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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/5307-h.zip b/5307-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d6df039 --- /dev/null +++ b/5307-h.zip diff --git a/5307-h/5307-h.htm b/5307-h/5307-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..094e3f6 --- /dev/null +++ b/5307-h/5307-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9236 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. (1769-1791.), by Wolfgang Amadeus + Mozart + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + .side { float: right; font-size: 75%; width: 25%; padding-left: 0.8em; + border-left: dashed thin; margin-left: 0.8em; text-align: left; + text-indent: 0; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; + font-weight: bold; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: solid 1px;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, +Vol. 1, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Vol. 1 + +Author: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart + +Translator: Lady Wallace + + +Release Date: March, 2004 [EBook #5307] +This file was first posted on June 27, 2002 +Last Updated: June 24, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LETTERS OF WOLFGANG *** + + + + +Text file produced by John Mamoun, Charles Franks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + +HTML file produced by David Widger + + + + +</pre> + + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + THE LETTERS OF WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART. (1769-1791.) + </h1> + <h3> + In Two Volumes. Vol. I. + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h4> + Translated, From The Collection Of Ludwig Nohl, By Lady Wallace <br /> + <br /> With A Portrait And Facsimile <br /> <br /> New York and Philadelphia: + 1866. + </h4> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + <b>CONTENTS</b> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_PREF"> PREFACE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> FIRST PART—ITALY, VIENNA, MUNICH.—1770 + TO 1776. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> SECOND PART.—MUNICH, AUGSBURG, MANNHEIM.—SEPTEMBER + 1771 TO MARCH 1778. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> THIRD PART.—PARIS.—MARCH 1778 TO + JANUARY 1779. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> FOURTH PART.—MUNICH.—IDOMENEO.—NOVEMBER + 1780 TO JANUARY 1781. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_CONT"> CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. [LETTERS LISTED BY DATE] + </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_PREF" id="link2H_PREF"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PREFACE + </h2> + <p> + A full and authentic edition of Mozart's Letters ought to require no + special apology; for, though their essential substance has already been + made known by quotations from biographies by Nissen, Jahn, and myself, + taken from the originals, still in these three works the letters are + necessarily not only very imperfectly given, but in some parts so + fragmentary, that the peculiar charm of this correspondence—namely, + the familiar and confidential mood in which it was written at the time—is + entirely destroyed. It was only possible to restore, and to enable others + to enjoy this charm—a charm so novel, even to those already + conversant with Mozart's life, that the most familiar incidents acquire + fresh zest from it—by an ungarbled edition of these letters. This is + what I now offer, feeling convinced that it will be welcome not only to + the mass of Mozart's admirers, but also to professional musicians; for in + them alone is strikingly set forth how Mozart lived and labored, enjoyed + and suffered, and this with a degree of vivid and graphic reality which no + biography, however complete, could ever succeed in giving. Who does not + know the varied riches of Mozart's life? All that agitated the minds of + men in that day—nay, all that now moves, and ever will move, the + heart of man—vibrated with fresh pulsation, and under the most + manifold forms, in his sensitive soul, and mirrored itself in a series of + letters, which indeed rather resemble a journal than a correspondence. + </p> + <p> + This artist, Nature had gifted in all respects with the most clear and + vigorous intellect that ever man possessed. Even in a language which he + had not so fully mastered as to acquire the facility of giving expression + to his ideas, he contrived to relate to others all that he saw and heard, + and felt and thought, with surprising clearness and the most charming + sprightliness, combined with talent and good feeling. Above all, in his + letters to his father when travelling, we meet with the most minute + delineations of countries and people, of the progress of the fine arts, + especially in the theatres and in music; we also see the impulses of his + own heart and a hundred other things which, in fascination, and universal + as well as artistic interest, have scarcely a parallel in our literature. + The style may fail to a certain degree in polish, that is, in definite + purpose in expressing what he wished to say in an attractive or congenial + form,—an art, however, which Mozart so thoroughly understood in his + music. His mode of writing, especially in the later letters from Vienna, + is often very slovenly, evidencing how averse the Maestro was to the task. + Still these letters are manifestly the unconstrained, natural, and simple + outpourings of his heart, delightfully recalling to our minds all the + sweetness and pathos, the spirit and grace, which have a thousand times + enchanted us in the music of Mozart. The accounts of his visit to Paris + may, indeed, lay claim to a certain aesthetic value, for they are written + throughout with visible zest in his own descriptions, and also with wit, + and charm, and characteristic energy. As these combined merits can only + become apparent by an ungarbled series of the letters, I have resolved, + after many long years of zealous research in collecting them, to undertake + the work,—that is, to publish the letters entire that have come to + my knowledge. + </p> + <p> + It now only remains for me to give some words of explanation as to the + method I have pursued in editing them. + </p> + <p> + In the first place, this edition, (being transcribed closely from the + originals,) if compared with the letters already published, will prove + that the latter are open to many corrections, both in trivial and more + important respects. I have forborne, however, attracting attention to the + deviations from the original text, either in Nissen or Jahn. I have no + wish to be punctilious about trifles, where, as in the case of Jahn, the + principal points are correct. Further, by this faithful production of the + letters, (nothing being omitted but the constant repetition of forms of + greeting and subscription,) we find many an additional feature in the + Maestro's life, and chiefly various facts with regard to the creation and + publication of his works, which may serve to complete and to amend various + statements in Dr. Ludwig Ritter von Kochel's "Chronological Thematic + Catalogue of the Musical Compositions of W. A. Mozart," (Leipzig, + Breitkopf and Hartel). This will be effected not only by the hitherto + unpublished letters, though comparatively few in number, but also by + passages being given in full, which have been hitherto suppressed as of no + consequence. I have referred to Nissen and Jahn only when, in spite of all + my inquiries, I could not discover the proprietor of the original, or + procure a correct copy. + </p> + <p> + I must also remark that all letters without a special address are written + to his father. I have only adhered to Mozart's defective orthography in + his few letters of early date, and in the rest adopted the more modern + fashion. I did so for this simple reason, that these defects form a charm + in his juvenile letters, from being in accordance with their boyish + contents, while, with regard to the others, they only tend to distract the + attention from the substance of the letters, instead of imparting + additional interest to them. Biographers can, and ought always to render + faithfully the original writing, because quotations alternate with the + text of the biographer; but in a regular and uninterrupted series of + letters this attraction must be very sparingly used, or it will have a + pernicious effect. + </p> + <p> + The explanatory remarks, and also the supplementary Lexicon, in which I + have availed myself of Jahn's catalogue, will make the letters more + intelligible to the world at large. The Index, too, has been most + carefully prepared to facilitate references. + </p> + <p> + Lastly, I return my best thanks to the keeper of the Archives of the + Mozarteum in Salzburg, to Herr Jellinck, and to all the librarians and + collectors of autographs who have assisted me in my task, either by + furnishing me with copies of their Mozart letters, or by letting me know + where I could procure them. I would also earnestly request all who may + possess any Mozart letters to send me an exact transcript of them in the + interest of Art; for those here given allude to many still unknown, which + are no doubt scattered about here and there, waiting to be brought to + light. + </p> + <p> + With respect to myself, the best reward I aspire to in return for the many + sacrifices this collection has cost me, is, that my readers may do justice + to the purpose which chiefly guided me throughout this publication,—my + desire being not merely to benefit science, and to give a graphic + description of the amiability and purity of heart which so distinguished + this attractive man, (for such was my aim in my "Life of Mozart,") but + above all to draw attention afresh to the unremitting zeal with which + Mozart did homage to every advance in Art, striving to make music more and + more the interpreter of man's innermost being. I also wished to show how + much his course was impeded by the sluggishness and stupidity of the + multitude, though partly sustained by the sympathy of kindred souls, till + the glorious victory was won over routine and imbecility. Amidst all the + fatiguing process of copying and collating letters already so familiar to + me, these considerations moved me more vividly than ever; and no work on + the Maestro can ever bring them with such force before the intelligent + reader as this connected succession of letters, containing his own details + of his unwearied artistic struggles and productions. May these letters, + then, kindle fresh zeal in our artists of the present day, both in + youthful genius and in laurel-crowned Maestri!—especially may they + have the happiest influence on those who devote themselves to that phase + of Art in which Mozart attained the highest renown!—may they impart + that energetic courage which is derived from the experience that incessant + efforts for the progress of Art and its appliances enlarge the limits of + human intellect, and can alone insure an immortal crown! + </p> + <p> + LUDWIG NOHL. + </p> + <p> + MUNICH, October 1, 1864. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FIRST PART—ITALY, VIENNA, MUNICH.—1770 TO 1776. + </h2> + <p> + Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg on the 17th January, 1756. + His father, Leopold Mozart, belonged to a respectable tradesman's family + in the free city of Augsburg. Conscious of being gifted with no small + portion of intellectual endowments, he followed the impulse that led him + to aim at a higher position in life, and went to the then celebrated + University of Salzburg in order to study jurisprudence. As he did not, + however, at once succeed in procuring employment in this profession, he + was forced, from his straitened means, to enter the service of Canon Count + Thun as valet. Subsequently, however, his talents, and that thorough + knowledge of music by which he had already (according to the custom of + many students) gained some part of his livelihood, obtained for him a + better position. In the year 1743 he was received into the band (Kapelle) + of the Salzburg cathedral by Archbishop Sigismund; and as his capabilities + and fame as a violinist increased, the same Prince shortly afterwards + promoted him to the situation of Hof-Componist (Court Composer) and leader + of the orchestra, and in 1762 he was appointed Hof-Kapellmeister + (conductor of the Court music). + </p> + <p> + In 1747 Leopold Mozart married Anna Maria Pertlin, a foster-child of the + Convent of St. Gilgen. The fruits of this marriage were seven children, + two of whom alone survived,—Maria Anna, (the fourth), called + Nannerl, born in 1751; and the youngest, Wolfgang Amadeus Johannes + Chrysostomus. The daughter at a very early age displayed a most remarkable + talent for music, and when her father began to give her instructions in + it, an inborn and passionate love of this art was soon evident in her + little brother of three years old, who at once gave tokens of a degree of + genius far surpassing all experience, and really bordering on the + marvellous. In his fourth year he could play all sorts of little pieces on + the piano. He only required half an hour to learn a minuet, and one hour + for a longer movement; and in his fifth year he actually composed some + pretty short pieces, several of which are still extant. + </p> + <p> + [Footnote: The Grand Duchess Helene Paulowna, a few weeks ago, made a + present to the Mozarteum of the music-book from which Mozart learned + music, and in which he wrote down his first compositions.] + </p> + <p> + The wonderful acquirements of both these children, to which Wolfgang soon + added skilful playing on the violin and organ, induced their father to + travel with them. In January, 1702, when the boy was just six years old, + they went first to Munich, and in the autumn to Vienna, the children + everywhere on their journey exciting the greatest sensation, and being + handsomely remunerated. Leopold Mozart, therefore, soon afterwards + resolved to undertake a longer journey, accompanied by his whole family. + This lasted more than three years, extending from the smaller towns in + West Germany to Paris and London, while they visited, on their way back, + Holland, France, and Switzerland. The careful musical instruction which + the father perseveringly bestowed on his son, went hand in hand with the + most admirable education, and the boy was soon as universally beloved for + his amiable disposition and natural simplicity and candor, as admired for + his rare gifts and acquirements. + </p> + <p> + After nearly a year passed at home in unremitting musical instruction, and + practice of various instruments as well as composition, the father once + more set off with all his family to Vienna,—on this occasion with a + view to Wolfgang paving the way to Italy by the composition of an opera, + (Italy, at that time, being the Eldorado of music.) He succeeded in + procuring the scrittura of an opera buffa, "La Finta semplice;" but, when + finished, although the Emperor himself had intrusted the composition to + the boy, the cabals of envious singers effectually prevented its being + performed. But a German operetta which the lad of twelve also wrote at + that time, "Bastien und Bastienne," was given in private, at the summer + residence of the Mesmer family, in the suburb called Landstrasse. The + father, too, had some compensation by the Emperor commissioning his son to + compose a solemn mass for the consecration of the new Waisenhaus church, + which Wolfgang himself directed with the conductor's baton, in presence of + the Imperial Family, on the 7th December, 1768. + </p> + <p> + Immediately on their return home, the young virtuoso was appointed + archiepiscopal Concertmeister. He passed almost the whole of the year 1769 + in Salzburg, chiefly engaged in the composition of masses. We also see him + at that time eagerly occupied in improving his knowledge of Latin, + although two years previously he had composed a comedy in that language,—"Apollo + et Hyacinthus." From this study proceeds the first letter which is still + extant from his hand:— + </p> + <p> + <br /> 1. + </p> + <p> + Salzburg, 1769. + </p> + <p> + MY DEAR YOUNG LADY,— + </p> + <p> + I beg you will pardon the liberty I take in plaguing you with these few + lines, but as you said yesterday that there was nothing you could not + understand in Latin, and I might write what I chose in that language, I + could not resist the bold impulse to write you a few Latin lines. When you + have deciphered these, be so good as to send me the answer by one of + Hagenauer's servants, for my messenger cannot wait; remember, you must + answer this by a letter. + </p> + <p> + [Footnote: By a messenger of the Hagenauer family, in whose house, + opposite the inn of "Den drei Allurten," Mozart was born, and with whom + his family were on the most intimate terms.] + </p> + <p> + "Cuperem scire, de qua causa, a quam plurimis adolescentibus ottium usque + adeo oestimetur, ut ipsi se nec verbis, nec verberibus ad hoc sinant + abduci." + </p> + <p> + [Footnote: "I should like to know the reason why indolence is so highly + prized by very many young men, that neither by words nor blows will they + suffer themselves to be roused from it."] + </p> + <p> + WOLFGANG MOZART. + </p> + <p> + The father's plan to go to Italy, there to lay the foundation of a + European reputation for his son, was realized in the beginning of + December, 1769, and during the journey, the boy, who was at that time just + entering his fifteenth year, subjoined to his father's reports scraps of + his own writing, in which, in true boyish fashion, he had recourse to all + kinds of languages and witticisms, but always exhibiting in his opinions + on music the closest observation, the gravest thought, and the most acute + judgment. + </p> + <p> + <br />2. + </p> + <p> + Verona, Jan. 1770. + </p> + <p> + MY VERY DEAREST SISTER,— + </p> + <p> + I have at last got a letter a span long after hoping so much for an answer + that I lost patience; and I had good cause to do so before receiving yours + at last. The German blockhead having said his say, now the Italian one + begins. Lei e piu franca nella lingua italiana di quel che mi ho + immaginato. Lei mi dica la cagione perche lei non fu nella commedia che + hanno giocata i Cavalieri. Adesso sentiamo sempre una opera titolata Il + Ruggiero. Oronte, il padre di Bradamante, e un principe (il Signor Afferi) + bravo cantante, un baritono, [Footnote: "You are more versed in the + Italian language than I believed. Tell me why you were not one of the + actors in the comedy performed by the Cavaliers. We are now hearing an + opera called 'Il Ruggiero.' Oronte, the father of Bradamante, is a Prince + (acted by Afferi, a good singer, a baritone)."] but very affected when he + speaks out a falsetto, but not quite so much so as Tibaldi in Vienna. + Bradamante innamorata di Ruggiero (ma [Footnote: "Bradamante is enamored + of Ruggiero, but"]—she is to marry Leone, but will not) fa una + povera Baronessa, che ha avuto una gran disgrazia, ma non so la quale; + recita [Footnote: "Pretends to be a poor Baroness who has met with some + great misfortune, but what it is I don't know, she performs"] under an + assumed name, but the name I forget; ha una voce passabile, e la statura + non sarebbe male, ma distuona come il diavolo. Ruggiero, un ricco principe + innamorato di Bradamante, e un musico; canta un poco Manzuolisch + [Footnote: Manzuoli was a celebrated soprano, from whom Mozart had lessons + in singing when in London.] ed ha una bellissima voce forte ed e gia + vecchio; ha 55 anni, ed ha una [Footnote: "She has a tolerable voice, and + her appearance is in her favor, but she sings out of tune like a devil + Ruggiero, a rich Prince enamored of Bradamante, is a musico, and sings + rather in Manzuoli's style, and has a fine powerful voice, though quite + old; he is fifty-five, and has a"] flexible voice. Leone is to marry + Bradamante—richississimo e, [Footnote: "Immensely rich."] but + whether he is rich off the stage I can't say. La moglie di Afferi, che ha + una bellissima voce, ma e tanto susurro nel teatro che non si sente + niente. Irene fa una sorella di Lolli, del gran violinista che habbiamo + sentito a Vienna, a una [Footnote: "Afferi's wife has a most beautiful + voice, but sings so softly on the stage that you really hear nothing at + all. A sister of Lolli, the great violinist whom we heard at Vienna, acts + Irene; she has a"] very harsh voce, e canta sempre [Footnote: "Voice, and + always sings"] a quaver too tardi o troppo a buon' ora. Granno fa un + signore, che non so come si chiame; e la prima volta che lui recita. + [Footnote: "Slow or too fast. Ganno is acted by a gentleman whose name I + never heard. It is his first appearance on the stage."] There is a ballet + between each act. We have a good dancer here called Roessler. He is a + German, and dances right well. The very last time we were at the opera + (but not, I hope, the very last time we ever shall be there) we got M. + Roessler to come up to our palco, (for M. Carlotti gives us his box, of + which we have the key,) and conversed with him. Apropos, every one is now + in maschera, and one great convenience is, that if you fasten your mask on + your hat you have the privilege of not taking off your hat when any one + speaks to you; and you never address them by name, but always as + "Servitore umilissimo, Signora Maschera." Cospetto di Bacco! that is fun! + The most strange of all is that we go to bed at half-past seven! Se lei + indovinasse questo, io diro certamente che lei sia la madre di tutti gli + indovini. [Footnote: "If you guess this, I shall say that you are the + mother of all guessers."] Kiss mamma's hand for me, and to yourself I send + a thousand kisses, and assure you that I shall always be your affectionate + brother. + </p> + <p> + Portez-vous bien, et aimez-moi toujours. + </p> + <p> + <br />3. + </p> + <p> + Milan, Jan. 26, 1770. + </p> + <p> + I REJOICE in my heart that you were so well amused at the sledging party + you write to me about, and I wish you a thousand opportunities of + pleasure, so that you may pass your life merrily. But one thing vexes me, + which is, that you allowed Herr von Molk [an admirer of this pretty young + girl of eighteen] to sigh and sentimentalize, and that you did not go with + him in his sledge, that he might have upset you. What a lot of + pocket-handkerchiefs he must have used that day to dry the tears he shed + for you! He no doubt, too, swallowed at least three ounces of cream of + tartar to drive away the horrid evil humors in his body. I know nothing + new except that Herr Gellert, the Leipzig poet, [Footnote: Old Mozart + prized Gellert's poems so highly, that on one occasion he wrote to him + expressing his admiration.] is dead, and has written no more poetry since + his death. Just before beginning this letter I composed an air from the + "Demetrio" of Metastasio, which begins thus, "Misero tu non sei." + </p> + <p> + The opera at Mantua was very good. They gave "Demetrio." The prima donna + sings well, but is inanimate, and if you did not see her acting, but only + singing, you might suppose she was not singing at all, for she can't open + her mouth, and whines out everything; but this is nothing new to us. The + seconda donna looks like a grenadier, and has a very powerful voice; she + really does not sing badly, considering that this is her first appearance. + Il primo uomo, il musico, sings beautifully, but his voice is uneven; his + name is Caselli. Il secondo uomo is quite old, and does not at all please + me. The tenor's name is Ottini; he does not sing unpleasingly, but with + effort, like all Italian tenors. We know him very well. The name of the + second I don't know; he is still young, but nothing at all remarkable. + Primo ballerino good; prima ballerina good, and people say pretty, but I + have not seen her near. There is a grotesco who jumps cleverly, but cannot + write as I do—just as pigs grunt. The orchestra is tolerable. In + Cremona, the orchestra is good, and Spagnoletta is the name of the first + violinist there. Prima donna very passable—rather ancient, I fancy, + and as ugly as sin. She does not sing as well as she acts, and is the wife + of a violin-player at the opera. Her name is Masci. The opera was the + "Clemenza di Tito." Seconda donna not ugly on the stage, young, but + nothing superior. Primo uomo, un musico, Cicognani, a fine voice, and a + beautiful cantabile. The other two musici young and passable. The tenor's + name is non lo so [I don't know what]. He has a pleasing exterior, and + resembles Le Roi at Vienna. Ballerino primo good, but an ugly dog. There + was a ballerina who danced far from badly, and, what is a capo d'opera, + she is anything but plain, either on the stage or off it. The rest were + the usual average. I cannot write much about the Milan opera, for we did + not go there, but we heard that it was not successful. Primo uomo, Aprile, + who sings well, and has a fine even voice; we heard him at a grand church + festival. Madame Piccinelli, from Paris, who sang at one of our concerts, + acts at the opera. Herr Pick, who danced at Vienna, is now dancing here. + The opera is "Didone abbandonata," but it is not to be given much longer. + Signor Piccini, who is writing the next opera, is here. I am told that the + title is to be "Cesare in