – – –abit malicious – – – we’ll argue over this in Munich. Farewell.
[ Leopold Mozart’s postscript ]
Nannerl also needs to know where she’s going. She must write out the following on a slip of paper and give it to Herr Gschwendtner or keep it about herself:
When you drive up through the Thal, through the arch, on to the main square, you keep close to the arches on your left, and once you’ve passed the narrow passageway at the end of which you can see the Rindermarkt, it’s the 5th house along from the passageway. In the middle of this house, which is painted white, is a small round painting of St Francis Xavier, and right at the top, on the 4th floor, is a statue of Our Lady. Frau von Durst is on the third floor. We’ll be there from just after 2 until half past.
NB: It’s the 5th house once you’ve passed the passageway through which you can see St Peter’s on the Rindermarkt, it’s called the Spatzenreuther House on the square.3 I think I’ve explained it sufficiently clearly.
45. Mozart to his mother, 14 January 1775, Munich
Praise be to God! My opera was staged yesterday, the 13th, and it turned out so well that I can’t begin to describe the noise to Mama. First, the whole theatre was so packed that many people had to be turned away. After every aria there was invariably a tremendous din, with clapping and shouts of viva Maestro. Her Highness the Electress and the Dowager Electress1 – who were opposite me – also said bravo to me. Once the opera was over, during the time when people are normally quiet until the ballet begins, there was nothing but clapping and shouts of bravo; as soon as it stopped, it started up again, and so on. Afterwards I went with Papa to a particular room through which the elector and the whole court have to pass and kissed the hands of the elector and electress and their majesties, all of whom were very kind. First thing this morning His Grace the bishop of Chiemsee2 sent word, congratulating me on the fact that the opera had turned out so well. As for our return home, this won’t be happening so soon, and Mama must not wish it otherwise, for she knows how good it is to breathe freely3 – – – – we’ll be back soon enough. One good and necessary reason is that the opera will be given again next Friday and I’m very much needed at the performance – – otherwise people won’t recognize the piece – for very strange things happen here. I kiss Mama’s hands 1000 times. Best wishes to all our good friends. My compliments to Monsieur Antretter, I hope he’ll forgive me for not yet having replied to him, but I simply haven’t had the time. I’ll do so very soon. Adieu. 1000 kisses to Pimperl.4
[ Leopold Mozart’s postscript ]
You must have received 2 letters from me and one from Nannerl. I still don’t know how Nannerl will get back and whether she can travel with Frau von Robinig; perhaps she’ll return with us. Farewell. We kiss you many 1, 000, 000 times. I am your old
Mozart
I’ve received all your letters.
Best wishes to everyone.
46. Leopold Mozart to his wife, 18 January 1775, Munich
That the opera has been an all-round success you’ll have gathered from my last letter and from others that have arrived in Salzb. and you’ll soon be hearing it from Herr Gschwendtner even if you haven’t already done so. Just imagine how embarrassed His Grace was on hearing the opera praised by the whole of the elector’s family and the entire aristocracy and on receiving their most solemn congratulations.1 He was so embarrassed that he could answer only by nodding his head and shrugging his shoulders. We still haven’t spoken to him, as he’s fully occupied receiving the good wishes of the nobility. He arrived at half past 6 in the evening, just as the main opera was starting, and went and sat in the elector’s box. It would take too long to describe the remaining ceremonies. The archbishop won’t be hearing Wolfg.’s opera buffa, as all the other days are taken and so it can be given only on a Friday, except that it can’t be this Friday as it’s the anniversary of the death of the emperor of Bavaria.2 And who knows if it can be performed on the following Friday, the 27th, as the second soprano is very ill. I’m sorry that so many people have come from Salzburg more or less in vain, but at least they’ve seen the main opera. How amazed I was to see Herr von Antretter entering our building, and when I went to Albert’s3 in the evening, he
took us upstairs to a room where to my amazement I found Waberl Eberlin, 4 who had arrived only after the archbishop, in other words, only when the main opera was nearly over, as their rear axle had broken outside Munich. Neither you nor Nannerl had mentioned that Herr Gschwendtner was no longer able to bring her up here, but how shall I get her back without incurring considerable expense? – – – I’ve already read here the printed news about the masked balls in Salzb.