Egitto." + </p> + <p> + WOLFGANG DE MOZART, + </p> + <p> + Noble of Hohenthal and attached to the Exchequer. + </p> + <p> + <br />4. + </p> + <p> + Milan, Feb. 10, 1770. + </p> + <p> + SPEAK of the wolf, and you see his ears! I am quite well, and impatiently + expecting an answer from you. I kiss mamma's hand, and send you a little + note and a little kiss; and remain, as before, your——What? + Your aforesaid merry-andrew brother, Wolfgang in Germany, Amadeo in Italy. + </p> + <p> + DE MORZANTINI. + </p> + <p> + <br />5. + </p> + <p> + Milan, Feb. 17, 1770. + </p> + <p> + Now I am in for it! My Mariandel! I am so glad that you were so + tremendously merry. Say to nurse Urserl that I still think I sent back all + her songs, but if, engrossed by high and mighty thoughts of Italy, I + carried one off with me, I shall not fail, if I find it, to enclose it in + one of my letters. Addio, my children, farewell! I kiss mamma's hands a + thousand times, and send you a thousand kisses and salutes on your queer + monkey face. Per fare il fine, I am yours, &c. + </p> + <p> + <br />6. + </p> + <p> + Milan, Carnival, Erchtag. + </p> + <p> + MANY kisses to mamma and to you. I am fairly crazed with so much business, + [Footnote: Concerts and compositions of every kind occupied Mozart. The + principal result of his stay in Milan was, that the young maestro got the + scrittura of an opera for the ensuing season. As the libretto was to be + sent to them, they could first make a journey through Italy with easy + minds. The opera was "Mitridate, Re di Ponto."] so I can't possibly write + any more. + </p> + <p> + <br />7. + </p> + <p> + Milan, March 3, 1770. + </p> + <p> + CARA SORELLA MIA,— + </p> + <p> + I am heartily glad that you have had so much amusement. Perhaps you may + think that I have not been as merry as you; but, indeed, I cannot sum up + all we have done. I think we have been at least six or seven times at the + opera and the feste di ballo, which, as in Vienna, begin after the opera, + but with this difference, that at Vienna the dancing is more orderly. We + also saw the facchinata and chiccherata. The first is a masquerade, an + amusing sight, because the men go as facchini, or porters; there was also + a barca filled with people, and a great number on foot besides; and five + or six sets of trumpets and kettledrums, besides several bands of violins + and other instruments. The chiccherata is also a masquerade. What the + people of Milan call chicchere, we call petits maitres, or fops. They were + all on horseback, which was a pretty sight. I am as happy now to hear that + Herr von Aman [Footnote: The father had written in a previous letter, + "Herr von Aman's accident, of which you wrote to us, not only distressed + us very much, but cost Wolfgang many tears. You know how sensitive he is"] + is better, as I was grieved when you mentioned that he had met with an + accident. What kind of mask did Madame Rosa wear, and Herr von Molk, and + Herr von Schiedenhofen? Pray write this to me, if you know it; your doing + so will oblige me very much. Kiss mamma's hands for me a thousand million + times, and a thousand to yourself from "Catch him who can!" Why, here he + is! + </p> + <p> + <br />8. + </p> + <p> + Bologna, March 24, 1770. + </p> + <p> + Oh, you busy creature! + </p> + <p> + Having been so long idle, I thought it would do me no harm to set to work + again for a short time. On the post-days, when the German letters come, + all that I eat and drink tastes better than usual. I beg you will let me + know who are to sing in the oratorio, and also its title. Let me hear how + you like the Haydn minuets, and whether they are better than the first. + From my heart I rejoice to hear that Herr von Aman is now quite recovered; + pray say to him that he must take great care of himself and beware of any + unusual exertion. Be sure you tell him this. I intend shortly to send you + a minuet that Herr Pick danced on the stage, and which every one in Milan + was dancing at the feste di ballo, only that you may see by it how slowly + people dance. The minuet itself is beautiful. Of course it comes from + Vienna, so no doubt it is either Teller's or Starzer's. It has a great + many notes. Why? Because it is a theatrical minuet, which is in slow time. + The Milan and Italian minuets, however, have a vast number of notes, and + are slow and with a quantity of bars; for instance, the first part has + sixteen, the second twenty, and even twenty-four. + </p> + <p> + We made the acquaintance of a singer in Parma, and also heard her to great + advantage in her own house—I mean the far-famed Bastardella. She + has, first, a fine voice; second, a flexible organ; third, an incredibly + high compass. She sang the following notes and passages in my presence. + </p> + <p> + [Here, Mozart illustrates with about 20 measures of music] + </p> + <p> + <br />9. + </p> + <p> + Rome, April 14, 1770. + </p> + <p> + I AM thankful to say that my stupid pen and I are all right, so we send a + thousand kisses to you both. I wish that my sister were in Rome, for this + city would assuredly delight her, because St. Peter's is symmetrical, and + many other things in Rome are also symmetrical. Papa has just told me that + the loveliest flowers are being carried past at this moment. That I am no + wiseacre is pretty well known. + </p> + <p> + Oh! I have one annoyance—there is only a single bed in our lodgings, + so mamma may easily imagine that I get no rest beside papa. I rejoice at + the thoughts of a new lodging. I have just finished sketching St. Peter + with his keys, St. Paul with his sword, and St. Luke with—my sister, + &c., &c. I had the honor of kissing St. Peter's foot at San + Pietro, and as I have the misfortune to be so short, your good old + </p> + <p> + WOLFGANG MOZART + </p> + <p> + was lifted up! + </p> + <p> + <br />10. + </p> + <p> + Rome, April 21, 1770. + </p> + <p> + CARA SORELLA MIA,— + </p> + <p> + Pray try to find the "Art of Ciphering" which you copied out, but I have + lost it, and know nothing about it. So pray do write it out again for me, + with some other copies of sums, and send them to me here. + </p> + <p> + Manzuoli has entered into a contract with the Milanese to sing in my opera + [see Nos. 2-6]. For this reason he sang four or five arias to me in + Florence, and also some of my own, which I was obliged to compose in Milan + (none of my theatrical things having been heard there) to prove that I was + capable of writing an opera. Manzuoli asks 1000 ducats. It is not yet + quite certain whether Gabrielli will come. Some say Madame de' Amicis will + sing in it; we shall see her in Naples. I wish that she and Manzuoli could + act together; we should then be sure of two good friends. The libretto is + not yet chosen. I recommended one of Metastasio's to Don Ferdinando [Count + Firmiani's steward, in Milan] and to Herr von Troyer. I am at this moment + at work on the aria "Se ardore e speranza." + </p> + <p> + <br />11. + </p> + <p> + Rome, April 25, 1770. + </p> + <p> + CARA SORELLA MIA,— + </p> + <p> + Io vi accerto che io aspetto con una incredibile premura tutte le giornate + di posta qualche lettere di Salisburgo. Jeri fummo a S. Lorenzo e sentimmo + il Vespero, e oggi matina la messa cantata, e la sera poi il secondo + vespero, perche era la festa della Madonna del Buonconsiglio. Questi + giorni fummi nel Campidoglio e viddemmo varie belle cose. Se io volessi + scrivere tutto quel che viddi, non bastarebbe questo foglietto. In due + Accademie suonai, e domani suonero anche in una.—Subito dopo pranzo + giuochiamo a Potsch [Boccia]. Questo e un giuoco che imparai qui, quando + verro a casa, ve l'imparero. Finita questa lettera finiro una sinfonia + mia, che comminciai. L'aria e finita, una sinfonia e dal copista (il quale + e il mio padre) perche noi non la vogliamo dar via per copiarla; + altrimente ella sarebbe rubata. + </p> + <p> + WOLFGANGO in Germania. AMADEO MOZART in Italia. + </p> + <p> + Roma caput mundi il 25 Aprile anno 1770 nell' anno venture 1771. + </p> + <p> + [Footnote: + </p> + <p> + "DEAREST SISTER,— + </p> + <p> + "I assure you that I always expect with intense eagerness my letters from + Salzburg on post-days. Yesterday we were at S. Lorenzo and heard vespers, + and to-day at the chanted mass, and in the evening at the second vespers, + because it was the Feast of the Madonna del Buonconsiglio. A few days ago + we were at the Campidoglio, where we saw a great many fine things. If I + tried to write you an account of all I saw, this sheet would not suffice. + I played at two concerts, and to-morrow I am to play at another. After + dinner we played at Potsch [Boccia]. This is a game I have learnt, and + when I come home, I will teach it to you. When I have finished this + letter, I am going to complete a symphony that I have begun. The aria is + finished. The copyist (who is my father) has the symphony, because we do + not choose it to be copied by any one else, or it might be stolen. + </p> + <p> + "WOLFGANGO in Germany. + </p> + <p> + "AMADEO MOZART in Italy. + </p> + <p> + "Rome, mistress of the world: April 25, 1770."] + </p> + <p> + <br />12. + </p> + <p> + Naples, May 19, 1770. + </p> + <p> + CARA SORELLA MIA,— + </p> + <p> + Vi prego di scrivermi presto e tutti i giorni di posta. Io vi ringrazio di + avermi mandata questi "Art of Ciphering," [FOOTNOTE: "I beg you will write + to me soon, indeed every post-day. I thank you for having sent me the 'Art + of Ciphering.'"] e vi prego, se mai volete avere mal di testa, di mandarmi + ancora un poco di questi "books." [FOOTNOTE: "And I beg if you ever want + to have a headache, that you will send me some more."] Perdonate mi che + scrivo si malamente, ma la razione e perche anche io ebbi un poco mal di + testa. [FOOTNOTE: "of the same kind. Excuse my writing so badly, but the + reason is that I have a bit of a headache myself."] + </p> + <p> + Haydn's twelfth minuet, which you sent me, pleases me very much; you have + composed an inimitable bass for it, and without the slightest fault. I do + beg that you will often exercise yourself in such things. Mamma must not + forget to see that the guns are both polished up. Tell me how Master + Canary is? Does he still sing? and still whistle? Do you know why I am + thinking about the canary? Because we have one in our ante-room that + chirps out a G sharp just like ours. [Footnote: Mozart was extremely fond + of animals, and later in life had always birds in his room.] A propos, + Herr Johannes [Hagenauer], no doubt, received the letter of congratulation + which we intended to write to him? But if he has not got it, I will tell + him myself, when we meet in Salzburg, what ought to have been in it. + Yesterday we wore our new clothes; we were as handsome as angels. My kind + regards to Nandl; she must not fail to pray diligently for me. + </p> + <p> + Jomelli's opera is to be given on the 30th. We saw the king and queen at + mass in the court chapel at Portici, and we also saw Vesuvius. Naples is + beautiful, but as crowded with people as Vienna or Paris. As for London + and Naples, I think that in point of insolence on the part of the people + Naples almost surpasses London; because here the lazzaroni have their + regular head or leader, who receives twenty-five ducati d'argento monthly + from the king for keeping the lazzaroni in order. + </p> + <p> + Madame de' Amicis sings in the opera—we were there. Caffaro is to + compose the second opera, Ciccio di Majo the third, but who is to compose + the fourth is not yet known. Be sure you go regularly to Mirabell, to hear + the Litanies, and listen to the "Regina Coeli" or the "Salve Regina," and + sleep sound, and take care to have no evil dreams. My most transcendent + regards to Herr von Schiedenhofen—tralaliera! tralaliera! Tell him + to learn the repetition minuet on the piano, to be sure to DO so, and DO + not let him forget it. He must DO this in order to DO me the favor to let + me accompany him some day or other. DO give my best compliments to all my + friends, and DO continue to live happily, and DO not die, but DO live on, + that you may be able to DO another letter for me, and I DO one for you, + and thus we shall go on DOING till we can DO something worth DOING; but I + am one of those who will go on DOING till all DOINGS are at an end. In the + mean time I DO subscribe myself + </p> + <p> + Your W. M. + </p> + <p> + <br />13. + </p> + <p> + Naples, May 29, 1770. + </p> + <p> + Jeri l'altro fummo nella prova dell' opera del Sign. Jomelli, la quale e + una opera che e ben scritta e che me piace veramente. Il Sign. Jomelli ci + ha parlato ed era molto civile. E fummo anche in una chiesa a sentir una + Musica la quale fu del Sign. Ciccio di Majo, ed era una bellissima Musica. + Anche lui ci parlci ed era molto compito. La Signora de' Amicis canto a + meraviglia. Stiamo Dio grazia assai bene di salute, particolarmente io, + quando viene una lettera di Salisburgo. Vi prego di scrivermi tutti giorni + di posta, e se anche non avete niente da scrivermi, solamente vorrei + averlo per aver qualche lettera tutti giorni di posta. Egli non sarebbe + mal fatto, se voi mi scriveste qualche volta una letterina italiana. + </p> + <p> + [FOOTNOTE: "The other day we attended the rehearsal of Signor Jomelli's + opera, which is well written and pleases me exceedingly. Signor Jomelli + spoke to us and was very civil. We also went to a church to hear a mass by + Signor Ciccio di Majo, and it was most beautiful music. Signora de' Amicus + sang incomparably. We are, thank God, very well, and I feel particularly + so when a letter from Salzburg arrives. I beg you will write to me every + post-day, even if you have nothing to write about, for I should like to + have a letter by every post. It would not be a bad idea to write me a + little letter in Italian."] + </p> + <p> + <br />14. + </p> + <p> + Naples, June 5, 1770. + </p> + <p> + Vesuvius is smoking fiercely! Thunder and lightning and blazes! Haid homa + gfresa beim Herr Doll. Das is a deutscha Compositor, und a browa Mo. + [Footnote: "Today we dined with Herr Doll, he is a good composer and a + worthy man" [Vienna Patois]] Now I begin to describe my course of life.—Alle + 9 ore, qualche volta anche alle dieci mi svelgio, e poi andiamo fuor di + casa, e poi pranziamo da un trattore, e dopo pranzo scriviamo, e poi + sortiamo, e indi ceniamo, ma che cosa? Al giorno di grasso, un mezzo pollo + ovvero un piccolo boccone d'arrosto; al giorno di magro un piccolo pesce; + e di poi andiamo a dormire. Est-ce que vous avez compris?—Redma + dafir Soisburgarisch, don as is gschaida. Wir sand Gottlob gesund da Voda + und i. [Footnote: "I rise generally every morning at 9 o'clock, but + sometimes not till 10, when we go out. We dine at a restaurateur's, after + dinner I write, and then we go out again, and afterwards sup, but on what? + on jours gras, half a fowl, or a small slice of roast meat, on jours + maigres a little fish, and then we go to sleep. Do you understand? Let us + talk Salzburgisch, for that is more sensible. Thank God, my father and I + are well" [Patois]] I hope you and mamma are so also. Naples and Rome are + two drowsy cities. A scheni Schrift! net wor? [Footnote: "Fine writing, is + it not?" [Patois.]] Write to me, and do not be so lazy. Altrimente avrete + qualche bastonate di me. Quel plaisir! Je te casserai la tete. [Footnote: + "Otherwise I will cudgel you soundly. What a pleasure—to break your + head!"] I am delighted with the thoughts of the portraits [of his mother + and sister, who had promised to have their likenesses taken], und i bi + korios wias da gleich sieht; wons ma gfoin, so los i mi und den Vodan a so + macho. Maidli, lass Da saga, wo list dan gwesa he? [Footnote: "And I am + anxious to see what they are like, and then I will have my father and + myself also taken. Fair maiden, say, where have you been, eh?" [Patois.]] + The opera here is Jomelli's; it is fine, but too grave and old-fashioned + for this stage. Madame de' Amicis sings incomparably, and so does Aprile, + who used to sing at Milan. The dancing is miserably pretentious. The + theatre beautiful. The King has been brought up in the rough Neapolitan + fashion, and at the opera always stands on a stool, so that he may look a + little taller than the Queen, who is beautiful and so gracious, for she + bowed to me in the most condescending manner no less than six times on the + Molo. + </p> + <p> + <br />15. + </p> + <p> + Naples, June 16, 1770. + </p> + <p> + I AM well and lively and happy as ever, and as glad to travel. I made an + excursion on the Mediterranean. I kiss mamma's hand and Nannerl's a + thousand times, and am your son, Steffl, and your brother, Hansl. + </p> + <p> + <br />16. + </p> + <p> + Rome, July 7, 1770. + </p> + <p> + CARA SORELLA MIA,— + </p> + <p> + I am really surprised that you can compose so charmingly. In a word, the + song is beautiful. Often try something similar. Send me soon the other six + minuets of Haydn. Mademoiselle, j'ai l'honneur d'etre votre tres-humble + serviteur et frere, + </p> + <p> + CHEVALIER DE MOZART. + </p> + <p> + [He had received from the Pope the cross of the Order of the Golden Spur.] + </p> + <p> + <br />17. + </p> + <p> + Bologna, July 21, 1770. + </p> + <p> + I WISH mamma joy of her name-day, and hope that she may live for many + hundred years to come and retain good health, which I always ask of God, + and pray to Him for you both every day. I cannot do honor to the occasion + except with some Loretto bells, and wax tapers, and caps, and gauze when I + return. In the mean time, good-bye, mamma. I kiss your hand a thousand + times, and remain, till death, your attached son. + </p> + <p> + <br />18. + </p> + <p> + Io vi auguro d'Iddio, vi dia sempre salute, e vi lasci vivere ancora cent' + anni e vi faccia morire quando avrete mille anni. Spero che voi impararete + meglio conoscermi ni avvenire e che poi ne giudicherete come ch' egli vi + piace. Il tempo non mi permette di scriver motto. La penna non vale un + corno, ne pure quello che la dirigge. Il titolo dell' opera che ho da + comporre a Milano, non si sa ancora. + </p> + <p> + [Footnote: "My prayer to God is, that He may grant you health, and allow + you to live to be a hundred, and not to die till you are a thousand years + old. I hope that you will learn to know me better in future, and that you + will then judge of me as you please. Time does not permit me to write + much. My pen is not worth a pin, nor the hand that guides it. I don't yet + know the title of the opera that I am to compose at Milan."] + </p> + <p> + My landlady at Rome made me a present of the "Thousand and One Nights" in + Italian; it is most amusing to read. + </p> + <p> + <br />19. + </p> + <p> + Bologna, August 4, 1770. + </p> + <p> + I GRIEVE from my heart to hear that Jungfrau Marthe is still so ill, and I + pray every day that she may recover. Tell her from me that she must beware + of much fatigue and eat only what is strongly salted [she was + consumptive]. A propos, did you give my letter to Robinsiegerl? [Sigismund + Robinig, a friend of his]. You did not mention it when you wrote. I beg + that when you see him you will tell him he is not quite to forget me. I + can't possibly write better, for my pen is only fit to write music and not + a letter. My violin has been newly strung, and I play every day. I only + mention this because mamma wished to know whether I still played the + violin. I have had the honor to go at least six times by myself into the + churches to attend their splendid ceremonies. In the mean time I have + composed four Italian symphonies [overtures], besides five or six arias, + and also a motett. + </p> + <p> + Does Herr Deibl often come to see you? Does he still honor you by his + amusing conversation? And the noble Herr Carl von Vogt, does he still + deign to listen to your tiresome voices? Herr von Schiedenhofen must + assist you often in writing minuets, otherwise he shall have no + sugar-plums. + </p> + <p> + If time permitted, it would be my duty to trouble Herr von Molk and Herr + von Schiedenhofen with a few lines; but as that most indispensable of all + things is wanting, I hope they will forgive my neglect, and consider me + henceforth absolved from this honor. I have begun various cassations [a + kind of divertimento], so I have thus responded to your desire. I don't + think the piece in question can be one of mine, for who would venture to + publish as his own composition what is, in reality, written by the son of + the Capellmeister, and whose mother and sister are in the same town? Addio—farewell! + My sole recreations consist in dancing English hornpipes and cutting + capers. Italy is a land of sleep; I am always drowsy here. Addio—good-bye! + </p> + <p> + <br />20. + </p> + <p> + Bologna, August 21, 1770. + </p> + <p> + I AM not only still alive, but in capital spirits. To-day I took a fancy + to ride a donkey, for such is the custom in Italy, so I thought that I too + must give it a trial. We have the honor to associate with a certain + Dominican who is considered a very pious ascetic. I somehow don't quite + think so, for he constantly takes a cup of chocolate for breakfast, and + immediately afterwards a large glass of strong Spanish wine; and I have + myself had the privilege of dining with this holy man, when he drank a lot + of wine at dinner and a full glass of very strong wine afterwards, two + large slices of melons, some peaches and pears for dessert, five cups of + coffee, a whole plateful of nuts, and two dishes of milk and lemons. This + he may perhaps do out of bravado, but I don't think so—at all + events, it is far too much; and he eats a great deal also at his afternoon + collation. + </p> + <p> + <br />21. + </p> + <p> + Bologna, Sept. 8, 1770. + </p> + <p> + NOT to fail in my duty, I must write a few words. I wish you would tell me + in your next letter to what brotherhoods I belong, and also let me know + the prayers I am bound to offer up for them. I am now reading + "Telemachus," and am already in the second volume. Good-bye for the + present! Love to mamma. + </p> + <p> + <br />22. + </p> + <p> + I HOPE that mamma and you are both well, but I wish you would answer my + letters more punctually in time to come; indeed, it is far easier to + answer than to originate. I like these six minuets far better than the + first twelve; we often played them to the Countess [Pallivicini, at whose + country-seat, near Bologna, father and son spent some months]. We only + wish we could succeed in introducing a taste for German minuets into + Italy, as their minuets last nearly as long as entire symphonies. Forgive + my bad writing; I could write better, but I am in such a hurry. + </p> + <p> + <br />23. + </p> + <p> + Bologna, Sept. 29, 1770. + </p> + <p> + IN order to fill up papa's letter, I intend to add a few words. I grieve + deeply to hear of Jungfrau Marthe's long-continued illness, which the poor + girl bears, too, with such patience. I hope, please God, she may still + recover. If not, we must not grieve too much, for the will of God is + always best, and God certainly knows better than we do whether it is most + for our good to be in this world or in the next. But it will cheer her to + enjoy this fine weather once more after all the rain. + </p> + <p> + <br />24. + </p> + <p> + Bologna, Oct. 6, 1770. + </p> + <p> + I AM heartily glad that you have been so gay; I only wish I had been with + you. I hope Jungfrau Marthe is better. To-day I played the organ at the + Dominicans. Congratulate the .... from me, and say that I sincerely wish + they may live to see the fiftieth anniversary of Father Dominikus's saying + mass, and that we may all once more have a happy meeting. + </p> + <p> + [Footnote: Jahn observes that he probably alludes to their intimate + friends, the merchant Hagenauer's family, with whom old Mozart had many + pecuniary transactions for the purpose of his travels, and whose son + entered the church in 1764.] + </p> + <p> + My best wishes to all Thereserls, and compliments to all my friends in the + house and out of the house. I wish I were likely soon to hear the + Berchtesgadner symphonies, and perhaps blow a trumpet or play a fife in + one myself. I saw and heard the great festival of St. Petronius in + Bologna. It was fine, but long. The trumpeters came from Lucca to make the + proper flourish of honor, but their trumpeting was detestable. + </p> + <p> + <br />25. + </p> + <p> + Milan, Oct. 20, 1770. + </p> + <p> + MY DEAR MAMMA,— + </p> + <p> + I cannot write much, for my fingers ache from writing out such a quantity + of recitative. I hope you will pray for me that my opera ["Mitridate Re di + Ponto"] may go off well, and that we soon may have a joyful meeting. I + kiss your hands a thousand times, and have a great deal to say to my + sister; but what? That is known only to God and myself. Please God, I hope + soon to be able to confide it to her verbally; in the mean time, I send + her a thousand kisses. My compliments to all kind friends. We have lost + our good Martherl, but we hope that by the mercy of God she is now in a + state of blessedness. + </p> + <p> + <br />26. + </p> + <p> + Milan, Oct. 27, 1770. + </p> + <p> + MY VERY DEAREST SISTER,— + </p> + <p> + You know that I am a great talker, and was so when I left you. At present + I replace this very much by signs, for the son of this family is deaf and + dumb. I must now set to work at my opera. I regret very much that I cannot + send you the minuet you wish to have, but, God willing, perhaps about + Easter you may see both it and me. I can write no more.—Farewell! + and pray for me. + </p> + <p> + <br />27. + </p> + <p> + Milan, Nov. 3, 1770. + </p> + <p> + MY VERY DEARLY LOVED SISTER,— + </p> + <p> + I thank you and mamma for your sincere good wishes; my most ardent desire + is to see you both soon in Salzburg. In reference to your congratulations, + I may say that I believe Herr Martinelli suggested your Italian project. + My dear sister, you are always so very clever, and contrived it all so + charmingly that, just underneath your congratulations in Italian, followed + M. Martini's compliments in the same style of penmanship, so that I could + not possibly find you out; nor did I do so, and I immediately said to + papa, "Oh! how I do wish I were as clever and witty as she is!" Then papa + answered, "Indeed, that is true enough." On which I rejoined, "Oh! I am so + sleepy;" so he merely replied, "Then stop writing." Addio! Pray to God + that my opera may be successful. I am your brother, + </p> + <p> + W. M., + </p> + <p> + whose fingers are weary from writing. + </p> + <p> + <br />28. + </p> + <p> + Milan, Dec. 1, 1770. + </p> + <p> + DEAREST SISTER,— + </p> + <p> + As it is so long since I wrote to you, I thought that I might perhaps + pacify your just wrath and indignation by these lines. I have now a great + deal to work at, and to write for my opera. I trust all will go well, with + the help of God. Addio! As ever, your faithful brother, + </p> + <p> + WOLFGANG MOZART. + </p> + <p> + <br />29. + </p> + <p> + MY DARLING SISTER,— + </p> + <p> + It is long since I have written to you, having been so much occupied with + my opera. As I have now more time, I shall attend better to my duty. My + opera, thank God, is popular, as the theatre is full every evening, which + causes great surprise, for many say that during all the time they have + lived in Milan they never saw any first opera so crowded as on this + occasion. I am thankful to say that both papa and I are quite well, and I + hope at Easter to have an opportunity of relating everything to mamma and + you. Addio! A propos, the copyist was with us yesterday, and said that he + was at that moment engaged in transcribing my opera for the Lisbon court. + Good-bye, my dear Madlle. sister, + </p> + <p> + Always and ever your attached brother. + </p> + <p> + <br />30. + </p> + <p> + Venice, Feb 15, 1771 + </p> + <p> + MY VERY DEAR SISTER,— + </p> + <p> + You have, no doubt, heard from papa that I am well. I have nothing to + write about, except my love and kisses to mamma. Give the enclosed—Al + sig. Giovanni. La signora perla ricono la riverisce tanto come anche tutte + le altre perle, e li assicuro che tutte sono inamorata di lei, e che + sperano che lei prendera per moglie tutte, come i Turchi per contenar + tutte sei. Questo scrivo in casa di Sign. Wider, il quale e un galant' + uomo come lei melo scrisse, ed jeri abbiamo finito il carnavale da lui, + cenardo da lui e poi ballammo ed andammo colle perle in compagnie nel + ridotto nuovo, che mi piacque assai. Quando sto dal Sign. Wider e + guardando fuori della finestra vedo la casa dove lei abito quando lei fu + in Venezia. Il nuovo non so niente. Venezia mi piace assai. Il mio + complimento al Sign., suo padre e madre, sorelle, fratelli, e a tutti i + miei amici ed amiche. Addio! + </p> + <p> + [Footnote: "To Herr Johannes [Hagenauer] The fair 'pearl' has the same + high opinion of you that all the other 'pearls' here have. I assure you + that they are all in love with you, and their hope is that you will marry + them all (like the Turks), and so please them every one. I write this in + the house of Signor Wider, who is an excellent man and exactly what you + wrote to me, yesterday we finished the Carnival in his house. We supped + there and then danced, and went afterwards, in company with the 'pearls,' + to the new masquerade, which amused me immensely. When I look out of the + window at Signor Wider's, I see the house that you inhabited in Venice. I + have no news. I like Venice very well. My compliments to your father and + mother, brothers and sisters, and all my friends. Adieu!"] + </p> + <p> + <br />31. + </p> + <p> + Venice, Feb. 20, 1771. + </p> + <p> + I AM still well, and, thank God, in the land of the living. Madame de' + Amicis has been singing at S. Benedetto. Say to Herr Johannes that the + Widerischen Berlein family are constantly speaking of him (particularly + Madlle. Catherine), so he must soon return to Vienna to encounter the + attacca—that is, in order to become a true Venetian, you must allow + yourself to be bumped down on the ground. They wished to do this to me + also, but though seven women tried it, the whole seven together did not + succeed in throwing me down. Addio! + </p> + <p> + The travellers arrived again at home towards the end of March, 1771. The + marriage of the Archduke Ferdinand with the Princess of Modena, which took + place in the October of that year, was attended with great festivities, + and recalled the father and son to Italy in the course of a few months, + Wolfgang having received a command from the Empress Maria Theresa to + compose a dramatic serenata in honor of these nuptials. + </p> + <p> + <br />32. + </p> + <p> + Verona, August 18, 1771. + </p> + <p> + DEAREST SISTER,— + </p> + <p> + I have not slept more than half an hour, for I don't like to sleep after + eating. You may hope, believe, think, be of opinion, cherish the + expectation, desire, imagine, conceive, and confidently suppose, that we + are in good health; but I can tell you so to a certainty. Wish Herr von + Heffner a happy journey from me, and ask him if he has seen Annamindl? + </p> + <p> + [Wolfgang, who was then fifteen, had taken advantage of his leisure during + their short stay in Salzburg to fall in love for the first time. We shall + find frequent allusions to this subject. See also No. 25.] + </p> + <p> + <br />33. + </p> + <p> + Milan, August 23, 1771. + </p> + <p> + MY VERY DEAR SISTER,— + </p> + <p> + We suffered much from heat in the course of our journey, and the dust + constantly dried us up so impertinently that we should have been choked, + or died of thirst, if we had not been too sensible for that. For a whole + month past (say the Milanese) there has been no rain here; to-day a slight + drizzle began, but the sun has now come out again, and it is once more + very warm. What you promised me (you well know my meaning, you kind + creature!) don't fail to perform, I entreat. I shall be indeed very + grateful to you. I am at this moment actually panting from the heat—I + tear open my waistcoat! Addio—good-bye! + </p> + <p> + WOLFGANG. + </p> + <p> + Above us we have a violinist, below us is another, next to us a + singing-master, who gives lessons, and, in the room opposite, a + hautboy-player. This is famous for a composer—it inspires so many + fine thoughts. + </p> + <p> + <br />34. + </p> + <p> + Milan, August 31, 1771. + </p> + <p> + MY DEAREST SISTER,— + </p> + <p> + We are quite well, thank God! I have been eating quantities of fine pears, + peaches, and melons in your place. My greatest amusement is to talk by + signs to the dumb, which I can do to perfection. Herr Hasse [the + celebrated opera composer] arrived here yesterday, and to-day we are going + to pay him a visit. We only received the book of the Serenata last + Thursday. [Footnote: It was "Ascanio in Alba" that Wolfgang got to compose + for Milan; and it was this music which made Hasse exclaim, "This boy will + cause us all to be forgotten."] I have very little to write about. Do not, + I entreat, forget about THE ONE OTHER, where no other can ever be. You + understand me, I know. + </p> + <p> + <br />35. + </p> + <p> + Milan, Sept. 13, 1771. + </p> + <p> + DEAR SISTER,— + </p> + <p> + I write only for writing's sake. It is indeed very inconvenient, because I + have a severe cold. Say to Fraulein W. von Molk that I rejoice at the + thoughts of Salzburg, in the hope that I may again receive the same kind + of present for the minuets which was bestowed on me at a similar concert. + She knows all about it. + </p> + <p> + <br />36. + </p> + <p> + Milan, Sept. 21, 1771. + </p> + <p> + I AM well, God be praised! I can't write much. 1st, I have nothing to say. + 2d, my fingers ache from writing. I often whistle an air, but no one + responds. Only two arias of the Serenata are still wanting, and then it + will be finished. I have no longer any fancy for Salzburg; I am afraid I + might go mad too. [He had heard that several persons there had lost their + reason.] + </p> + <p> + <br />37. + </p> + <p> + Milan, Oct. 5, 1771. + </p> + <p> + I AM in good health, but always sleepy. Papa has snatched from my pen all + that I had to write about, which is, that he has already written + everything. Signora Gabrielli is here, and we are soon going to see her, + as we wish to become acquainted with all distinguished singers. + </p> + <p> + <br />38. + </p> + <p> + Milan, Oct. 26, 1771. + </p> + <p> + MY work being now completed, I have more time to write, but have nothing + to say, as papa has written you all I could have said. I am well, thank + God! but have no news, except that in the lottery the numbers 35, 59, 60, + 61, and 62 have turned up prizes, so if we had selected these we should + have won; but as we did not put in at all we neither won nor lost, but + only laughed at those who did the latter. The two arias encored in the + Serenata were those of Manzuoli, and Girelli, the prima donna, I hope you + may be well amused in Triebenbach with shooting, and (weather permitting) + with walking. + </p> + <p> + <br />39. + </p> + <p> + Milan, Nov. 2, 1771. + </p> + <p> + Papa says that Herr Kerschbaumer travels with profit and observation, and + we can testify that he conducts himself very judiciously; at all events he + can give a more satisfactory account of his journey than some of his + friends, one of whom said that he could not see Paris properly because the + houses there were too high. To-day Hasse's opera is to be given; as papa, + however, is not going, I can't go either. [FOOTNOTE: Hasse had also a + festal opera to compose, but Leopold Mozart writes, "I am sorry to say + that Wolfgang's Serenata has totally eclipsed Hasse's opera."] Fortunately + I know all the airs thoroughly by heart, so I can see and hear them in my + own thoughts at home. + </p> + <p> + <br />40. + </p> + <p> + Milan, Nov. 24, 1771. + </p> + <p> + DEAREST SISTER,— + </p> + <p> + Herr Manzuoli, the musico, who has always been considered and esteemed as + the best of his class, has in his old age given a proof of his folly and + arrogance. He was engaged at the opera for the sum of 500 gigliati + (ducats), but as no mention was made in the contract of the Serenata, he + demanded 500 ducats more for singing in it, making 1000. The court only + sent him 700 and a gold box, (and enough too, I think,) but he returned + the 700 ducats and the box, and went away without anything. I don't know + what the result of this history will be—a bad one, I fear! + </p> + <p> + <br />41. + </p> + <p> + Milan, Nov. 30, 1771. + </p> + <p> + That you may not suppose I am ill, I write you a few lines. I saw four + fellows hanged in the Dom Platz. They hang here just as they do in Lyons. + </p> + <p> + We now find the father and son once more in Salzburg, in the middle of + December, 1771. Archbishop Sigismund died, and on the 14th of March, 1772, + Archbishop Hieronymus was elected, who was destined to cause much sorrow + to Mozart. Soon after, in honor of the procession and homage of the new + prince, he composed the allegorical azione teatrale "Il sogno di + Scipione." In October he resumed his travels, having undertaken the + scrittura for the approaching Carnivals both at Milan and at Venice. + </p> + <p> + <br />42. + </p> + <p> + Bologna, Oct. 28, 1772. + </p> + <p> + We have got to Botzen already. Already? rather not till now. I am hungry, + thirsty, sleepy, and lazy, but I am quite well. We saw the monastery in + Hall, and I played the organ there. When you see Nadernannerl, tell her I + spoke to Herr Brindl (her lover), and he charged me to give her his + regards. I hope that you kept your promise and went last Sunday to D——N——[in + cipher]. Farewell! write me some news. Botzen—a pig-sty! + </p> + <p> + <br />43. + </p> + <p> + Milan, Nov. 7, 1772. + </p> + <p> + Don't be startled at seeing my writing instead of papa's. These are the + reasons: first, we are at Herr von Oste's, and the Herr Baron Christiani + is also here, and they have so much to talk about, that papa cannot + possibly find time to write; and, secondly, he is too lazy. We arrived + here at 4 o'clock this afternoon, and are both well. All our good friends + are in the country or at Mantua, except Herr von Taste and his wife, who + send you and my sister their compliments. Herr Misliweczeck [a young + composer of operas from Paris] is still here. There is not a word of truth + either in the Italian war, which is so eagerly discussed in Germany, or in + the castles here being fortified. Forgive my bad writing. + </p> + <p> + Address your letters direct to us, for it is not the custom here, as in + Germany, to carry the letters round; we are obliged to go ourselves to + fetch them on post-days. There is nothing new here; we expect news from + Salzburg. + </p> + <p> + Not having a word more to say, I must conclude. Our kind regards to all + our friends. We kiss mamma 1,000,000,000 times (I have no room for more + noughts); and as for my sister, I would rather embrace her in persona than + in imagination. + </p> + <p> + <br />44. + </p> + <p> + CARISSIMA SORELLA,— + </p> + <p> + Spero che voi sarete stata dalla Signora, che voi gia sapete. Vi prego, se + la videte di farla un Complimento da parte mia. Spero e non dubito punto + che voi starete bene di salute. Mi son scordato di darvi nuova, che + abbiamo qui trovato quel Sign. Belardo, ballerina, che abbiamo conosciuto + in Haye ed in Amsterdam, quello che attaco colla spada il ballerino, il + Sign. Neri, perche credeva che lui fosse cagione che non ebbe la + permission di ballar in teatro. Addio, non scordarvi di me, io sono sempre + il vostro fidele fratello. + </p> + <p> + [FOOTNOTE: "DEAREST SISTER,—I hope you have been to see the lady—you + know who. I beg that when you see her you will give her my compliments. I + hope, and do not doubt, that you are in good health. I forgot to tell you + that we found Signor Belardo here, a dancer whom we knew at the Hague and + at Amsterdam—the same person who attacked Signor Neri with a sword, + because he thought he was the cause of his not obtaining permission to + dance in the theatre. Adieu! Do not forget me, always your faithful + brother."] + </p> + <p> + <br />45. + </p> + <p> + Milan, Nov. 21, 1772. + </p> + <p> + I thank you exceedingly—you know for what. I cannot possibly write + to Herr von Heffner. When you see him, make him read aloud what follows. I + hope he will be satisfied with it:— + </p> + <p> + "I am not to take it amiss that my unworthy friend has not answered my + letter; as soon as he has more leisure, he will certainly, beyond all + doubt, positively and punctually send me a reply." + </p> + <p> + <br />46. + </p> + <p> + Milan, Nov. 28, 1772. + </p> + <p> + We both send our congratulations to Herr von Aman; tell him from me that, + owing to his having all along made a mystery of the affair, I feel much + annoyed, for I fear I may have said more than I ought about his bride. I + thought he had been more straightforward. One thing more. Say to Herr von + Aman that, if he wishes to have a right merry wedding, he must be so kind + as to wait till we return, so that what he promised me may come to pass, + namely, that I was to dance at his wedding. Tell Herr Leitgeb [a + horn-player in the Archbishop's orchestra] that he must come straight to + Milan, for he is sure to succeed well here; but he must come soon. Pray + let him know this, for I am anxious about it. + </p> + <p> + <br />47. + </p> + <p> + Milan, Dec. 5, 1772. + </p> + <p> + I have now about fourteen pieces to write, and then I shall have finished. + [Footnote: He alludes to his Milan opera, "Lucio Silla."] Indeed, the trio + and the duet may be considered as four. I cannot possibly write much, for + I have no news, and in the next place I scarcely know what I am writing, + as all my thoughts are absorbed in my opera, so there is some danger of my + writing you a whole aria instead of a letter. I have learned a new game + here, called mercanti in fiera. As soon as I come home we can play at it + together. I have also learned a new language from Frau von Taste, which is + easy to speak, though troublesome to write, but still useful. It is, I + own, rather a little childish, but will do capitally for Salzburg. My kind + regards to pretty Nandl and to the canary, for these two and yourself are + the most innocent creatures in our house. Fischietti [the Archbishop's + Capellmeister] will no doubt soon begin to work at his opera buffa + (translated into German, his CRAZY opera!). Addio! + </p> + <p> + The following letter of Wolfgang's shows the sparkling state of his + spirits, caused by the completion of his opera. At each line he turns the + page, so that one line stands, as it were, on the head of the other. The + father, too, in the joy of his heart that the arduous work was drawing to + a close, and with it his long journey, writes four lines, one above + another, round the edge of the page, so that the whole forms a framework + for a sketch of a burning heart and four triangles (symbols of fidelity), + and a bird on the wing from whose beak a distich is streaming:— + </p> + <p> + Oh! fly to seek my child so fair Here, and there, and everywhere! + </p> + <p> + Wolfgang adds:— + </p> + <p> + <br />48. + </p> + <p> + Milan, Dec. 18, 1772. + </p> + <p> + I HOPE, dear sister, that you are well, dear sister. When this letter + reaches you, dear sister, my opera will be in scena, dear sister. Think of + me, dear sister, and try, dear sister, to imagine with all your might that + my dear sister sees and hears it also. In truth, it is hard to say, as it + is now eleven o'clock at night, but I do believe, and don't at all doubt, + that in the daytime it is brighter than at Easter. My dear sister, + to-morrow we dine with Herr von Mayer; and do you know why? Guess! Because + he invited us. The rehearsal to-morrow is to be in the theatre. The + impresario, Signor Cassiglioni, has entreated me not to say a word of this + to a soul, as all kinds of people would come crowding in, and that we + don't wish. So, my child, I beg, my child, that you won't say one syllable + to any one on the subject, or too many people would come crowding in, my + child. Approposito, do you know the history that occurred here? Well, I + will relate it to you. We were going home straight from Count Firmiani's, + and when we came into our street we opened our door, and what do you think + happened? We went in. Good-bye, my pet. Your unworthy brother (frater), + </p> + <p> + WOLFGANG. + </p> + <p> + On the 26th of December "an incomparable performance" of "Lucio Silla" + took place; it was eminently successful, and continued to fill the house + night after night in the most surprising way. The father writes home + regularly, and Wolfgang subjoins the usual postscripts, which, however, at + this time contain nothing worth quoting. We give only part of an Italian + letter which he writes for practice:— + </p> + <p> + <br />49. + </p> + <p> + .... Vi prego di dire al Sig. Giovanni Hagenauer da parte mia, che non + dubiti, che andro a veder sicuramente in quella bottega delle armi, se ci + sono quei nomi [?] che lui desidera, e che senza dubbio doppo averlo + trovato le portero meco a Salisburgo. Mi dispiace che il Sig. Leitgeb e + partito tanto tardi da Salisburgo [see No. 46] che non trovera piu in + scena la mia opera e forte non ci trovera nemeno, se non in viaggio. + </p> + <p> + Hieri sera era la prima prova coi stromenti della seconda opera, ma ho + sentito solamente il primo atto, perche a secondo mene andiedi essendo gia + tardi. In quest' opera saranno sopra il balco 24 cavalli e . . . mondo di + gente, che saro miracolo se non succede qualche disgrazia. La musica mi + piace; se piace al replico non so, perche alle prime prove non e lecito l' + andarci che alle personne che sono del Teatro. Io spero che domani il mio + padre potra uscir di casa. Sta sera fa cativissimo tempo. La Signora + Teyber e adesso a Bologna e il carnevale venturo recitera a Turino e + l'anno sussiquente poi va a cantare a Napoli. + </p> + <p> + [Footnote: "Pray say from me to Johannes Hagenauer, that he may entirely + rely on my going to the armorer's shop, to see if I can procure what he + desires, and after getting it I will not fail to bring it with me to + Salzburg. I regret that Herr Leitgeb delayed so long leaving Salzburg [see + No. 46], for he will no longer find my opera in scena, nor will he find us + either unless we meet on our travels. Yesterday evening was our first + rehearsal of the second opera with instruments, but I only heard the first + act, for I went away at the second, because it was so very late. In this + opera there are to be twenty-four horses and a crowd of people on the + stage at the same time, so it will be surprising if no accident happens. + The music pleases me; whether it will please others I cannot tell, for no + persons but those belonging to the theatre are permitted to attend the + first rehearsals. I hope that papa will be able to leave the house + to-morrow. The weather is detestable this evening. Madame Teyber is now at + Bologna; she is to act at Turin in the ensuing Carnival, and the year + following she is to sing at Naples."] + </p> + <p> + After enjoying some more of the amusements of the Carnival, they arrived + again in Salzburg about the middle of March. This place, or rather their + position at court there, was in the highest degree repugnant to both; so + the father, in the course of his travels, applied to the Grand-Duke of + Tuscany for an appointment for his son. As, however, nothing was to be got + in that quarter, he directed his views to the Imperial capital itself; and + thus, at the end of three months, we find him again with his son in + Vienna. From thence Wolfgang often wrote to his loved ones at home. + </p> + <p> + <br />50. + </p> + <p> + Vienna, August 14, 1773. + </p> + <p> + I HOPE that your Majesty [Footnote 1: O. Jahn remarks that this epithet is + a reminiscence of a fantastic game that often amused the boy on his + journeys. He imagined a kingdom, the inhabitants of which were endowed + with every gift that could make them good and happy.] enjoys the best + state of health; and yet that now and then—or rather sometimes—or, + better still, from time to time—or, still better, qualche volta, as + the Italians say—your Majesty will impart to me some of your grave + and important thoughts (emanating from that most admirable and solid + judgment which, in addition to beauty, your Majesty so eminently + possesses; and thus, although in such tender years, my Queen casts into + the shade not only the generality of men but even the gray-haired). + </p> + <p> + P. S. This is a most sensible production. + </p> + <p> + <br />51. + </p> + <p> + Vienna, August 21, 1773. + </p> + <p> + When we contemplate the benefit of time, and yet are not entirely + oblivious of the estimation in which we ought to hold the sun, then it is + quite certain, Heaven be praised! that I am quite well. My second + proposition is of a very different character. Instead of sun, let us put + moon, and instead of benefit, science; then any one, gifted with a certain + amount of reasoning powers, will at once draw the conclusion that—I + am a fool because you are my sister. How is Miss Bimbles? [the dog.] I beg + you will convey all sorts of amiable messages from me to her. I also send + my kind remembrances to M. Kreibich [conductor of the Imperial + chamber-music], whom we knew at Presburg and also at Vienna; and very best + regards from Her Majesty the Empress, Frau Fischerin, and Prince Kaunitz. + Oidda! + </p> + <p> + GNAGFLOW TRAZOM. + </p> + <p> + <br />52. + </p> + <p> + Vienna, Sept. 15, 1773. + </p> + <p> + WE are quite well, thank God; on this occasion we have contrived to make + time to write to you, although we have so much business to do. We hope you + also are well. Dr. Niderl's death grieved us very much. I assure you we + cried a good deal, and moaned and groaned. Our kind regards to "Alle gute + Geister loben Gott den Herrn" [to all good spirits who praise the Lord], + and to all our friends. We graciously remain + </p> + <p> + Yours, WOLFGANG. + </p> + <p> + Given from our capital of Vienna. + </p> + <p> + The travellers returned home the end of September, for no situation was to + be found in Vienna either; indeed, they did not even give a public concert + there. Wolfgang remained in his native town during the whole of the + ensuing year, writing instrumental and church music. At length he received + a commission from the Elector of Bavaria, Maximilian III., to write an + opera buffa for the Carnival of 1775,—"La finta Giardiniera." + </p> + <p> + <br />53. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Dec. 28, 1774. + </p> + <p> + My Dearest Sister, + </p> + <p> + I entreat you not to forget, before your journey, [FOOTNOTE: Nannerl had + also the most eager desire to see the new opera, and the father at last + succeeded in getting a lodging for her in the large market place, in the + house of a widow, "a black-eyed brunette," Frau von Durst.] to perform + your promise, that is, to make a certain visit. I have my reasons for + this. Pray present my kind regards in that quarter, but in the most + impressive and tender manner—the most tender; and, oh!——but + I need not be in such anxiety on the subject, for I know my sister and her + peculiarly loving nature, and I feel quite convinced that she will do all + she can to give me pleasure—and from self-interest, too—rather + a spiteful hit that! [Nannerl was considered a little selfish by her + family.] + </p> + <p> + <br />54. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Dec. 30, 1774. + </p> + <p> + I BEG my compliments to Roxalana, who is to drink tea this evening with + the Sultan, All sorts of pretty speeches to Madlle. Mizerl; she must not + doubt my love. I have her constantly before my eyes in her fascinating + neglige. I have seen many pretty girls here, but not one whose beauty can + be compared with hers. Do not forget to bring the variations on Ekart's + menuet d'exaude, and also those on Fischer's minuet. I was at the theatre + last night. The play was "Der Mode nach der Haushaltung," which was + admirably acted. My kind regards to all my friends. I trust that you will + not fail to—Farewell! I hope to see you soon in Munich. Frau von + Durst sends you her remembrances. Is it true that Hagenauer is become a + professor of sculpture in Vienna? Kiss mamma's hand for me, and now I stop + for to-day. Wrap yourself up warmly on your journey, I entreat, or else + you may chance to pass the fourteen days of your visit in the house, + stifling beside a stove, unable once to move. I see the vivid lightning + flash, and fear there soon will be a crash! + </p> + <p> + Your brother. + </p> + <p> + <br />55. + </p> + <p> + To HIS MOTHER. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Jan. 11, 1775. + </p> + <p> + WE are all three well, Heaven be praised! I cannot possibly write much, + for I must go forthwith to the rehearsal. Tomorrow the grand rehearsal + takes place, and on the 13th my opera is to be in scena. I am much vexed + that you should cast any slight on Count Seeau [Intendant of the Munich + Theatre], for no one can be more kind or courteous, and he has more good + breeding than many of his degree in Munich. Herr von Molk was in such a + state of wonder and admiration at the opera seria when he heard it, that + we felt quite ashamed of him, for it clearly showed every one that he had + never in his life seen anything but Salzburg and Innspruck. Addio! + </p> + <p> + <br />56. + </p> + <p> + To HIS MOTHER. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Jan. 14, 1775. + </p> + <p> + GOD be praised! My opera was given yesterday, the 13th, and proved so + successful that I cannot possibly describe all the tumult. In the first + place, the whole theatre was so crammed that many people were obliged to + go away. After each aria there was invariably a tremendous uproar and + clapping of hands, and cries of Viva Maestro! Her Serene Highness the + Electress and the Dowager (who were opposite me) also called out Bravo! + When the opera was over, during the interval when all is usually quiet + till the ballet begins, the applause and shouts of Bravo! were renewed; + sometimes there was a lull, but only to recommence afresh, and so forth. I + afterwards went with papa to a room through which the Elector and the + whole court were to pass. I kissed the hands of the Elector and the + Electress and the other royalties, who were all very gracious. At an early + hour this morning the Prince Bishop of Chiemsee [who had most probably + procured the scrittura for his young friend Wolfgang] sent to congratulate + me that the opera had proved such a brilliant success in every respect. As + to our return home, it is not likely to be soon, nor should mamma wish it, + for she must know well what a good thing it is to have a little breathing + time. We shall come quite soon enough to——. One most just and + undeniable reason is, that my opera is to be given again on Friday next, + and I am very necessary at the performance, or it might be difficult to + recognize it again. There are very odd ways here. 1000 kisses to Miss + Bimberl [the dog]. + </p> + <p> + The Archbishop of Salzburg, who was very reluctant to admit the merits of + his Concertmeister, was an involuntary witness of the universal + approbation bestowed on Wolfgang's opera, although he would not go to hear + it himself. On the 18th of January, 1775, Wolfgang added the following + lines to his father's letter:— + </p> + <p> + <br />57. + </p> + <p> + MY DEAR SISTER, + </p> + <p> + [FOOTNOTE: Nannerl had not yet gone home, but was enjoying the Carnival in + various masks.] + </p> + <p> + How can I help the clock choosing at this moment to strike a quarter after + seven o'clock? It is not papa's fault either. Mamma will hear all the rest + from you. At present there is no fair sailing for me, as the Archbishop is + staying here, though not for long. It is currently reported that he is to + remain till he sets off again! I only regret that he is not to see the + first masked ball. + </p> + <p> + Your faithful FRANZ v. NASENBLUT. + </p> + <p> + Milan, May 5, 1756. + </p> + <p> + Immediately after Ash Wednesday the trio returned to Salzburg, where + Mozart remained uninterruptedly for another year and a half, actively + engaged in the duties of his situation. He wrote the following letter on + the 4th of September, 1776, to the celebrated Pater Martini in Bologna:— + </p> + <p> + <br />58. + </p> + <p> + MOLTO REVDO PADE MAESTRO, PADRONE MIO STIMATISSIMO,—La venerazione, + la stima e il rispetto, che porto verso la di lei degnissima persona mi + spinse di incommodarla colle presente e di mandargli un debole pezzo di + mia musica, rimmettendola alla di lei maestrale giudicatura. Scrissi + l'anno scorso il Carnevale una opera buffa ("La finta Giardiniera") a + Monaco in Baviera. Pochi giorni avanti la mia partenza di la desiderava S. + A. Elletorale di sentire qualche mia musica in contrapunto: era adunque + obligato di scriver questo Motetto in fretta per dar tempo a copiar il + spartito per Sua Altezza ed a cavar le parti per poter produrlo la + prossima domenica sotto la Messa grande in tempo del Offertorio. Carissimo + e stimatissimo Sigr. P. Maestro! Lei e ardentemente pregato di dirmi + francamente e senza riserva il di lei parere. Viviamo in questo mondo per + imparare sempre industriosamente, e per mezzo dei raggionamenti di + illuminarsi l'un l'altro e d'affatigarsi di portar via sempre avanti le + scienze e le belle arti. Oh quante e quante volte desidero d'esser piu + vicino per poter parlar e raggionar con Vostra Paternita molto Revda. Vivo + in una paese dove la musica fa pocchissimo fortuna, benche oltre di quelli + che ci hanno abandonati, ne abbiamo ancora bravissimi professori e + particolarmente compositori di gran fondo, sapere e gusto. Per il teatro + stiamo male per mancanza dei recitanti. Non abbiamo Musici e non gli + averemo si facilmente, giache vogliono esser ben pagati: e la generosita, + non e il nostro difetto. Io mi diverto intanto a scrivere per la camera e + per la chiesa: e ne son quivi altri due bravissimi contrapuntisti, cioe il + Sgr. Haydn e Adlgasser. Il mio padre e maestro della chiesa Metropolitana, + che mi da l'occasione di scrivere per la chiesa, quanto che ne voglio. Per + altro il mio padre gia 36 anni in servizio di questa Corte e sapendo, che + questo Arcivescovo non puo e non vuol vedere gente avanzata in eta, non lo + se ne prende a core, si e messo alla letteratura per altro gia suo studio + favorito. La nostra musica di chiesa e assai differente di quella d'Italia + e sempre piu, che una Messa con tutto il Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, la Sonata + all' Epistola, l'Offertorio osia Motetto, Sanctus ed Agnus Dei, ed anche + la piu solenne, quando dice la Messa il Principe stesso, non ha da durare + che al piu longo 3 quarti d'ora. Ci vuole un studio particolare per queste + sorte di compositione, e che deve pero essere una Messa con tutti + stromenti—Trombe di guerra, Tympani ecc. Ah! che siamo si lontani + Carissmo Sgr. P. Maestro, quante cose che avrai a dirgli!—Reverisco + devotamente tutti i Sgri. Filarmonici: mi raccommando via sempre nelle + grazie di lei e non cesso d'affligermi nel vedermi lontano dalla persona + del mondo che maggiormente amo, venero e stimo, e di cui inviolabilmente + mi protesto di V. Pta molto Rda + </p> + <p> + umilissmo e devotssmo servitore, + </p> + <p> + WOLFGANGO AMADEO MOZART. + </p> + <p> + Salisburgo, 4 Settembre, 1776. + </p> + <p> + [FOOTNOTE: + </p> + <p> + To Father Martini. + </p> + <p> + "Salzburg, Sept. 4, 1776. + </p> + <p> + "MOST REVEREND AND ESTEEMED FATHER AND MAESTRO,— + </p> + <p> + "The veneration, the esteem, and the respect I feel for your illustrious + person, induce me to intrude on you with this letter, and also to send you + a small portion of my music, which I venture to submit to your masterly + judgment. Last year, at Monaco, in Bavaria, I wrote an opera buffa ("La + finta Giardiniera") for the Carnival. A few days previous to my departure + from thence, his Electoral Highness wished to hear some of my contrapuntal + music; I was therefore obliged to write this motett in haste, to allow + time for the score to be copied for his Highness, and to arrange the parts + so that it might be produced on the following Sunday at grand mass at the + offertory. Most dear and highly esteemed Maestro, I do entreat you to give + me unreservedly your candid opinion of the motett. We live in this world + in order always to learn industriously, and to enlighten each other by + means of discussion, and to strive vigorously to promote the progress of + science and the fine arts. Oh, how many and many a time have I desired to + be nearer you, that I might converse and discuss with your Reverence! I + live in a country where music has very little success, though, exclusive + of those who have forsaken us, we have still admirable professors, and + more particularly composers of great solidity, knowledge, and taste. We + are rather badly off at the theatre from the want of actors. We have no + MUSICI, nor shall we find it very easy to get any, because they insist + upon being well paid, and generosity is not a failing of ours. I amuse + myself in the mean time by writing church and chamber music, and we have + two excellent contrapuntists here, Haydn and Adlgasser. My father is + maestro at the Metropolitan church, which gives me an opportunity to write + for the church as much as I please. Moreover, my father has been + thirty-six years in the service of this court, and knowing that our + present Archbishop neither can nor will endure the sight of elderly + people, he does not take it to heart, but devotes himself to literature, + which was always his favorite pursuit Our church music is rather different + from that of Italy, and the more so, as a mass including the Kyne, Gloria, + Credo, the Sonata all Epistola, the Offertory or Motett, Sanctus, and + Agnus Dei, and even a solemn mass, when the Prince himself officiates, + must never last more than three-quarters of an hour. A particular course + of study is required for this class of composition. And what must such a + mass be, scored with all the instruments, war-drums, cymbals, &c, + &c! Oh! why are we so far apart, dearest Signor Maestro? for how many + things I have to say to you! I devoutly revere all the Signori + Filarmonici. I venture to recommend myself to your good opinion, I shall + never cease regretting being so distant from the person in the world whom + I most love, venerate, and esteem. I beg to subscribe myself, reverend + Father, always your most humble and devoted servant, + </p> + <p> + "WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART"] + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + SECOND PART.—MUNICH, AUGSBURG, MANNHEIM.—SEPTEMBER 1771 TO + MARCH 1778. + </h2> + <p> + On the 22d of December, 1777, Mozart's father wrote as follows to Padre + Martini in Bologna:—"My son has been now five years in the service + of our Prince, at a mere nominal salary, hoping that by degrees his + earnest endeavors and any talents he may possess, combined with the utmost + industry and most unremitting study, would be rewarded; but in this hope + we find ourselves deceived. I forbear all allusion to our Prince's mode of + thinking and acting; but he was not ashamed to declare that my son knew + nothing, and that he ought to go to the musical training school in Naples + to learn music. And why did he say all this? In order to intimate that a + young man should not be so absurd as to believe that he deserved a rather + higher salary after such a decisive verdict had issued from the lips of a + prince. This has induced me to sanction my son giving up his present + situation. He therefore left Salzburg on the 23d of September" [with his + mother]. + </p> + <p> + <br />59. + </p> + <p> + Wasserburg, Sept. 23, 1777. + </p> + <p> + Mon Tres-Cher Pere,— + </p> + <p> + God be praised! we reached Waging, Stain, Ferbertshaim, and Wasserburg + safely. Now for a brief report of our journey. When we arrived at the city + gates, we were kept waiting for nearly a quarter of an hour till they + could be thrown open for us, as they were under repair. Near Schinn we met + a drove of cows, and one of these very remarkable, for each side was a + different color, which we never before saw. When at last we got to Schinn, + we met a carriage, which stopped, and ecce, our postilion called out we + must change. "I don't care," said I. Mamma and I were parleying, when a + portly gentleman came up, whose physiognomy I at once recognized; he was a + Memmingen merchant. He stared at me for some time, and at last said, "You + surely are Herr Mozart?" "At your service," said I; "I know you, too, by + sight, but not your name. I saw you, a year ago, at Mirabell's [the palace + garden in Salzburg] at a concert." He then told me his name, which, thank + God! I have forgotten; but I retained one of probably more importance to + me. When I saw this gentleman in Salzburg, he was accompanied by a young + man whose brother was now with him, and who lives in Memmingen. His name + is Herr Unhold, and he pressed me very much to come to Memmingen if + possible. We sent a hundred thousand loves to papa by them, and to my + sister, the madcap, which they promised to deliver without fail. This + change of carriages was a great bore to me, for I wished to send a letter + back from Waging by the postilion. We then (after a slight meal) had the + honor of being conveyed as far as Stain, by the aforesaid post-horses, in + an hour and a half. At Waging I was alone for a few minutes with the + clergyman, who looked quite amazed, knowing nothing of our history. From + Stain we were driven by a most tiresome phlegmatic postilion—N. B., + in driving I mean; we thought we never were to arrive at the next stage. + At last we did arrive, as you may see from my writing this letter. (Mamma + is half asleep.) From Ferbertshaim to Wasserburg all went on well. Viviamo + come i principi; we want nothing except you, dear papa. Well, this is the + will of God; no doubt all will go on right. I hope to hear that papa is as + well as I am and as happy. Nothing comes amiss to me; I am quite a second + papa, and look after everything.[Footnote: The father had been very uneasy + at the idea of allowing the inexperienced youth, whose unsuspicious + good-nature exposed him still more to danger, to travel alone; for the + mother also was not very expert in travelling.] I settled from the first + to pay the postilions, for I can talk to such fellows better than mamma. + At the Stern, in Wasserburg, we are capitally served; I am treated here + like a prince. About half an hour ago (mamma being engaged at the time) + the Boots knocked at the door to take my orders about various things, and + I gave them to him with the same grave air that I have in my portrait. + Mamma is just going to bed. We both beg that papa will be careful of his + health, not go out too early, nor fret, [Footnote: The Father was strongly + disposed to hypochondria.] but laugh and be merry and in good spirits. We + think the Mufti H. C. [the Archbishop Hieronymus Colloredo] a MUFF, but we + know God to be compassionate, merciful, and loving. I kiss papa's hands a + thousand times, and embrace my SISTER MADCAP as often as I have to-day + taken snuff. I think I have left my diplomas at home? [his appointment at + court.] I beg you will send them to me soon. My pen is rude, and I am not + refined. + </p> + <p> + <br />60. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Sept. 26, 1777. + </p> + <p> + WE arrived safely in Munich on the afternoon of the 24th, at half-past + four o'clock. A complete novelty to me was being obliged to drive to the + Custom House, escorted by a grenadier with a fixed bayonet. The first + person we knew, who met us when driving, was Signor Consoli; he recognized + me at once, and showed the utmost joy at seeing me again. Next day he + called on us. I cannot attempt to describe the delight of Herr Albert [the + "learned landlord" of the Black Eagle, on the Kaufinger Gasse, now Hotel + Detzer]; he is indeed a truly honest man, and a very good friend of ours. + On my arrival I went to the piano, and did not leave it till dinner-time. + Herr Albert was not at home, but he soon came in, and we went down to + dinner together. There I met M. Sfeer and a certain secretary, an intimate + friend of his; both send their compliments to you. Though tired by our + journey, we did not go to bed till late; we, however, rose next morning at + seven o'clock. My hair was in such disorder that I could not go to Count + Seeau's till half-past ten o'clock. When I got there I was told that he + had driven out to the chasse. Patience! In the mean time I wished to call + on Chorus-master Bernard, but he had gone to the country with Baron + Schmid. I found Herr von Belvall deeply engaged in business; he sent you a + thousand compliments. Rossi came to dinner, and at two o'clock Consoli, + and at three arrived Becke [a friend of Mozart's and an admirable + flute-player], and also Herr von Belvall. I paid a visit to Frau von Durst + [with whom Nannerl had lived], who now lodges with the Franciscans. At six + o'clock I took a short walk with Herr Becke. There is a Professor Huber + here, whom you may perhaps remember better than I do; he says that the + last time he either saw or heard me was at Vienna, at Herr von Mesmer's, + junior. He is neither tall nor short, pale, with silvery-gray hair, and + his physiognomy rather like that of Herr Unterbereiter. This gentleman is + vice-intendant of the theatre; his occupation is to read through all the + comedies to be acted, to improve or to spoil, to add to or to put them + aside. He comes every evening to Albert's, and often talks to me. To-day, + Friday, the 26th, I called on Count Seeau at half-past eight o'clock. This + was what passed. As I was going into the house I met Madame Niesser, the + actress, just coming out, who said, "I suppose you wish to see the Count?" + "Yes!" "He is still in his garden, and Heaven knows when he may come!" I + asked her where the garden was. "As I must see him also," said she, "let + us go together." We had scarcely left the house when we saw the Count + coming towards us about twelve paces off; he recognized and instantly + named me. He was very polite, and seemed already to know all that had + taken place about me. We went up the steps together slowly and alone; I + told him briefly the whole affair. He said that I ought at once to request + an audience of his Highness the Elector, but that, if I failed in + obtaining it, I must make a written statement. I entreated him to keep + this all quite private, and he agreed to do so. When I remarked to him + that there really was room for a genuine composer here, he said, "I know + that well." I afterwards went to the Bishop of Chiemsee, and was with him + for half an hour. I told him everything, and he promised to do all he + could for me in the matter. At one o'clock he drove to Nymphenburg, and + declared positively he would speak to the Electress. On Sunday the Count + comes here. Herr Joannes Kronner has been appointed Vice-Concertmeister, + which he owes to a blunt speech of his. He has produced two symphonies—Deo + mene liberi [God preserve me from such]—of his own composition. The + Elector asked him, "Did you really compose these?" "Yes, your Royal + Highness!" "From whom did you learn?" "From a schoolmaster in Switzerland, + where so much importance is attached to the study of composition. This + schoolmaster taught me more than all your composers here, put together, + could teach me." Count Schonborn and his Countess, a sister of the + Archbishop [of Salzburg], passed through here to-day. I chanced to be at + the play at the time. Herr Albert, in the course of conversation, told + them that I was here, and that I had given up my situation. They were all + astonishment, and positively refused to believe him when he said that my + salary, of blessed memory, was only twelve florins thirty kreuzers! They + merely changed horses, and would gladly have spoken with me, but I was too + late to meet them. Now I must inquire what you are doing, and how you are. + Mamma and I hope that you are quite well. I am still in my very happiest + humor; my head feels as light as a feather since I got away from that + chicanery. I have grown fatter already. + </p> + <p> + <br />61. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Sept. 29, 1777. + </p> + <p> + TRUE enough, a great many kind friends, but unluckily most of them have + little or nothing in their power. I was with Count Seeau yesterday, at + half-past ten o'clock, and found him graver and less natural than the + first time; but it was only in appearance, for to-day I was at Prince + Zeill's [Bishop of Chiemsee—No. 56], who, with all courtesy, said to + me, "I don't think we shall effect much here. During dinner, at + Nymphenburg, I spoke privately to the Elector, who replied: 'It is too + soon at this moment; he must leave this and go to Italy and become famous. + I do not actually reject him, but these are too early days as yet.'" There + it is! Most of these grandees have such paroxysms of enthusiasm for Italy. + Still, he advised me to go to the Elector, and to place my case before him + as I had previously intended. I spoke confidentially at dinner to-day with + Herr Woschitka [violoncellist in the Munich court orchestra, and a member + of the Elector's private band], and he appointed me to come to-morrow at + nine o'clock, when he will certainly procure me an audience. We are very + good friends now. He insisted on knowing the name of my informant; but I + said to him, "Rest assured that I am your friend and shall continue to be + so; I am in turn equally convinced of your friendship, so you must be + satisfied with this." But to return to my narrative. The Bishop of + Chiemsee also spoke to the Electress when tete-a-tete with her. She + shrugged her shoulders, and said she would do her best, but was very + doubtful as to her success. I now return to Count Seeau, who asked Prince + Zeill (after he had told him everything). "Do you know whether Mozart has + not enough from his family to enable him to remain here with a little + assistance? I should really like to keep him." Prince Zeill answered: "I + don't know, but I doubt it much; all you have to do is to speak to himself + on the subject." This, then, was the cause of Count Seeau being so + thoughtful on the following day. I like being here, and I am of the same + opinion with many of my friends, that if I could only remain here for a + year or two, I might acquire both money and fame by my works, and then + more probably be sought by the court than be obliged to seek it myself. + Since my return here Herr Albert has a project in his head, the fulfilment + of which does not seem to me impossible. It is this: He wishes to form an + association of ten kind friends, each of these to subscribe 1 ducat (50 + gulden) monthly, 600 florins a year. If in addition to this I had even 200 + florins per annum from Count Seeau, this would make 800 florins + altogether. How does papa like this idea? Is it not friendly? Ought not I + to accept it if they are in earnest? I am perfectly satisfied with it; for + I should be near Salzburg, and if you, dearest papa, were seized with a + fancy to leave Salzburg (which from my heart I wish you were) and to pass + your life in Munich, how easy and pleasant would it be! For if we are + obliged to live in Salzburg with 504 florins, surely we might live in + Munich with 800. + </p> + <p> + To-day, the 30th, after a conversation with Herr Woschitka, I went to + court by appointment. Every one was in hunting-costume. Baron Kern was the + chamberlain on service. I might have gone there last night, but I could + not offend M. Woschitka, who himself offered to find me an opportunity of + speaking to the Elector. At 10 o'clock he took me into a narrow little + room, through which his Royal Highness was to pass on his way to hear + mass, before going to hunt. Count Seeau went by, and greeted me very + kindly: "How are you, dear Mozart?" When the Elector came up to me, I + said, "Will your Royal Highness permit me to pay my homage and to offer + your Royal Highness my services?" "So you have finally left Salzburg?" "I + have left it forever, your Royal Highness. I only asked leave to make a + journey, and being refused, I was obliged to take this step, although I + have long intended to leave Salzburg, which is no place for me, I feel + sure." "Good heavens! you are quite a young man. But your father is still + in Salzburg?" "Yes, your Royal Highness; he humbly lays his homage at your + feet, &c., &c. I have already been three times in Italy. I have + written three operas, and am a member of the Bologna Academy; I underwent + a trial where several maestri toiled and labored for four or five hours, + whereas I finished my work in one. This is a sufficient testimony that I + have abilities to serve any court. My greatest wish is to be appointed by + your Royal Highness, who is himself such a great &c., &c." "But, + my good young friend, I regret that there is not a single vacancy. If + there were only a vacancy!" "I can assure your Royal Highness that I would + do credit to Munich." "Yes, but what does that avail when there is no + vacancy?" This he said as he was moving on; so I bowed and took leave of + his Royal Highness. Herr Woschitka advises me to place myself often in the + way of the Elector. This afternoon I went to Count Salern's. His daughter + is a maid of honor, and was one of the hunting-party. Ravani and I were in + the street when the whole procession passed. The Elector and the Electress + noticed me very kindly. Young Countess Salern recognized me at once, and + waved her hand to me repeatedly. Baron Rumling, whom I had previously seen + in the antechamber, never was so courteous to me as on this occasion. I + will soon write to you what passed with Salern. He was very kind, polite, + and straightforward.