It’s not bad, I just hope they make lots of money.
Farewell, be patient, keep the rooms well locked, best wishes to Fräulein Mitzerl5 and everyone else etc. etc. We still don’t know if the archbishop will leave the day after tomorrow or next Tuesday. Addio. We kiss you many 1, 000, 000 times. I am your old
Mozart
[ Mozart’s postscript to Nannerl ]
My dear sister,
How can I help it if it’s just struck a quarter past 7?––– Papa’s not to blame either – – Mama will hear more from my sister. This isn’t a good time to travel as the archbishop isn’t staying here for long – – it’s even being said that he’ll stay until he leaves. – – I’m only sorry that he won’t see the first masked ball. Best wishes to Baron Zemen and all our good friends. I kiss Mama’s hands. Farewell. I’ll fetch you in a moment. Your faithful
Franz of the Nosebleed
Milan, 5 May 1756
[ Leopold Mozart’s postscript ] Tell Frau Moshammer, who’s living with us, that Baron Gienger, about whom she enquired, was dismissed as a pageboy a year ago and is presumably now in Innsbruck. I think there’ll be a big concert in the Kaisersaal on Saturday and so the archbishop will presumably be staying on until Monday or Tuesday.
47. Leopold Mozart to his wife, 15 February 1775, Munich
Herr von Antretter1 has now really bought the cornet post in Prince Taxis’s Cuirassier Regiment. His father will have received the news this morning, he’ll soon be having his uniform made and presumably will be travelling back to Salzb. with us. All 3 of us are well, thank God. I’ll be glad when this carnival is over, I expect we’ll be returning home on Ash Wednesday. Herr von Moser is here, also Count Joseph von Überacker, 2 I knew they’d come. Herr von Moser arrived on Monday, Überacker at midday on Tuesday. I gathered from a letter from the Guards Lieutenant3that you’re not going out much, as he asked me in his letter to give you his best wishes, evidently in the belief that you’re here with us in Munich. But you should at least go to the ball, even if only once, and see how magnificent it is. Herr von Moser, Count Überacker and the 3 of us met yesterday at the masked ball in the Kiehmgarten. Last Sunday a short mass4 by Wolfg. was performed in the court chapel, and I conducted. Another will be performed this Sunday. We had some amazing April weather yesterday, now fine, now rain. And at 1 o’clock there was a fire alarm. Fire was coming out of the chimney and had already spread but was immediately put out by the crowd of people that gathered. We’re not going to the masked ball today as we have to rest; it’s the first one that we’ve missed. Yesterday Nannerl went dressed as an Amazon, which really suited her. All this is being written up every day, so it will all be read to you. Farewell, we kiss you all many 100, 000 times and send everyone our best wishes. I am your old
Mozart
Frau von Durst, Herr von Belval, Herr Pernat, Herr Dufraisne etc. have been pestering us to send you their best wishes.
Don’t tell anyone about the letter from the Guards Lieutenant as he wrote to me about Lene in secret through Überacker. He also told me that Fischietti5 is putting it about that he’ll be taking up an appointment in Naples at the end of March. If he’s to go there in style and if we’re to believe him, he’ll have to compose something first.
The family arrived backin Salzburg on 7 March. On 23 April, Mozart’s serenata Il re pastore was performed to celebrate the visit to Salzburg of Archduke Maximilian Franz and in August the serenade K204 may have been given as part of the annual graduation ceremonies at the Salzburg Benedictine University. In early 1776 a performance of Tobias Philipp von Gebler’s tragedy Thamos, König in Ägypten by Karl Wahr’s company may have included incidental music by Mozart (K345). His litany K243 was performed on Palm Sunday, 31 March, and in June he composed the divertimento K247 to celebrate the name day of Antonia Maria, Countess Lodron. In July he composed the serenade K250 for the wedding festivities of Elisabeth Haffner and Franz Xaver Anton Späth.