—P. S. Ma tres-chere soeur, next time I mean to + write you a letter all for yourself. My remembrances to B. C. M. R. and + various other letters of the alphabet. Adieu! A man built a house here and + inscribed on it: "Building is beyond all doubt an immense pleasure, but I + little thought that it would cost so much treasure." During the night some + one wrote underneath, "You ought first to have counted the cost." + </p> + <p> + <br />62. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Oct. 2, 1777. + </p> + <p> + YESTERDAY, October 1st, I was again at Count Salern's, and to-day I even + dined with him. I have played a great deal during the last three days, and + with right good will too. Papa must not, however, imagine that I like to + be at Count Salern's on account of the young lady; by no means, for she is + unhappily in waiting, and therefore never at home, but I am to see her at + court to-morrow morning, at ten o'clock, in company with Madame Hepp, + formerly Madlle. Tosson. On Saturday the court leaves this, and does not + return till the 20th. To-morrow I am to dine with Madame and Madlle. de + Branca, the latter being a kind of half pupil of mine, for Sigl seldom + comes, and Becke, who usually accompanies her on the flute, is not here. + On the three days that I was at Count Salern's I played a great many + things extempore—two Cassations [Divertimentos] for the Countess, + and the finale and Rondo, and the latter by heart. You cannot imagine the + delight this causes Count Salern. He understands music, for he was + constantly saying Bravo! while other gentlemen were taking snuff, humming + and hawing, and clearing their throats, or holding forth. I said to him, + "How I do wish the Elector were only here, that he might hear me play! He + knows nothing of me—he does not know what I can do. How sad it is + that these great gentlemen should believe what any one tells them, and do + not choose to judge for themselves! BUT IT IS ALWAYS SO. Let him put me to + the test. He may assemble all the composers in Munich, and also send in + quest of some from Italy and France, Germany, and England and Spain, and I + will undertake to write against them all." I related to him all that had + occurred to me in Italy, and begged him, if the conversation turned on me, + to bring in these things. He said, "I have very little influence, but the + little that is in my power I will do with pleasure." He is also decidedly + of opinion that if I could only remain here, the affair would come right + of itself. It would not be impossible for me to contrive to live, were I + alone here, for I should get at least 300 florins from Count Seeau. My + board would cost little, for I should be often invited out; and even were + it not so, Albert would always be charmed to see me at dinner in his + house. I eat little, drink water, and for dessert take only a little fruit + and a small glass of wine. Subject to the advice of my kind friends, I + would make the following contract with Count Seeau:—I would engage + to produce every year four German operas, partly buffe and partly serie; + from each of these I should claim the profits of one performance, for such + is the custom here. This alone would bring me in 500 florins, which along + with my salary would make up 800 florins, but in all probability more; for + Reiner, an actor and singer, cleared 200 florins by his benefit, and I am + VERY MUCH BELOVED HERE, and how much more so should I be if I contributed + to the elevation of the national theatre of Germany in music! And this + would certainly be the case with me, for I was inspired with the most + eager desire to write when I heard the German operettas. The name of the + first singer here is Keiserin; her father is cook to a count here; she is + a very pleasing girl, and pretty on the stage; I have not yet seen her + near. She is a native of this place. When I heard her it was only her + third appearance on the stage. She has a fine voice, not powerful, though + by no means weak, very pure, and a good intonation. Her instructor is + Valesi; and her style of singing shows that her master knows how to sing + as well as how to teach. When she sustains her voice for a couple of bars, + I am quite surprised at the beauty of her crescendo and decrescendo. She + as yet takes her shakes slowly, and this I highly approve of, for it will + be all the more pure and clear if she ever wishes to take it quicker; + besides, it is easier when quick. She is a great favorite with the people + here, and with me. + </p> + <p> + Mamma was in the pit; she went as early as half-past four o'clock to get a + place. I, however, did not go till half-past six o'clock, for I can go to + any box I please, being pretty well known. I was in the Brancas' box; I + looked at Keiserin with my opera-glass, and at times she drew tears from + my eyes. I often called out bravo, bravissimo, for I always remembered + that it was only her third appearance. The piece was Das Fischermadchen, a + very good translation of Piccini's opera, with his music. As yet they have + no original pieces, but are now anxious soon to give a German opera seria, + and a strong wish prevails that I should compose it. The aforesaid + Professor Huber is one of those who wish this. I shall now go to bed, for + I can sit up no longer. It is just ten o'clock. Baron Rumling lately paid + me the following compliment: "The theatre is my delight—good actors + and actresses, good singers, and a clever composer, such as yourself." + This is indeed only talk, and words are not of much value, but he never + before spoke to me in this way. + </p> + <p> + I write this on the 3d of October. To-morrow the court departs, and does + not return till the 20th. If it had remained here, I would have taken the + step I intended, and stayed on here for a time; but as it is, I hope to + resume my journey with mamma next Tuesday. But meanwhile the project of + the associated friends, which I lately wrote to you about, may be + realized, so that when we no longer care to travel we shall have a + resource to fall back upon. Herr von Krimmel was to-day with the Bishop of + Chiemsee, with whom he has a good deal to do on the subject of salt. He is + a strange man; here he is called "your Grace,"—that is, THE LACKEYS + do so. Having a great desire that I should remain here, he spoke very + zealously to the Prince in my favor. He said to me, "Only let me alone; I + will speak to the Prince, and I have a right to do so, for I have done + many things to oblige him." The Prince promised him that I should + POSITIVELY be appointed, but the affair cannot be so quickly settled. On + the return of the court he is to speak to the Elector with all possible + earnestness and zeal. At eight o'clock this morning I called on Count + Seeau. I was very brief, and merely said, "I have only come, your + Excellency, to explain my case clearly. I have been told that I ought to + go to Italy, which is casting a reproach on me. I was sixteen months in + Italy, I have written three operas, and all this is notorious enough. What + further occurred, your Excellency will see from these papers." And after + showing him the diplomata, I added, "I only show these and say this to + your Excellency that, in the event of my being spoken of, and any + injustice done me, your Excellency may with good grounds take my part." He + asked me if I was now going to France. I said I intended to remain in + Germany; by this, however, he supposed I meant Munich, and said, with a + merry laugh, "So you are to stay here after all?" I replied, "No! to tell + you the truth, I should like to have stayed, if the Elector had favored me + with a small sum, so that I might then have offered my compositions to + your Excellency devoid of all interested motives. It would have been a + pleasure to me to do this." At these words he half lifted his skull-cap. + </p> + <p> + At ten o'clock I went to court to call on Countess Salern. I dined + afterwards with the Brancas. Herr Geheimrath von Branca, having been + invited by the French Ambassador, was not at home. He is called "your + Excellency." Countess Salern is a Frenchwoman, and scarcely knows a word + of German; so I have always been in the habit of talking French to her. I + do so quite boldly, and she says that I don't speak at all badly, and that + I have the good habit of speaking slowly, which makes me more easily + understood. She is a most excellent person, and very well-bred. The + daughter plays nicely, but fails in time. I thought this arose from want + of ear on her part, but I find I can blame no one but her teacher, who is + too indulgent and too easily satisfied. I practised with her to-day, and I + could pledge myself that if she were to learn from me for a couple of + months, she would play both well and accurately. + </p> + <p> + At four o'clock I went to Frau von Tosson's, where I found mamma and also + Frau von Hepp. I played there till eight o'clock, and after that we went + home; and at half-past nine a small band of music arrived, consisting of + five persons—two clarionet-players, two horns, and one bassoon. Herr + Albert (whose name-day is to-morrow) arranged this music in honor of me + and himself. They played rather well together, and were the same people + whom we hear during dinner at Albert's, but it is well known that they are + trained by Fiala. They played some of his pieces, and I must say they are + very pretty: he has some excellent ideas. To-morrow we are to have a small + musical party together, where I am to play. (Nota bene, on that miserable + piano! oh, dear! oh, dear! oh, dear!) I beg you will excuse my horrid + writing, but ink, haste, sleep, and dreams are all against me. I am now + and forever amen, your dutiful son, + </p> + <p> + A. W. MOZART. + </p> + <p> + <br />63. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Oct. 6, 1777. + </p> + <p> + Mamma cannot write; in the first place, she is not inclined, and, + secondly, she has a headache. So I must hold the pen for her and keep + faith with her. I am just going with the Professor to call on Madlle. + Keiserin. Yesterday we had in our house a clerical wedding, or altum + tempus ecclesiasticum. There was dancing, but I only danced four minuets, + and was in my own room again by eleven o'clock, for, out of fifty young + ladies, there was only one who danced in time—Madlle. Kaser, a + sister of Count Perusa's secretary. The Professor thought fit to leave me + in the lurch, so I did not go to Madlle. Keiserin, because I don't know + where she lives. Last Saturday, the 4th, on the stately and solemn + occasion of the name-day of his Royal Highness the Archduke Albert, we had + a select music-party at home, which commenced at half-past three o'clock + and finished at eight. M. Dubreil, whom papa no doubt remembers, was also + present; he is a pupil of Tartini's. In the forenoon he gave a lesson on + the violin to the youngest son, Carl, and I chanced to come in at the + time, I never gave him credit for much talent, but I saw that he took + great pains in giving his lesson; and when we entered into conversation + about violin, concert, and orchestral playing, he reasoned very well, and + was always of my opinion, so I retracted my former sentiments with regard + to him, and was persuaded that I should find him play well in time, and a + correct violinist in the orchestra. I, therefore, invited him to be so + kind as to attend our little music rehearsal that afternoon. We played, + first of all, the two quintets of Haydn, but to my dismay I could scarcely + hear Dubreil, who could not play four continuous bars without a mistake. + He could never find the positions, and he was no good friend to the + sospirs [short pauses]. The only good thing was that he spoke politely and + praised the quintets; otherwise—As it was, I said nothing to him, + but he kept constantly saying himself, "I beg your pardon, but really I am + out again! the thing is puzzling, but fine!" I invariably replied, "It + does not in the least signify; we are only among ourselves." I then played + the concertos in C, in B, and in E flat, and after that a trio of mine. + This was finely accompanied, truly! In the adagio I was obliged to play + six bars of his part. As a finale, I played my last divertimento in B; + they all pricked up their ears. I played as if I had been the greatest + violin-player in all Europe. + </p> + <p> + The Sunday after, at three o'clock, we were at a certain Herr von Hamm's. + The Bishop of Chiemsee set off to-day for Salzburg. N. B.—I send my + sister, by him, "6 duetti a clavicembalo e violino," by Schuster. I have + often played them here; they are by no means bad. If I remain long enough, + I intend to compose six in this style, for it is much liked here. + </p> + <p> + <br />64. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Oct. 11, 1777. + </p> + <p> + WHY have I not as yet written anything about Misliweczeck? [See No. 43.] + Because I was only too glad not to think of him; for when he is spoken of + I invariably hear how highly he praises me, and what a kind and true + friend he is of mine; but then follow pity and lamentation. He was + described to me, and deeply was I distressed. How could I bear that + Misliweczeck, my intimate friend, should be in the same town, nay, even in + the same corner of the world with me, and neither see him nor speak to + him? Impossible! so I resolved to go to visit him. On the previous day, I + called on the manager of the Duke's Hospital to ask if I might see my + friend in the garden, which I thought best, though the doctors assured me + there was no longer any risk of infection. The manager agreed to my + proposal, and said I should find him in the garden between eleven and + twelve o'clock, and, if he was not there when I came, to send for him. + Next day I went with Herr von Hamm, secretary in the Crown Office, (of + whom I shall speak presently,) and mamma to the Duke's Hospital. Mamma + went into the Hospital church, and we into the garden. Misliweczeck was + not there, so we sent him a message. I saw him coming across, and knew him + at once from his manner of walking. I must tell you that he had already + sent me his remembrances by Herr Heller, a violoncello-player, and begged + me to visit him before I left Munich. When he came up to me, we shook + hands cordially. "You see," said he, "how unfortunate I am." These words + and his appearance, which papa is already aware of from description, so + went to my heart that I could only say, with tears in my eyes, "I pity you + from my heart, my dear friend." He saw how deeply I was affected, so + rejoined quite cheerfully, "Now tell me what you are doing; when I heard + that you were in Munich, I could scarcely believe it; how could Mozart be + here and not long ago have come to see me?" "I hope you will forgive me, + but I had such a number of visits to make, and I have so many kind friends + here." "I feel quite sure that you have indeed many kind friends, but a + truer friend than myself you cannot have." He asked me whether papa had + told me anything of a letter he had received. I said, "Yes, he did write + to me," (I was quite confused, and trembled so much in every limb that I + could scarcely speak,) "but he gave me no details." He then told me that + Signor Gaetano Santoro, the Neapolitan impresario, was obliged, owing to + impegni and protezione, to give the composition of the opera for this + Carnival to a certain Maestro Valentini; but he added, "Next year he has + three at liberty, one of which is to be at my service. But as I have + already composed six times for Naples, I don't in the least mind + undertaking the less promising one, and making over to you the best + libretto, viz. the one for the Carnival. God knows whether I shall be able + to travel by that time, but if not, I shall send back the scrittura. The + company for next year is good, being all people whom I have recommended. + You must know that I have such influence in Naples that, when I say engage + such a one, they do so at once." Marquesi is the primo uomo, whom he, and + indeed all Munich too, praises very highly; Marchiani is a good prima + donna; and there is a tenor, whose name I cannot recall, but Misliweczeck + says he is the best in all Italy. He also said, "I do beg of you to go to + Italy; there one is esteemed and highly prized." And in truth he is right. + When I come to reflect on the subject, in no country have I received such + honors, or been so esteemed, as in Italy, and nothing contributes more to + a man's fame than to have written Italian operas, and especially for + Naples. He said he would write a letter for me to Santoro, which I was to + copy out when I went to see him next day; but finding it impossible to + return, he sent me a sketch of the letter to-day. I was told that when + Misliweczeck heard people here speaking of Becke, or other performers on + the piano, he invariably said, "Let no one deceive himself; none can play + like Mozart; in Italy, where the greatest masters are, they speak of no + one but Mozart; when his name is mentioned, not a word is said of others." + I can now write the letter to Naples when I please; but, indeed, the + sooner the better. I should, however, first like to have the opinion of + that highly discreet Hofcapellmeister, Herr von Mozart. I have the most + ardent desire to write another opera. The distance is certainly great, but + the period is still a long way off when I am to write this opera, and + there may be many changes before then. I think I might at all events + undertake it. If, in the mean time, I get no situation, eh, bien! I shall + then have a resource in Italy. I am at all events certain to receive 100 + ducats in the Carnival; and when I have once written for Naples I shall be + sought for everywhere. As papa well knows, there is an opera buffa in + Naples in spring, summer, and autumn, for which I might write for the sake + of practice, not to be quite idle. It is true that there is not much to be + got by this, but still there is something, and it would be the means of + gaining more honor and reputation than by giving a hundred concerts in + Germany, and I am far happier when I have something to compose, which is + my chief delight and passion; and if I get a situation anywhere, or have + hopes of one, the scrittura would be a great recommendation to me, and + excite a sensation, and cause me to be more thought of. This is mere talk, + but still I say what is in my heart. If papa gives me any good grounds to + show that I am wrong, then I will give it up, though, I own, reluctantly. + Even when I hear an opera discussed, or am in a theatre myself and hear + voices, oh! I really am beside myself! + </p> + <p> + To-morrow, mamma and I are to meet Misliweczeck in the Hospital garden to + take leave of him; for he wished me last time to fetch mamma out of + church, as he said he should like to see the mother of so great a + virtuoso. My dear papa, do write to him as often as you have time to do + so; you cannot confer a greater pleasure on him, for the man is quite + forsaken. Sometimes he sees no one for a whole week, and he said to me, "I + do assure you it does seem so strange to me to see so few people; in Italy + I had company every day." He looks thin, of course, but is still full of + fire and life and genius, and the same kind, animated person he always + was. People talk much of his oratorio of "Abraham and Isaac," which he + produced here. He has just completed (with the exception of a few arias) a + Cantata, or Serenata, for Lent; and when he was at the worst he wrote an + opera for Padua. Herr Heller is just come from him. When I wrote to him + yesterday I sent him the Serenata that I wrote in Salzburg: for the + Archduke Maximilian ["Il Re Pastore"]. + </p> + <p> + Now to turn to something else. Yesterday I went with mamma immediately + after dinner to take coffee with the two Fraulein von Freysinger. Mamma, + however, took none, but drank two bottles of Tyrolese wine. At three + o'clock she went home again to make preparations for our journey. I, + however, went with the two ladies to Herr von Hamm's, whose three young + ladies each played a concerto, and I one of Aichner's prima vista, and + then went on extemporizing. The teacher of these little simpletons, the + Demoiselles Hamm, is a certain clerical gentleman of the name of Schreier. + He is a good organ-player, but no pianist. He kept staring at me with an + eye-glass. He is a reserved kind of man who does not talk much; he patted + me on the shoulder, sighed, and said, "Yes—you are—you + understand—yes—it is true—you are an out-and-outer!" By + the by, can you recall the name of Freysingen—the papa of the two + pretty girls I mentioned? He says he knows you well, and that he studied + with you. He particularly remembers Messenbrunn, where papa (this was + quite new to me) played most incomparably on the organ. He said, "It was + quite startling to see the pace at which both hands and feet went, but + quite inimitable; a thorough master indeed; my father thought a great deal + of him; and how he humbugged the priests about entering the Church! You + are just what he was then, as like as possible; only he was a degree + shorter when I knew him." A propos, a certain Hofrath Effeln sends you his + kind regards; he is one of the best Hofraths here, and would long ago have + been made chancellor but for one defect—TIPPLING. When we saw him + for the first time at Albert's, both mamma and I thought, "What an + odd-looking fish!" Just imagine a very tall man, stout and corpulent, and + a ridiculous face. When he crosses the room to another table, he folds + both hands on his stomach, stoops very low, and then draws himself up + again, and makes little nods; and when this is over he draws back his + right foot, and does this to each individual separately. He says that he + knows papa intimately. I am now going for a little to the play. Next time + I will write more fully, but I can't possibly go on to-day, for my fingers + do ache uncommonly. + </p> + <p> + Munich, October 11th, at 1/4 to 12 at night, I write as follows:—I + have been at the Drittl comedy, but only went in time for the ballet, or + rather the pantomime, which I had not before seen. It is called "Das von + der fur Girigaricanarimanarischaribari verfertigte Ei." It was very good + and funny. We are going to-morrow to Augsburg on account of Prince Taxis + not being at Ratisbon but at Teschingen. He is, in fact, at present at his + country-seat, which is, however, only an hour from Teschingen. I send my + sister, with this, four preludes; she will see and hear for herself the + different keys into which they lead. My compliments to all my kind + friends, particularly to young Count Arco, to Madlle. Sallerl, and to my + best of all friends, Herr Bullinger; I do beg that next Sunday at the + usual eleven-o'clock music he will be so good as to make an authoritative + oration in my name, and present my regards to all the members of the + orchestra and exhort them to industry, that I may not one day be accused + of being a humbug, for I have everywhere extolled their orchestra, and I + intend always to do so. + </p> + <p> + <br />65. + </p> + <p> + Augsburg, Oct. 14, 1777. + </p> + <p> + I HAVE made no mistake in my date, for I write before dinner, and I think + that next Friday, the day after to-morrow, we shall be off again. Pray + hear how generous the gentlemen of Augsburg are. In no place was I ever so + overwhelmed with marks of distinction as here. My first visit was to the + Stadtpfleger Longo Tabarro [Burgomaster Langenmantl]. My cousin, + [Footnote: Leopold Mozart had a brother in Augsburg, a bookbinder, whose + daughter, "das Basle" (the cousin), was two years younger than Mozart.] a + good, kind, honest man and worthy citizen, went with me, and had the honor + to wait in the hall like a footman till my interview with the high and + mighty Stadtpfleger was over. I did not fail first of all to present + papa's respectful compliments. He deigned graciously to remember you, and + said, "And pray how have things gone with him?" "Vastly well, God be + praised!" I instantly rejoined, "and I hope things have also gone well + with you?" He then became more civil, and addressed me in the third + person, so I called him "Sir"; though, indeed, I had done so from the + first. He gave me no peace till I went up with him to see his son-in-law + (on the second floor), my cousin meanwhile having the pleasure of waiting + in the staircase-hall. I was obliged to control myself with all my might, + or I must have given some polite hint about this. On going upstairs I had + the satisfaction of playing for nearly three-quarters of an hour on a good + clavichord of Stein's, in the presence of the stuck-up young son, and his + prim condescending wife, and the simple old lady. I first extemporized, + and then played all the music he had, prima, vista, and among others some + very pretty pieces of Edlmann's. Nothing could be more polite than they + all were, and I was equally so, for my rule is to behave to people just as + they behave to me; I find this to be the best plan. I said that I meant to + go to Stein's after dinner, so the young man offered to take me there + himself. I thanked him for his kindness, and promised to return at two + o'clock. I did so, and we went together in company with his + brother-in-law, who looks a genuine student. Although I had begged that my + name should not be mentioned, Herr von Langenmantl was so incautious as to + say, with a simper, to Herr Stein, "I have the honor to present to you a + virtuoso on the piano." I instantly protested against this, saying that I + was only an indifferent pupil of Herr Sigl in Munich, who had charged me + with a thousand compliments to him. Stein shook his head dubiously, and at + length said, "Surely I have the honor of seeing M. Mozart?" "Oh, no," said + I; "my name is Trazom, and I have a letter for you." He took the letter + and was about to break the seal instantly, but I gave him no time for + that, saying, "What is the use of reading the letter just now? Pray open + the door of your saloon at once, for I am so very anxious to see your + pianofortes." "With all my heart," said he, "just as you please; but for + all that I believe I am not mistaken." He opened the door, and I ran + straight up to one of the three pianos that stood in the room. I began to + play, and he scarcely gave himself time to glance at the letter, so + anxious was he to ascertain the truth; so he only read the signature. + "Oh!" cried he, embracing me, and crossing himself and making all sorts of + grimaces from intense delight. I will write to you another day about his + pianos. He then took me to a coffee-house, but when we went in I really + thought I must bolt, there was such a stench of tobacco-smoke, but for all + that I was obliged to bear it for a good hour. I submitted to it all with + a good grace, though I could have fancied that I was in Turkey. He made a + great fuss to me about a certain Graf, a composer (of flute concertos + only); and said, "He is something quite extraordinary," and every other + possible exaggeration. I became first hot and then cold from nervousness. + This Graf is a brother of the two who are in Harz and Zurich. He would not + give up his intention, but took me straight to him—a dignified + gentleman indeed; he wore a dressing-gown that I would not be ashamed to + wear in the street. All his words are on stilts, and he has a habit of + opening his mouth before knowing what he is going to say; so he often + shuts it again without having said anything. After a great deal of + ceremony he produced a concerto for two flutes; I was to play first + violin. The concerto is confused, not natural, too abrupt in its + modulations, and devoid of all genius. When it was over I praised it + highly, for, indeed, he deserves this. The poor man must have had labor + and study enough to write it. At last they brought a clavichord of Stein's + out of the next room, a very good one, but inch-thick with dust. Herr + Graf, who is director here, stood there looking like a man who had + hitherto believed his own modulations to be something very clever, but all + at once discovers that others may be still more so, and without grating on + the ear. In a word, they all seemed lost in astonishment. + </p> + <p> + <br />66. + </p> + <p> + Augsburg, Oct. 17, 1777. + </p> + <p> + WITH regard to the daughter of Hamm, the Secretary of War, I can only say + that there can be no doubt she has a decided talent for music, for she has + only learned three years, and can play a number of pieces very well. I + find it difficult, however, to explain distinctly the impression she makes + on me while she is playing; she seems to me so curiously constrained, and + she has such an odd way of stalking over the keys with her long bony + fingers! To be sure, she has had no really good master, and if she remains + in Munich she will never become what her father wishes and hopes, for he + is eager beyond measure that she should one day be a distinguished + pianiste. If she goes to papa at Salzburg, it will be a twofold benefit to + her, both as to music and common sense, of which she certainly has no + great share. She has often made me laugh very much, and you would have + amusement enough for your trouble. She is too absent to think of eating + much. You say I ought to have practised with her? I really could not for + laughing, for when I occasionally played something with the right hand, + she instantly said bravissimo, and that in the voice of a little mouse. + </p> + <p> + I will now relate to you as briefly as possible the Augsburg history to + which I have already alluded. Herr von Fingerle, who sent his compliments + to you, was also at Herr Graf's. The people were very civil, and discussed + the concert I proposed to give, all saying, "It will be one of the most + brilliant concerts ever given in Augsburg. You have a great advantage in + having made the acquaintance of our Stadtpfleger Langenmantl; besides, the + name of Mozart has much influence here." So we separated mutually pleased. + I must now tell you that Herr von Langenmantl, junior, when at Herr + Stein's, said that he would pledge himself to arrange a concert in the + Stube, [Footnote: The Bauernstube, the Patrician Casino.] (as something + very select, and complimentary to me,) for the nobility alone. You can't + think with what zeal he spoke, and promised to undertake it. We agreed + that I should call on him the next morning for the answer; accordingly I + went; this was on the 13th. He was very polite, but said that as yet he + could not say anything decided. I played there again for an hour, and he + invited me next day, the 14th, to dinner. In the forenoon he sent to beg + that I would come to him at eleven o'clock, and bring some pieces with me, + as he had asked some of the professional musicians, and they intended to + have some music. I immediately sent some music, and went myself at eleven, + when, with many lame excuses, he coolly said, "By the by, I could do + nothing about the concert; oh, I was in such a rage yesterday on your + account. The patrician members of the Casino said that their cashbox was + at a very low ebb, and that you were not the kind of virtuoso who could + expect a souverain d'or." I merely smiled, and said, "I quite agree with + them." N. B.—He is Intendant of Music in the Casino, and the old + father a magistrate! but I cared very little about it. We sat down to + dinner; the old gentleman also dined up-stairs with us, and was very + civil, but did not say a word about the concert. After dinner I played two + concertos, something out of my head, and then a trio of Hafeneder's on the + violin. I would gladly have played more, but I was so badly accompanied + that it gave me the colic. He said to me, good-naturedly, "Don't let us + part company to-day; go to the play with us, and return here to supper." + We were all very merry. When we came back from the theatre, I played again + till we went to supper. Young Langenmantl had already questioned me in the + forenoon about my cross, [Footnote: Mozart, by his father's desire, wore + the "Order of the Golden Spur," conferred on him by the Pope.] and I told + him exactly how I got it, and what it was. He and his brother-in-law said + over and over again, "Let us order a cross, too, that we may be on a par + with Herr Mozart." I took no notice of this. They also repeatedly said, + "Hallo! you sir! Knight of the Spur!" I said not a word; but during supper + it became really too bad. "What may it have cost? three ducats? must you + have permission to wear it? Do you pay extra for leave to do so? We really + must get one just like it." An officer there of the name of Bach, said, + "For shame! what would you do with the cross?" That young ass, Kurzen + Mantl, winked at him, but I saw him, and he knew that I did. A pause + ensued, and then he offered me snuff, saying, "There, show that you don't + care a pinch of snuff for it." I still said nothing. At length he began + once more in a sneering tone: "I may then send to you to-morrow, and you + will be so good as to lend me the cross for a few minutes, and I will + return it immediately after I have spoken to the goldsmith about it. I + know that when I ask him its value (for he is a queer kind of man) he will + say a Bavarian thaler; it can't be worth more, for it is not gold, only + copper, ha! ha!" I said, "By no means—it is lead, ha! ha!" I was + burning with anger and rage. "I say," rejoined he, "I suppose I may, if + need be, leave out the spur?" "Oh, yes," said I, "for you have one already + in your head; I, too, have one in mine, but of a very different kind, and + I should be sorry to exchange mine for yours; so there, take a pinch of + snuff on that!" and I offered him snuff. He became pale with rage, but + began again: "Just now that order looked so well on that grand waistcoat + of yours." I made no reply, so he called the servant and said "Hallo! you + must have greater respect for my brother-in-law and myself when we wear + the same cross as Herr Mozart; take a pinch of snuff on that!" I started + up; all did the same, and showed great embarrassment. I took my hat and my + sword, and said, "I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you to-morrow." + "To-morrow I shall not be here." "Well, then, the next morning, when I + shall still be here." "Ho, ho! you surely don't mean to"—"I mean + nothing; you are a set of boors, so good-night," and off I went. + </p> + <p> + Next day I told the whole story to Herr Stein, Herr Geniaulx, and to Herr + Director Graf—I don't mean about the cross, but how highly disgusted + I was at their having bragged so much about a concert, and now it had come + to nothing. "I call this making a fool of a person and leaving him in the + lurch. I am very sorry that I ever came here. I could not possibly have + believed that in Augsburg, my papa's native town, such an insult could + have been offered to his son." You cannot imagine, dear papa, how angry + and indignant these three gentlemen were, saying, "Oh, you must positively + give a concert here; we don't stand in need of the patricians." I, + however, adhered to my resolution and said, "I am willing to give a small + farewell concert at Herr Stein's, for my few kind friends here who are + connoisseurs." The Director was quite distressed, and exclaimed, "It is + abominable—shameful; who could have believed such a thing of + Langenmantl! Par Dieu! if he really wished it, no doubt it would have been + carried through." We then separated. The Director went down-stairs with me + in his dressing-gown as far as the door, and Herr Stein and Geniaulx + walked home with me. They urged us to make up our mind to stay here for a + time, but we remained firm. I must not forget to say that, when young + Langenmantl lisped out to me, in his usual cool indifferent way, the + pleasant news as to my concert, he added, that the patricians invited me + to their concert next Thursday. I said, "I will come as one of the + audience." "Oh, we hope you will give us the pleasure of hearing you play + also." "Well, perhaps I may; why not?" But having received so grievous an + insult the next evening, I resolved not to go near him again, to steer + clear of the whole set of patricians, and to leave Augsburg. During + dinner, on the 16th, I was called out by a servant-maid of Langenmantl's, + who wished to know whether he might expect me to go with him to the + concert? and he begged I would come to him immediately after dinner. I + sent my compliments in return, that I had no intention of going to the + concert; nor could I come to him, as I was already engaged (which was + quite true); but that I would call next morning to take leave of him, as + on Saturday next, at furthest, I was to leave Augsburg. In the meantime + Herr Stein had been to see the other patricians of the Evangelical party, + and spoke so strongly to them that these gentlemen were quite excited. + "What!" said they, "shall we permit a man who does us so much honor to + leave this without even hearing him? Herr von Langenmantl, having already + heard him, thinks that is enough." + </p> + <p> + At last they became so excited that Herr Kurzenmantl, the excellent youth, + was obliged to go to Herr Stein himself to entreat him, in the name of the + patricians, to do all in his power to persuade me to attend the concert, + but to say that I must not expect great things. At last I went with him, + though with considerable reluctance. The principal gentlemen were very + polite, particularly Baron Belling, who is a director or some such animal; + he opened my music-portfolio himself. I brought a symphony with me, which + they played, and I took a violin part. The orchestra is enough to throw + any one into fits. That young puppy Langenmantl was all courtesy, but his + face looked as impertinent as ever; he said to me, "I was rather afraid + you might have escaped us, or been offended by our jokes the other + evening." "By no means," said I coolly; "you are still very young; but I + advise you to be more cautious in future, for I am not accustomed to such + jokes. The subject on which you were so facetious did you no credit, nor + did it answer your purpose, for you see I still wear the order; you had + better have chosen some other topic for your wit." "I assure you," said + he, "it was only my brother-in-law who"—"Let us say no more about + it," said I. "We had nearly been deprived of the pleasure of seeing you + altogether," he rejoined. "Yes; had it not been for Herr Stein, I + certainly should not have come; and, to tell you the truth, I am only here + now to prevent you Augsburg gentlemen being the laughing-stock of other + countries, which would have been the case if I had told them that I was + eight days in the city where my father was born, without any one there + taking the trouble to hear me!" I played a concerto, and all went off well + except the accompaniment; and as a finale I played a sonata. At the close, + Baron Belling thanked me in the warmest manner in the name of all the + company; and, begging me to consider only their good will, presented me + with two ducats. + </p> + <p> + They give me no peace here till I agree to give a public concert next + Saturday. Perhaps—but I own I am heartily sick of it all. I shall be + indeed glad when I arrive at a place where there is a court. I may with + truth say that, were it not for my kind cousins, my regrets would be as + numberless as the hairs on my head for ever having come to Augsburg. I + must write you some account of my fair cousin, but you must excuse my + deferring this till to-morrow, for one ought to be quite fresh to praise + her as highly as she deserves. + </p> + <p> + The 17th.—I now write early in the morning to say that my cousin is + pretty, intelligent, lovable, clever, and gay, probably because she has + lived so much in society; she was also some time at Munich. We do, indeed, + exactly suit each other, for she too is rather inclined to be satirical, + so we banter our friends most merrily together. [The Mozart family were + both well known and dreaded for their somewhat sharp tongues.] + </p> + <p> + <br />67. + </p> + <p> + Augsburg, Oct. 17, 1777. + </p> + <p> + I must now tell you about the Stein pianos. Before seeing these, Spath's + pianos were my favorites; but I must own that I give the preference to + those of Stein, for they damp much better than those in Ratisbon. If I + strike hard, whether I let my fingers rest on the notes or lift them, the + tone dies away at the same instant that it is heard. Strike the keys as I + choose, the tone always remains even, never either jarring or failing to + sound. It is true that a piano of this kind is not to be had for less than + three hundred florins, but the pains and skill which Stein bestows on them + cannot be sufficiently repaid. His instruments have a feature of their + own; they are supplied with a peculiar escapement. Not one in a hundred + makers attends to this; but, without it, it is impossible that a piano + should not buzz and jar. His hammers fall as soon as they touch the + strings, whether the keys be held down by the fingers or not. When he has + completed an instrument of this class, (which he told me himself,) he + tries all kinds of passages and runs on it, and works away at it, testing + its powers till it is capable of doing anything, for he labors not for his + own benefit alone, (or he might be saved much trouble,) but for that of + music. He often says, "If I were not such a passionate lover of music, + playing also myself a little on the piano, I should long ago have lost + patience with my work, but I like my instruments to respond to the player, + and to be durable." His pianos do really last well. He warrants the + sounding-board neither breaking nor cracking; when he has finished one, he + exposes it in the air to rain, snow, sun, and every kind of devilry, that + it may give way, and then inserts slips of wood which he glues in, making + it quite strong and solid. He is very glad when it does crack, for then he + is pretty sure nothing further can happen to it. He frequently makes cuts + into them himself, and then glues them up, thus making them doubly strong. + He has three of these pianos at this moment finished, and I played on them + again to-day. + </p> + <p> + We dined to-day with young Herr Gassner, who is the handsome widower of a + lovely young wife; they were only married two years. He is an excellent + and kind young man; he gave us a capital dinner. A colleague of the Abbe + Henri Bullinger, and Wishofer also dined there, and an ex-Jesuit, who is + at present Capellmeister in the cathedral here. He knows Herr Schachtner + well [court-trumpeter at Salzburg], and was leader of his band in + Ingolstadt; he is called Father Gerbl. Herr Gassner, and one of his wife's + unmarried sisters, mamma, our cousin, and I went after dinner to Herr + Stein's. At four o'clock came the Capellmeister and Herr Schmittbauer, the + organist of St. Ulrich, a worthy good old man. I played at sight a sonata + of Becke's, which was rather difficult, but very poor, al solito. The + astonishment of the Capellmeister and the organist was indescribable. I + have played my six sonatas by heart repeatedly, both here and in Munich. + The fifth in G, I played at the distinguished Casino concert, and the last + in D, which has an incomparable effect on Stein's pianos. The pedals, + pressed by the knees, are also better made by him than by any one else; + you scarcely require to touch them to make them act, and as soon as the + pressure is removed not the slightest vibration is perceptible. + </p> + <p> + To-morrow perhaps I shall come to his organs, that is, write to you about + them, and I reserve for the last the subject of his little daughter. When + I said to Herr Stein that I should like to play on one of his organs, as + the organ was my passion, he seemed surprised, and said, "What! such a man + as you, so great a pianist, like to play on an instrument devoid of + sweetness and expression, with no gradations from piano to forte, but + always going on the same?" "That does not signify; the organ always was, + both in my eyes and ears, the king of all instruments." "Well, just as you + please." So we went together. I could readily perceive from his + conversation that he did not expect me to do great things on his organ, + evidently thinking that I should handle it in the style of a piano. He + told me that by Schobert's own desire he had taken him also to the organ, + "and very nervous it made me," said he, "for Schobert had told everybody, + and the church was nearly full. I did not doubt the man's spirit, fire, + and execution; still, this does not much suit the organ. But the moment he + began my opinion was entirely changed." I only said in reply, "Do you then + think, Herr Stein, that I am likely to run wild on the organ?" "Oh! you!"—When + we came to the organ-loft, I began a prelude, when he laughed. A fugue + followed. "I can now quite understand why you like to play the organ," + said he, "when you can play in this manner." At first the pedal was a + little awkward for me, as it was without the breaks, beginning with C, + then D E in one row, whereas with us D and E are above, just where E flat + and F sharp are here; but I quickly mastered it. + </p> + <p> + I went also to try the old organ at St. Ulrich's. The stair that leads to + it is really dreadful. I requested that some other person might play the + organ for me, that I might go down and listen to it, for above the organ + has no effect; but I profited very little by this, for the young leader of + the choir, a priest, made such reckless runs on the organ that it was + impossible to understand them, and when he attempted harmonies they proved + only discords, being always false. Afterwards they would insist on our + going to a coffee-room, for mamma and my cousin were with us. A certain + Father Emilian, a conceited jackass and a sorry witling, was very sweet on + my cousin, and wished to have his jest with her, but she made a jest of + him. At last, when rather tipsy, (which soon occurred,) he began to talk + about music, and sang a canon, saying, "I never in my life heard anything + finer." I said, "I regret that I can't sing it with you, for nature has + not given me the power of intoning." "No matter," said he. So he began. I + made the third, but I sang different words—thus: "Pater Emilian, oh! + thou numskull"—sotto voce to my cousin; then we laughed on for at + least half an hour. The Pater said to me, "If we only could be longer + together, we could discuss the art of musical composition." "In that + case," said I, "our discussion would soon come to an end." A famous rap on + the knuckles for him! TO BE CONTINUED. + </p> + <p> + <br />68. + </p> + <p> + Augsburg, Oct. 23, 1777. + </p> + <p> + MY concert took place yesterday. Count Wolfeck interested himself much in + it, and brought some chanoinesses with him. I went to his lodgings the + very day I arrived, but he was not here at that time. A few days ago he + returned, and on hearing that I was still in Augsburg, he did not wait for + a visit from me, but at the very moment when I was taking my hat and sword + to go to call on him he walked in. I must now give you a description of + the last few days before my concert. Last Saturday I was at St. Ulrich's, + as I already told you. Some days before my cousin took me with him to + present me to the Prelate of the Holy Cross, a kind excellent old man. + Previous to going to St. Ulrich's last Saturday, I went with my cousin to + the Monastery of the Holy Cross, as the first time I was there neither the + Deacon nor the Procurator was at home, and my cousin told me that the + Procurator was very jolly. [Here mamma inserts a few lines—which + frequently occurs in the letters. She says at the close:] "I am quite + surprised that Schuster's duets [see No. 63] are still"—Wolfgang: + "Oh, he has got them." Mamma: "No, indeed; he always writes that he has + not got them." Wolfgang: "I hate arguing; I am sure he has got them, so + there's an end of it." Mamma: "You are mistaken." Wolfgang: "No; I am + right. I will show it to mamma in his own writing." Mamma: "Well, where is + it?" Wolfgang: "Here; read it." She is reading it at this moment. + </p> + <p> + Last Sunday I attended service at the Holy Cross, and at ten o'clock we + went to Herr Stein's, where we tried over a couple of symphonies for the + concert. Afterwards I dined with my cousin at the Holy Cross, where a band + played during dinner. Badly as they play in the monastery, I prefer it to + the Augsburg orchestra. I played a symphony, and a concerto in B of + Vanhall's, on the violin, with unanimous applause. The Dean is a kind, + jovial man, a cousin of Eberlin [deceased Capellmeister of Salzburg]. His + name is Zeschinger. He knows papa well. At night, after supper, I played + the Strassburg concerto; it went as smooth as oil; every one praised the + fine pure tone. A small clavichord was then brought in, on which I + preluded, and