48. Mozart to Padre Giovanni Battista Martini, 4 September 1776, Salzburg 1
Most Reverend Padre Maestro,
My Most Esteemed Patron,
The veneration, esteem and respect that I bear towards your most distinguished person have impelled me to importune you with the present letter and to send you a feeble Piece of my Music, which I submit to your magisterial Judgement. For last year’s carnival in Munich in Bavaria, I wrote an opera buffa, La finta giardiniera. A few days before I left, His Excellency the Elector asked to hear some of my contrapuntal music: and so I was obliged to write this motet2 in some haste in order to leave time to have the score copied for His Highness and the parts to be extracted from it so that it could be performed the following Sunday during the offertory at High Mass. Dearest and most esteemed Sgr Padre Maestro! You are fervently entreated to tell me frankly and without reserve what you think of it. We live in this world in order that we may always learn industriously, and by means of rational discussion enlighten each other and strive to promote the sciences and the fine arts. Oh, how many times I have longed to be nearer you in order to speak to you, Most Reverend Father, and discuss these matters with you. I live in a country where Music suffers a most wretched fate, even though, apart from those who have left us, we still have some excellent teachers and, in particular, composers of great knowledge, wisdom and taste. As for the theatre, we are in a bad way as a result of the lack of singers. We have no musici, and we shall not get them so easily because they want to be well paid: and generosity is not one of our failings. Meanwhile I am amusing myself by writing for the chamber and the church: and we have two of the finest contrapuntalists here, namely, Sgr Haydn and Sgr Adlgasser. My father is in charge of music at the cathedral, which gives me an opportunity to write music for the church whenever I want to. My father has been in the service of this court for 36 years and, knowing that the present archbishop is neither able nor willing to tolerate people of an advanced age, he no longer puts his whole heart into it but has taken an interest in literature, which was always his favourite study. Our church music is very different from that in Italy in that a complete mass, including the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Epistle sonata, Offertory or motet, Sanctus and Agnus Dei – and even the most solemn Mass said by the Prince himself – must not last longer than 3 quarters of an hour.3 A special study of this kind of composition is necessary. And yet such a mass must have all the instruments – trombe di guerra, timpani etc. Oh, if only we were less far apart, my dearest Sgr Padre Maestro! How many things I’d have to tell you! – – Please give my humble good wishes to the Signori Filarmonici: I commend myself to you and never cease to grieve that I am so remote from the one person in the world whom I love, revere and esteem more than any other. I am
My Reverend Father’s
Most Humble and Devoted Servant,
Wolfgango Amadeo Mozart
If you would be so kind as to write to me, please send your letter via Trento to Salzburg.
Little is known of Mozart’s activities in early 1777; his most significant workof the time was the keyboard concerto K271. But it is clear that both Wolfgang and his father found their situation in Salzburg increasingly intolerable, and in the summer Mozart asked to be released from the archbishop’s service.
49. Mozart’s petition to Archbishop Colloredo, 1 August 1777, Salzburg
Your Grace,
Most Worthy Prince of the Holy Roman Empire,
Most Merciful Prince of the Realm
and
Lord!
I shall not presume to importune Your Grace with a detailed account of our sad c
ircumstances, which my father most meekly set forth in the most humble petition that he submitted on 14 March1 and which he swears by his honour and his conscience contains nothing but the truth. But the favourable decision that he hoped that Your Grace would reach was not taken, and so my father would have asked Your Grace most humbly in June to allow us most graciously to travel for several months in order for us to make ends meet, had Your Grace not given his most gracious instructions that the orchestra should prepare for the imminent visit by His Majesty the Emperor.2 My father afterwards asked most humbly for this permission; but Your Grace refused his request, while most graciously allowing me myself, part-time servant as I am, to travel alone. Our situation is pressing, and so my father has decided to send me away on my own. Yet even here Your Grace has been gracious enough to raise a number of objections. Most Gracious Prince of the Realm and Lord! Parents strive to place their children in a position in which they can earn their own livelihood: they owe this to their own interest and to that of the state. The greater the talents that the children have received from God, the more they are obliged to make use of them in order to improve their own and their parents’ circumstances, to assist their parents and see to their own advancement and look to the future in general. The Gospel tells us to use our talents in this way. And so I believe in my conscience and in the sight of God that I owe it to my father, who has devoted his time untiringly to my education, to show him my gratitude as best I can, to lighten his burden and look after myself and also my sister, for I should be sorry to think that she has spent so many hours at the harpsichord without being able to put it to any profitable use.