played a sonata and the Fischer variations. Some of those + present whispered to the Dean that he ought to hear me play in the organ + style. I asked him to give me a theme, which he declined, but one of the + monks did so. I handled it quite leisurely, and all at once (the fugue + being in G minor) I brought in a lively movement in the major key, but in + the same tempo, and then at the end the original subject, only reversed. + At last it occurred to me to employ the lively movement for the subject of + the fugue also, I did not hesitate long, but did so at once, and it went + as accurately as if Daser [a Salzburg tailor] had taken its measure. The + Dean was in a state of great excitement. "It is over," said he, "and it's + no use talking about it, but I could scarcely have believed what I have + just heard; you are indeed an able man. My prelate told me beforehand that + in his life he never heard any one play the organ in a more finished and + solid style" (he having heard me some days previously when the Dean was + not here). At last some one brought me a fugued sonata, and asked me to + play it. But I said, "Gentlemen, I really must say this is asking rather + too much, for it is not likely I shall be able to play such a sonata at + sight." "Indeed, I think so too; it is too much; no one could do it," said + the Dean eagerly, being all in my favor. "At all events," said I, "I can + but try." I heard the Dean muttering all the time behind me, "Oh, you + rogue! oh, you knave!" I played till 11 o'clock, bombarded and besieged, + as it were, by fugue themes. + </p> + <p> + Lately, at Stein's, he brought me a sonata of Becke's, but I think I + already told you this. A propos, as to his little girl, [Footnote: + Nanette, at that time eight years old; afterwards the admirable wife of + Andreas Streicher, the friend of Schiller's youth, and one of Beethoven's + best friends in Vienna.] any one who can see and hear her play without + laughing must be Stein [stone] like her father. She perches herself + exactly opposite the treble, avoiding the centre, that she may have more + room to throw herself about and make grimaces. She rolls her eyes and + smirks; when a passage comes twice she always plays it slower the second + time, and if three times, slower still. She raises her arms in playing a + passage, and if it is to be played with emphasis she seems to give it with + her elbows and not her fingers, as awkwardly and heavily as possible. The + finest thing is, that if a passage occurs (which ought to flow like oil) + where the fingers must necessarily be changed, she does not pay much heed + to that, but lifts her hands, and quite coolly goes on again. This, + moreover, puts her in a fair way to get hold of a wrong note, which often + produces a curious effect. I only write this in order to give you some + idea of pianoforte-playing and teaching here, so that you may in turn + derive some benefit from it. Herr Stein is quite infatuated about his + daughter. She is eight years old, and learns everything by heart. She may + one day be clever, for she has genius, but on this system she will never + improve, nor will she ever acquire much velocity of finger, for her + present method is sure to make her hand heavy. She will never master what + is the most difficult and necessary, and in fact the principal thing in + music, namely, time; because from her infancy she has never been in the + habit of playing in correct time. Herr Stein and I discussed this point + together for at least two hours. I have, however, in some degree converted + him; he asks my advice now on every subject. He was quite devoted to + Becke, and now he sees and hears that I can do more than Becke, that I + make no grimaces, and yet play with so much expression that he himself + acknowledges none of his acquaintances have ever handled his pianos as I + do. My keeping so accurately in time causes them all much surprise. The + left hand being quite independent in the tempo rubato of an adagio, they + cannot at all comprehend. With them the left hand always yields to the + right. Count Wolfeck and others, who have a passionate admiration for + Becke, said lately publicly in a concert that I beat Becke hollow. Count + Wolfeck went round the room saying, "In my life I never heard anything + like this." He said to me, "I must tell you that I never heard you play as + you did to-day, and I mean to say so to your father as soon as I go to + Salzburg." What do you think was the first piece after the symphony? The + concerto for three pianos. Herr Demmler took the first part, I the second, + and Herr Stein the third. I then played a solo, my last sonata in D, for + Durnitz, and afterwards my concerto in B; then again a solo in the organ + style, namely, a fugue in C minor, then all of a sudden a splendid sonata + in C major, finishing with a rondo, all extempore. What a noise and + commotion there was! Herr Stein did nothing but make faces and grimaces of + astonishment. Herr Demmler was seized with fits of laughter, for he is a + queer creature, and when anything pleases him exceedingly, he can't help + laughing heartily; indeed, on this occasion he actually began to swear! + Addio! + </p> + <p> + <br />69. + </p> + <p> + Augsburg, Oct. 25, 1777. + </p> + <p> + The receipts of the concert were 90 florins, without deducting the + expenses. Including, therefore, the two ducats we took in the Casino + concert, we had 100 florins. The expenses of the concert did not exceed 16 + florins 30 kreutzers; the room I had gratis. I believe most of the + musicians will make no charge. We have now ALTOGETHER lost about 26 or 27 + florins. This is not of much moment. I am writing this on Saturday the + 25th. This morning early I received the letter with the sad news of Frau + Oberbereiterin's death. Madlle. Tonerl can now purse up her mouth, or + perhaps open it wide, and shut it again as empty as ever. As to the + baker's daughter, I have no objection to make; I foresaw all this long + ago. This was the cause of my reluctance to leave home, and finding it so + difficult to go. I hope the affair is not by this time known all over + Salzburg? I beg you, dear papa, most urgently to keep the matter quiet as + long as possible, and in the mean time to pay her father on my account any + expenses he may have incurred by her entrance into the convent, which I + will repay gladly when I return to Salzburg. + </p> + <p> + I thank you most truly, dear papa, for your good wishes on my name-day. Do + not be uneasy on my account, for I have always God before my eyes, I + acknowledge His omnipotence, I dread His wrath; but I also know His love, + His compassion and mercy towards His creatures, and that He will never + forsake His servants. When His will is done I am resigned; so I never can + fail to be happy and contented. I shall certainly also strive to live as + strictly as possible in accordance with your injunctions and advice. Thank + Herr Bullinger a thousand times for his congratulations. I mean to write + to him soon and thank him myself, but I may in the mean time assure him + that I neither know nor have any better, more sincere, or truer friend + than himself. I beg also humbly to thank Madlle. Sallerl; pray tell her I + mean to enclose some verses to show my gratitude to her in my letter to + Herr Bullinger. Thank my sister also; she is to keep the Schuster duets, + and give herself no further trouble on the subject. + </p> + <p> + In your first letter, dear papa, you write that I lowered myself by my + conduct to that lad Langenmantl. Anything but that! I was only + straightforward, no more. I see you think he is still a boy; he is one or + two and twenty, and a married man. Can any one be considered a boy who is + married? I have never gone near him since. I left two cards for him + to-day, and excused myself for not going in, having so many indispensable + calls to make. I must now conclude, for mamma insists absolument on going + to dinner, and then to pack. To-morrow we go straight to Wallerstein. My + dear little cousin, who sends you her regards, is anything but a prude. + She dressed a la Francaise to please me yesterday. She looked at least 5 + per cent, prettier in consequence. Now, Addio! + </p> + <p> + On the 26th of October the mother and son set off to Mannheim. The mother + writes that Wolfgang intended to write to Augsburg, "but he will scarcely + be able to do so to-day, for he is now at the rehearsal of the oratorio; + so I must beg you to accept my humble self instead." Wolfgang then adds:— + </p> + <p> + <br />70. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Oct. 30, 1777. + </p> + <p> + I must beg you also to accept my insignificancy. I went to-day with Herr + Danner to M. Cannabich's [Director of the Elector's orchestra]. He was + uncommonly polite, and I played something for him on his piano, which is a + very good one. We went together to the rehearsal. I could scarcely help + laughing when I was presented to the musicians, because, though some who + knew me by renomme were very civil and courteous, the rest, who knew + nothing whatever about me, stared in such a ludicrous way, evidently + thinking that because I am little and young nothing great or mature is to + be found in me; but they shall soon find it out. Herr Cannabich is to take + me himself to-morrow to Count Savioli, the Intendant of Music. One good + thing is that the Elector's name-day is close at hand. The oratorio they + are rehearsing is Handel's, but I did not stay to hear it, for they first + rehearsed a Psalm Magnificat of the Vice-Capellmeister here, [Abbe] + Vogler, which lasted a good hour. I must now conclude, for I have still to + write to my cousin. + </p> + <p> + <br />71. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Nov. 4, 1777. + </p> + <p> + I am at Cannabich's every day, and mamma went with me there to-day. He is + a very different man from what he formerly was, [FOOTNOTE: Mozart had been + at his house, when a boy, with his father.] and the whole orchestra say + the same. He is very fond of me. He has a daughter who plays the piano + very nicely, and in order to make him still more friendly towards me I am + working just now at a sonata for her, which is finished all but the Rondo. + When I had completed the first allegro and andante, I took it to him + myself and played it over; you can't think what applause this sonata + receives. There chanced to be some of the musicians there at the moment—young + Danner, Lang, who plays the French horn, and the hautboy-player, whose + name I forget, but who plays remarkably well, and has a pleasing delicate + tone [Ramm]. I made him a present of a concerto for the hautboy; it is + being copied in Cannabich's room. The man is wild with delight. I played + him the concerto to-day at Cannabich's, and THOUGH KNOWN TO BE MINE it + pleased very much. No one said that it was NOT WELL COMPOSED, because + people here don't understand these things. They ought to apply to the + Archbishop; he would soon put them on the right scent. [FOOTNOTE: The + Archbishop never was satisfied with any of the compositions that Mozart + wrote for his concerts, but invariably had some fault to find with them.] + I played all my six sonatas to-day at Cannabich's. Herr Kapellmeister + Holzbauer went with me to-day to Count Savioli's. Cannabich was there at + the time. Herr Holzbauer said to the Count in Italian that I wished to + have the honor of playing before his Serene Highness the Elector. "I was + here fifteen years ago," said I, "but now I am older and more advanced, + and I may say in music also"—"Oh!" said the Count, "you are"—I + have no idea whom he took me for, as Cannabich interrupted him, but I + affected not to hear, and entered into conversation with the others. Still + I observed that he was speaking of me very earnestly. The Count then said + to me, "I hear that you play the piano very tolerably?" I bowed. + </p> + <p> + I must now tell you about the music here. On Saturday, All-Saints' day, I + attended high mass. The orchestra is very good and numerous. On each side + ten or eleven violins, four tenors, two hautboys, two flutes, and two + clarionets, two corni, four violoncellos, four bassoons, and four double + basses, besides trumpets and kettle-drums. This should give fine music, + but I would not venture to produce one of my masses here. Why? From their + being short? No, everything is liked short. From their church style? By no + means; but solely because NOW in Mannheim, under present circumstances, it + is necessary to write chiefly for the instruments, for nothing can + possibly be conceived worse than the voices here. Six soprani, six alti, + six tenori, and six bassi, to twenty violins and twelve bassi, are in the + same proportion as 0 to 1. Is it not so, Herr Bullinger? It proceeds from + this:—The Italians are miserably represented: they have only two + musici here, and they are already old. This race is dying out. These + soprano singers, too, would prefer singing counter-tenor; for they can no + longer take the high notes. The few boys they have are wretched. The tenor + and bass just like our singers at funerals. Vogler, who lately conducted + the mass, is barren and frivolous—a man who imagines he can do a + great deal, and does very little. The whole orchestra dislike him. To-day, + Sunday, I heard a mass of Holzbauer's, which is now twenty-six years old, + but excellent. He writes very well, and has a good church style, arranges + the vocal parts as well as the instrumental, and writes good fugues. They + have two organists here; it would be worth while to come to Mannheim on + purpose to hear them—which I had a famous opportunity of doing, as + it is the custom here for the organist to play during the whole of the + Benedictus. I heard the second organist first, and then the other. In my + opinion the second is preferable to the first; for when I heard the + former, I asked, "Who is that playing on the organ?" "Our second + organist." "He plays miserably." When the other began, I said, "Who may + that be?" "Our first organist." "Why, he plays more miserably still." I + believe if they were pounded together, something even worse would be the + result. It is enough to kill one with laughing to look at these gentlemen. + The second at the organ is like a child trying to lift a millstone. You + can see his anguish in his face. The first wears spectacles. I stood + beside him at the organ and watched him with the intention of learning + something from him; at each note he lifts his hands entirely off the keys. + What he believes to be his forte is to play in six parts, but he mostly + makes fifths and octaves. He often chooses to dispense altogether with his + right hand when there is not the slightest need to do so, and plays with + the left alone; in short, he fancies that he can do as he will, and that + he is a thorough master of his organ. + </p> + <p> + Mamma sends her love to you all; she cannot possibly write, for she has + still to say her officium. We came home very late from the grand opera + rehearsal. I must go to-morrow after high mass to the illustrious + Electress; she is resolved absolument to teach me to knit filee. I am very + eager about this, as she and the Elector wish that I should knit in public + next Thursday at the great gala concert. The young Princess here, who is a + child compared with the Electress, knits very prettily. The Zweenbruck and + his Zwobrucken (Deux Ponts) arrived here at eight o'clock. A propos, mamma + and I earnestly beg you, dear papa, to send our charming cousin a + souvenir; we both regretted so much having nothing with us, but we + promised to write to you to send her something. We wish two things to be + sent—a double neckerchief in mamma's name, like the one she wears, + and in mine some ornament; a box, or etui, or anything you like, only it + must be pretty, for she deserves it. [FOOTNOTE: The father was still in + possession of many of the ornaments and jewels presented to these children + during their artistic tours.] She and her father took a great deal of + trouble on our account, and wasted much time on us. My cousin took the + receipts for me at my concert. Addio! + </p> + <p> + <br />72. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Nov. 5, 1777. + </p> + <p> + My dear Coz—Buzz,— + </p> + <p> + I have safely received your precious epistle—thistle, and from it I + perceive—achieve, that my aunt—gaunt, and you—shoe, are + quite well—bell. I have to-day a letter—setter, from my papa—ah-ha, + safe in my hands—sands. I hope you also got—trot, my Mannheim + letter—setter. Now for a little sense—pence. The prelate's + seizure—leisure, grieves me much—touch, but he will, I hope, + get well—sell. You write—blight, you will keep—cheap, + your promise to write to me—he-he, to Augsburg soon—spoon. + Well, I shall be very glad—mad. You further write, indeed you + declare, you pretend, you hint, you vow, you explain, you distinctly say, + you long, you wish, you desire, you choose, command, and point out, you + let me know and inform me that I must send you my portrait soon—moon. + Eh, bien! you shall have it before long—song. Now I wish you good + night—tight. + </p> + <p> + The 5th.—Yesterday I conversed with the illustrious Electress; and + to-morrow, the 6th, I am to play in the gala concert, and afterwards, by + desire of the Princess, in their private apartments. Now for something + rational! I beg of you—why not?—I beg of you, my very dear + cousin—why not?—when you write to Madame Tavernier in Munich, + to convey a message from me to the two Demoiselles Freysinger—why + not? odd enough! but why not?—and I humbly ask pardon of Madlle. + Josepha—I mean the youngest, and pray why not? why should I not ask + her pardon? strange! but I don't know why I should not, so I do ask her + pardon very humbly—for not having yet sent the sonata I promised + her, but I mean to do so as soon as possible. Why not? I don't know why + not. I can now write no more—which makes my heart sore. To all my + kind friends much love—dove. Addio! Your old young, till death—breath, + </p> + <p> + WOLFGANG AMADE ROSENCRANZ. + </p> + <p> + Miennham, eht ht5 rebotoc, 7771. + </p> + <p> + <br />73. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Nov. 8, 1777. + </p> + <p> + This forenoon, at Herr Cannabich's, I wrote the Rondo of the sonata for + his daughter; so they would not let me leave them all day. The Elector and + the Electress, and the whole court, are very much pleased with me. Both + times I played at the concert, the Elector and she stood close beside me + at the piano. After the music was at an end, Cannabich managed that I + should be noticed by the court. I kissed the Elector's hand, who said, "I + think it is now fifteen years since you were here?" "Yes, your Highness, + it is fifteen years since I had that honor." "You play inimitably." The + Princess, when I kissed her hand, said, "Monsieur, je vous assure, on ne + peut pas jouer mieux." + </p> + <p> + Yesterday I went with Cannabich to pay the visit mamma already wrote to + you about [to Duke Carl Theodor's children], and there I conversed with + the Elector as if he had been some kind friend. He is a most gracious and + good Prince. He said to me, "I hear you wrote an opera at Munich" ["La + finta Giardiniera"]? "Yes, your Highness, and, with your gracious + permission, my most anxious wish is to write an opera here; I entreat you + will not quite forget me. I could also write a German one, God be + praised!" said I, smiling. "That may easily be arranged." He has one son + and three daughters, the eldest of whom and the young Count play the + piano. The Elector questioned me confidentially about his children. I + spoke quite honestly, but without detracting from their master. Cannabich + was entirely of my opinion. The Elector, on going away, took leave of me + with much courtesy. + </p> + <p> + After dinner to-day I went, at two o'clock, with Cannabich to Wendling's, + the flute-player, where they were all complaisance. The daughter, who was + formerly the Elector's favorite, plays the piano very prettily; afterwards + I played. I cannot describe to you the happy mood I was in. I played + extempore, and then three duets with the violin, which I had never in my + life seen, nor do I now know the name of the author. They were all so + delighted that I—was desired to embrace the ladies. No hard task + with the daughter, for she is very pretty. + </p> + <p> + We then went again to the Elector's children; I played three times, and + from my heart too,—the Elector himself each time asking me to play. + He seated himself each time close to me and never stirred. I also asked a + certain Professor there to give me a theme for a fugue, and worked it out. + </p> + <p> + Now for my congratulations! + </p> + <p> + My very dearest papa,—I cannot write poetically, for I am no poet. I + cannot make fine artistic phrases that cast light and shadow, for I am no + painter; I can neither by signs nor by pantomime express my thoughts and + feelings, for I am no dancer; but I can by tones, for I am a musician. So + to-morrow, at Cannabich's, I intend to play my congratulations both for + your name-day and birthday. Mon tres-cher pere, I can only on this day + wish for you, what from my whole heart I wish for you every day and every + night—health, long life, and a cheerful spirit. I would fain hope, + too, that you have now less annoyance than when I was in Salzburg; for I + must admit that I was the chief cause of this. They treated me badly, + which I did not deserve, and you naturally took my part, only too + lovingly. I can tell you this was indeed one of the principal and most + urgent reasons for my leaving Salzburg in such haste. I hope, therefore, + that my wish is fulfilled. I must now close by a musical congratulation. I + wish that you may live as many years as must elapse before no more new + music can be composed. Farewell! I earnestly beg you to go on loving me a + little, and, in the mean time, to excuse these very poor congratulations + till I open new shelves in my small and confined knowledge-box, where I + can stow away the good sense which I have every intention to acquire. + </p> + <p> + <br />74. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Nov. 13, 1777. + </p> + <p> + We received your last two letters, and now I must answer them in detail. + Your letter desiring me to inquire about Becke's parents [in Wallerstein, + No. 68] I did not get till I had gone to Mannheim, so too late to comply + with your wish; but it never would have occurred to me to do so, for, in + truth, I care very little about him. Would you like to know how I was + received by him? Well and civilly; that is, he asked where I was going. I + said, most probably to Paris. He then gave me a vast deal of advice, + saying he had recently been there, and adding, "You will make a great deal + by giving lessons, for the piano is highly prized in Paris." He also + arranged that I should dine at the officers' table, and promised to put me + in the way of speaking to the Prince. He regretted very much having at + that moment a sore throat, (which was indeed quite true,) so that he could + not go out with me himself to procure me some amusement. He was also sorry + that he could have no music in honor of me, because most of the musical + people had gone that very day on some pedestrian excursion to—Heaven + knows where! At his request I tried his piano, which is very good. He + often said Bravo! I extemporized, and also played the sonatas in B and D. + In short, he was very polite, and I was also polite, but grave. We + conversed on a variety of topics—among others, about Vienna, and + more particularly that the Emperor [Joseph II.] was no great lover of + music. He said, "It is true he has some knowledge of composition, but of + nothing else. I can still recall (and he rubbed his forehead) that when I + was to play before him I had no idea what to play; so I began with some + fugues and trifles of that kind, which in my own mind I only laughed at." + I could scarcely resist saying, "I can quite fancy your laughing, but + scarcely so loud as I must have done had I heard you!" He further said + (what is the fact) that the music in the Emperor's private apartments is + enough to frighten the crows. I replied, that whenever I heard such music, + if I did not quickly leave the room it gave me a headache. "Oh! no; it has + no such effect on me; bad music does not affect my nerves, but fine music + never fails to give me a headache." I thought to myself again, such a + shallow head as yours is sure to suffer when listening to what is beyond + its comprehension. + </p> + <p> + Now for some of our news here. I was desired to go yesterday with + Cannabich to the Intendant, Count Savioli, to receive my present. It was + just what I had anticipated—a handsome gold watch. Ten Carolins + would have pleased me better just now, though the watch and chain, with + its appendages, are valued at twenty Carolins. Money is what is most + needed on a journey; and, by your leave, I have now five watches. Indeed, + I have serious thoughts of having a second watch-pocket made, and, when I + visit a grandee, to wear two watches, (which is indeed the fashion here,) + that no one may ever again think of giving me another. I see from your + letter that you have not yet read Vogler's book. [FOOTNOTE: Ton + Wissenschaft und Ton Kunst.] I have just finished it, having borrowed it + from Cannabich. His history is very short. He came here in a miserable + condition, performed on the piano, and composed a ballet. This excited the + Elector's compassion, who sent him to Italy. When the Elector was in + Bologna, he questioned Father Valoti about Vogler. "Oh! your Highness, he + is a great man," &c., &c. He then asked Father Martini the same + question. "Your Highness, he has talent; and by degrees, when he is older + and more solid, he will no doubt improve, though he must first change + considerably." When Vogler came back he entered the Church, was + immediately appointed Court Chaplain, and composed a Miserere which all + the world declares to be detestable, being full of false harmony. Hearing; + that it was not much commended, he went to the Elector and complained that + the orchestra played badly on purpose to vex and annoy him; in short, he + knew so well how to make his game (entering into so many petty intrigues + with women) that he became Vice-Capellmeister. He is a fool, who fancies + that no one can be better or more perfect than himself. The whole + orchestra, from the first to the last, detest him. He has been the cause + of much annoyance to Holzbauer. His book is more fit to teach arithmetic + than composition. He says that he can make a composer in three weeks, and + a singer in six months; but we have not yet seen any proof of this. He + despises the greatest masters. To myself he spoke with contempt of Bach + [Johann Christian, J. Sebastian's youngest son, called the London Bach], + who wrote two operas here, the first of which pleased more than the + second, Lucio Silla. As I had composed the same opera in Milan, I was + anxious to see it, and hearing from Holzbauer that Vogler had it, I asked + him to lend it to me. "With all my heart," said he; "I will send it to you + to-morrow without fail, but you won't find much talent in it." Some days + after, when he saw me, he said with a sneer, "Well, did you discover + anything very fine—did you learn anything from it? One air is rather + good. What are the words?" asked he of some person standing near. "What + air do you mean?" "Why, that odious air of Bach's, that vile—oh! + yes, pupille amate. He must have written it after a carouse of punch." I + really thought I must have laid hold of his pigtail; I affected, however, + not to hear him, said nothing, and went away. He has now served out his + time with the Elector. + </p> + <p> + The sonata for Madlle. Rosa Cannabich is finished. Last Sunday I played + the organ in the chapel for my amusement. I came in while the Kyrie was + going on, played the last part, and when the priest intoned the Gloria I + made a cadence, so different, however, from what is usually heard here, + that every one looked round in surprise, and above all Holzbauer. He said + to me, "If I had known you were coming, I would have put out another mass + for you." "Oh!" said I, "to puzzle me, I suppose?" Old Toeschi and + Wendling stood all the time close beside me. I gave them enough to laugh + at. Every now and then came a pizzicato, when I rattled the keys well; I + was in my best humor. Instead of the Benedictus here, there is always a + voluntary, so I took the ideas of the Sanctus and worked them out in a + fugue. There they all stood making faces. At the close, after Ita missa + est, I played a fugue. Their pedal is different from ours, which at first + rather puzzled me, but I soon got used to it. I must now conclude. Pray + write to us still at Mannheim. I know all about Misliweczeck's sonatas + [see No. 64], and played them lately at Munich; they are very easy and + agreeable to listen to. My advice is that my sister, to whom I humbly + commend myself, should play them with much expression, taste, and fire, + and learn them by heart. For these are sonatas which cannot fail to please + every one, are not difficult to commit to memory, and produce a good + effect when played with precision. + </p> + <p> + <br />75. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Nov. 13, 1777. + </p> + <p> + Potz Himmel! Croatians, demons, witches, hags, and cross batteries! Potz + Element! air, earth, fire, and water! Europe, Asia, Africa, and America! + Jesuits, Augustines, Benedictines, Capucins, Minorites, Franciscans, + Dominicans, Carthusians, and Knights of the Cross! privateers, canons + regular and irregular, sluggards, rascals, scoundrels, imps, and villains + all! donkeys, buffaloes, oxen, fools, blockheads, numskulls, and foxes! + What means this? Four soldiers and three shoulder-belts! Such a thick + packet and no portrait! [FOOTNOTE: The "Basle" (his cousin) had promised + him her portrait. She sent it subsequently to Salzburg, where it still + hangs in the Mozarteum.] I was so anxious about it—indeed, I felt + sure of getting it, having yourself written long ago to say that I should + have it soon, very soon. Perhaps you doubt my keeping my promise [about + the ornaments—see No. 71], but I cannot think this either. So pray + let me have the likeness as quickly as you can; and I trust it is taken as + I entreated—in French costume. + </p> + <p> + How do I like Mannheim? As well as I can any place where my cousin is not. + I hope, on the other hand, that you have at all events received my two + letters—one from Hohenaltheim, and one from Mannheim—this, + such as it is, being the third from here, but making the fourth in all. I + must conclude, for we are just going to dinner, and I am not yet dressed. + Love me as I love you, and then we shall never cease loving each other. + Adieu! J'espere que vous aurez deja pris quelque lection dans la langue + francaise, et je ne doute point que—ecoutez!—que vous aurez + bientot le francais mieux que moi; car il y a certainement deux ans que je + n'ai pas ecrit un mot de cette langue. Encore adieu! Je vous baise les + mains. + </p> + <p> + <br />76. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Nov. 14-16, 1777. + </p> + <p> + I, Johannes, Chrysostomus, Amadeus, Wolfgangus, Sigismundus, Mozart, plead + guilty to having both yesterday and the day before (and very often + besides) stayed away from home till twelve o'clock at night, from ten + o'clock till the aforesaid hour, I being in the presence and company of M. + Cannabich, his wife and daughter, the Herrn Schatzmeister, Ramm, and Lang, + making doggerel rhymes with the utmost facility, in thought and word, but + not in deed. I should not, however, have conducted myself in so reckless a + manner if our ringleader, namely, the so-called Lisel (Elisabeth + Cannabich), had not inveigled and instigated me to mischief, and I am + bound to admit that I took great pleasure in it myself. I confess all + these my sins and shortcomings from the depths of my heart; and in the + hope of often having similar ones to confess, I firmly resolve to amend my + present sinful life. I therefore beg for a dispensation if it can be + granted; but, if not, it is a matter of indifference to me, for the game + will go on all the same. Lusus enim suum habet ambitum, says the pious + singer Meissner, (chap. 9, p. 24,) and also the pious Ascenditor, patron + of singed coffee, musty lemonade, milk of almonds with no almonds in it, + and, above all, strawberry ice full of lumps of ice, being himself a great + connoisseur and artist in these delicacies. + </p> + <p> + The sonata I composed for Madlle. Cannabich I intend to write out as soon + as possible on small paper, and to send it to my sister. I began to teach + it to Madlle. Rose three days ago, and she has learned the allegro. The + andante will give us most trouble, for it is full of expression, and must + be played with accuracy and taste, and the fortes and pianos given just as + they are marked. She is very clever, and learns with facility. Her right + hand is very good, but the left is unhappily quite ruined. I must say that + I do really feel very sorry for her, when I see her laboring away till she + is actually panting for breath; and this not from natural awkwardness on + her part, but because, being so accustomed to this method, she cannot play + in any other way, never having been shown the right one. I said, both to + her mother and herself, that if I were her regular master I would lock up + all her music, cover the keys of the piano with a handkerchief, and make + her exercise her right and left hand, at first quite slowly in nothing but + passages and shakes, &c., until her hands were thoroughly trained; and + after that I should feel confident of making her a genuine pianiste. They + both acknowledged that I was right. It is a sad pity; for she has so much + genius, reads very tolerably, has great natural aptitude, and plays with + great feeling. + </p> + <p> + Now about the opera briefly. Holzbauer's music [for the first great German + operetta, "Gunther von Schwarzburg"] is very beautiful, but the poetry is + not worthy of such music. What surprises me most is, that so old a man as + Holzbauer should still have so much spirit, for the opera is incredibly + full of fire. The prima donna was Madame Elisabeth Wendling, not the wife + of the flute-player, but of the violinist. She is in very delicate health; + and, besides, this opera was not written for her, but for a certain Madame + Danzi, who is now in England; so it does not suit her voice, and is too + high for her. Herr Raaff, in four arias of somewhere about 450 bars, sang + in a manner which gave rise to the remark that his want of voice was the + principal cause of his singing so badly. When he begins an air, unless at + the same moment it recurs to your mind that this is Raaff, the old but + once so renowned tenor, I defy any one not to burst out laughing. It is a + fact, that in my own case I thought, if I did not know that this is the + celebrated Raaff, I should be bent double from laughing, but as it is—I + only take out my handkerchief to hide a smile. They tell me here that he + never was a good actor; that people went to hear, but not to see him. He + has by no means a pleasing exterior. In this opera he was to die, singing + in a long, long, slow air; and he died laughing! and towards the end of + the aria his voice failed him so entirely that it was impossible to stand + it! I was in the orchestra next Wendling the flute-player, and as he had + previously criticized the song, saying it was unnatural to sing so long + before dying, adding, "I do think he will never die!" I said in return, + "Have a little patience; it will soon be all over with him, for I can hear + he is at the last gasp!" "And I too," said he, laughing. The second + singer, Madlle. Strasserin, sang very well, and is an admirable actress. + </p> + <p> + There is a national stage here, which is permanent like that at Munich; + German operettas are sometimes given, but the singers in them are + wretched. Yesterday I dined with the Baron and Baroness von Hagen, + Oberstjagermeister here. Three days ago I called on Herr Schmalz, a + banker, to whom Herr Herzog, or rather Nocker and Schidl, had given me a + letter. I expected to have found a very civil good sort of man. When I + gave him the letter, he read it through, made me a slight bow, and said + nothing. At last, after many apologies for not having sooner waited on + him, I told him that I had played before the Elector. "Really!" Altum + silentium. I said nothing, he said nothing. At last I began again: "I will + no longer intrude on you. I have the honor to"—Here he interrupted + me. "If I can be of any service to you, I beg"—"Before I leave this + I must take the liberty to ask you"—"Not for money?" "Yes, if you + will be so good as to"—"Oh! that I can't do; there is nothing in the + letter about money. I cannot give you any money, but anything else"—"There + is nothing else in which you can serve me—nothing whatever. I have + the honor to take my leave." I wrote the whole history yesterday to Herr + Herzog in Augsburg. We must now wait here for the answer, so you may still + write to us at Mannheim. I kiss your hand, and am your young brother and + father, as in your last letter you say "I am the old man and son." To-day + is the 16th when I finish this, or else you will not know when it was sent + off. "Is the letter ready?" "Yes, mamma, here it is!" + </p> + <p> + <br />77. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Nov. 20, 1777. + </p> + <p> + The gala began again yesterday [in honor of the Elector's name-day]. I + went to hear the mass, which was a spick-and-span new composition of + Vogler's. Two days ago I was present at the rehearsal in the afternoon, + but came away immediately after the Kyrie. I never in my life heard + anything like it; there is often false harmony, and he rambles into the + different keys as if he wished to drag you into them by the hair of your + head; but it neither repays the trouble, nor does it possess any + originality, but is only quite abrupt. I shall say nothing of the way in + which he carries out his ideas. I only say that no mass of Vogler's can + possibly please any composer (who deserves the name). For example, I + suddenly hear an idea which is NOT BAD. Well, instead of remaining NOT + BAD, no doubt it soon becomes good? Not at all! it becomes not only BAD, + but VERY BAD, and this in two or three different ways: namely, scarcely + has the thought arisen when something else interferes to destroy it; or he + does not finish it naturally, so that it may remain good; or it is not + introduced in the right place; or it is finally ruined by bad + instrumentation. Such is Vogler's music. + </p> + <p> + Cannabich composes far better than when we knew him in Paris, but what + both mamma and I remarked here at once in the symphonies is, that one + begins just like another, always slow and unisono. I must now, dear papa, + write you something about the Holy Cross in Augsburg, which I have always + forgotten to do. I met with a great many civilities there, and the Prelate + is the most good-natured man in the world—a kind, worthy old + simpleton, who may be carried off at any moment, for his breath fails + sadly. He recently—in fact, the very day we left—had an attack + of paralysis. He, and the Dean and Procurator, begged us when we came back + to Augsburg to drive straight to the Holy Cross. The Procurator is as + jolly as Father Leopold at Seeon. [FOOTNOTE: A cloister in Lower Bavaria, + that Wolfgang often visited with his father, as they had a dear friend + there, Father Johannes.] My cousin told me beforehand what kind of man he + was, so we soon became as well acquainted as if we had known each other + for twenty years. I lent him the mass in F, and the first of the short + masses in C, and the offertorium in counterpoint in D minor. My fair + cousin has undertaken to be custodian of these. I got back the offertorium + punctually, having desired that it should be returned first. They all, and + even the Prelate, plagued me to give them a litany, De venerabili. I said + I had not got it with me. I really was by no means sure; so I searched, + but did not find it. They gave me no peace, evidently thinking that I only + wished to evade their request; so I said, "I really have not the litany + with me; it is at Salzburg. Write to my father; it is his affair. If he + chooses to give it to you, well and good; if not, I have nothing to do + with it." A letter from the Deacon to you will therefore probably soon + make its appearance. Do just as you please, but if you do send him one, + let it be the last in E flat; they have voices enough for anything, and a + great many people will be assembled at that time; they even write for them + to come from a distance, for it is their greatest festival. Adieu! + </p> + <p> + <br />78. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Nov. 22, 1777. + </p> + <p> + THE first piece of information that I have to give you is, that my + truthful letter to Herr Herzog in Augsburg, puncto Schmalzii, has had a + capital effect. He wrote me a very polite letter in return, expressing his + annoyance that I should have been received so uncourteously by detto + Schmalz [melted butter]; so he herewith sent me a sealed letter to detto + Herr Milk, with a bill of exchange for 150 florins on detto Herr Cheese. + You must know that, though I only saw Herr Herzog once, I could not resist + asking him to send me a draft on Herr Schmalz, or to Herrn Butter, Milk, + and Cheese, or whom he would—a ca! This joke has succeeded; it is no + good making a poor mouth! + </p> + <p> + We received this forenoon (the 21st) your letter of the 17th. I was not at + home, but at Cannabich's, where Wendling was rehearsing a concerto for + which I have written the orchestral accompaniments. To-day at six o'clock + the gala concert took place. I had the pleasure of hearing Herr Franzl + (who married a sister of Madame Cannabich's) play a concerto on the + violin; he pleased me very much. You know that I am no lover of mere + difficulties. He plays difficult music, but it does not appear to be so; + indeed, it seems as if one could easily do the same, and this is real + talent. He has a very fine round tone, not a note wanting, and everything + distinct and well accentuated. He has also a beautiful staccato in bowing, + both up and down, and I never heard such a double shake as his. In short, + though in my opinion no WIZARD, he is a very solid violin-player.—I + do wish I could conquer my confounded habit of writing crooked. + </p> + <p> + I am sorry I was not at Salzburg when that unhappy occurrence took place + about Madame Adlgasserin, so that I might have comforted her; and that I + would have done—particularly being so handsome a woman. [Footnote: + Adlgasser was the organist of the cathedral. His wife was thought very + stupid. See the letter of August 26, 1781.] I know already all that you + write to me about Mannheim, but I never wish to say anything prematurely; + all in good time. Perhaps in my next letter I may tell you of something + VERY GOOD in your eyes, but only GOOD in mine; or something you will think + VERY BAD, but I TOLERABLE; possibly, too, something only TOLERABLE for + you, but VERY GOOD, PRECIOUS, and DELIGHTFUL for me! This sounds rather + oracular, does it not? It is ambiguous, but still may be divined. + </p> + <p> + My regards to Herr Bullinger; every time that I get a letter from you, + usually containing a few lines from him, I feel ashamed, as it reminds me + that I have never once written to my best and truest friend, from whom I + have received so much kindness and civility. But I cannot try to excuse + myself. I only beg of him to do so for me as far as possible, and to + believe that, as soon as I have a little leisure, I will write to him—as + yet I have had none; for from the moment I know that it is even possible + or probable that I may leave a place, I have no longer a single hour I can + call my own, and though I have now a glimmer of hope, still I shall not be + at rest till I know how things are. One of the oracle's sayings must come + to pass. I think it will be the middle one or the last—I care not + which, for at all events it will be something settled. + </p> + <p> + I no doubt wrote to you that Holzbauer's grand opera is in German. If not, + I write it now. The title is "Gunther von Schwarzburg," but not our + worshipful Herr Gunther, barber and councillor at Salzburg! "Rosamunde" is + to be given during the ensuing Carnival, the libretto being a recent + composition of Wieland's, and the music also a new composition of Herr + Schweitzer. Both are to come here. I have already seen some parts of the + opera and tried it over on the piano, but I say nothing about it as yet. + The target you have had painted for me, to be given in my name to the + shooting-match, is first-rate, and the verses inimitable. [Footnote: For + cross-bow practice, attended weekly by a circle of his Salzburg friends. + On the target was represented "the melancholy farewell of two persons + dissolved in tears, Wolfgang and the 'Basle.'"] I have now no more to + write, except that I wish you all a good night's rest, and that you may + all sleep soundly till this letter comes to wake you. Adieu! I embrace + from my heart—cart, my dear sister—blister, and am your + dutiful and attached son, + </p> + <p> + WOLFGANG AMADE MOZART, + </p> + <p> + Knight of the Golden Spur, Member of the great Verona Academy, Bologna—oui, + mon ami! + </p> + <p> + <br />79. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Nov. 26, 1777. —MOREOVER, every one acquainted with + Mannheim, even the nobility, advised me to come here. The reason why we + are still in this place is that I have some thoughts of remaining the + winter here, and I am only waiting for an answer from the Elector to + decide my plans. The Intendant, Count Savioli, is a very worthy gentleman, + and I told him to inform the Elector that, this being such severe weather + for travelling, I am willing to remain here to teach the young Count [Carl + Theodor's son]. He promised me to do his best for me, but said that I must + have patience till the gala days were over. All this took place with the + consent and at the SUGGESTION of Cannabich. When I told him that I had + spoken to Savioli and what I had said, he replied he really thought it was + more likely to be brought about than not. Indeed, Cannabich spoke to the + Elector on the subject before the Count did so; and now I must wait to + hear the result. I am going to call on Herr Schmalz to draw my 150 + florins, for my landlord would no doubt prefer the sound of gold to that + of music. I little thought that I should have the gift of a watch here, + [see No. 74,] but such is again the case. I would have been off long ago, + but every one says to me, "Where do you intend to go for the winter? + Travelling is detestable in such weather; stay here." Cannabich also + wishes it very much; so now I have taken steps to do so, and as such an + affair cannot be hurried, I must wait with patience, and I hope soon to be + able to send you good news. I have already two pupils certain, besides the + ARCH ones, who certainly won't give me less than a louis each monthly. + Without these I could not indeed manage to remain. Now let the matter rest + as it is, or as it may be, what avail useless speculations? What is to + occur we do not know; still in so far we do! what God wills! + </p> + <p> + Now for a cheerful allegro—non siete si pegro. [Footnote: "Don't be + so desponding."] If we do leave this, we shall go straight to—where? + To Weilburg, or whatever the name of the place may be, to the Princess, + sister of the Prince of Orange, whom we knew so well at the Hague. There + we shall stay—N. B., so long as we like the officers' table, and no + doubt receive at least six louis-d'or. + </p> + <p> + A few days ago Herr Sterkel came here from Wurzburg. The day before + yesterday, the 24th, I dined with Cannabich's, and again at Oberstjager + von Hagen's, and spent the evening al solito with Cannabich, where Sterkel + joined us, [Footnote: Abbe Sterkel, a favorite composer and virtuoso on + the piano, whom Beethoven, along with Simrock, Ries, and the two Rombergs, + visited in the autumn of 1791, in Aschaffenberg.] and played five duets + [sonatas with violin], but so quick that it was difficult to follow the + music, and neither distinctly nor in time. Every one said the same. + Madlle. Cannabich played my six sonatas, and in fact better than Sterkel. + I must now conclude, for I cannot write in bed, and I am too sleepy to sit + up any longer. + </p> + <p> + <br />80. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Nov. 29, 1777. + </p> + <p> + I RECEIVED this morning your letter of the 24th, and perceive that you + cannot reconcile yourself to the chances of good or bad fortune, if, + indeed, the latter is to befall us. Hitherto, we four have neither been + very lucky nor very unlucky, for which I thank God. You make us many + reproaches which we do not deserve. We spend nothing but what is + absolutely necessary, and as to what is required on a journey, you know + that as well or better than we do. No one BUT MYSELF has been the cause of + our remaining so long in Munich; and had I been alone I should have stayed + there altogether. Why were we fourteen days in Augsburg? Surely you cannot + have got my letters from there? I wished to give a concert. They played me + false, so I thus lost eight days. I was absolument determined to go away, + but was not allowed, so strong was the wish that I should give a concert. + I wished to be urged to do so, and I was urged. I gave the concert; this + accounts for the fourteen days. Why did we go direct to Mannheim? This I + answered in my last letter. Why are we still here? How can you suppose + that I would stay here without good cause? But my father, at all events, + should—Well! you shall hear my reasons and the whole course of the + affair; but I had quite resolved not to write to you on the subject until + I could say something decided, (which even yet I cannot do,) on purpose to + avoid causing you care and anxiety, which I always strive to do, for I + knew that uncertain intelligence would only fret you. But when you ascribe + this to my negligence, thoughtlessness, and indolence, I can only regret + your having such an opinion of me, and from my heart grieve that you so + little know your son. I am not careless, I am only prepared for the worst; + so I can wait and bear everything patiently, so long as my honor and my + good name of Mozart remain uninjured. But if it must be so, so let it be. + I only beg that you will neither rejoice nor lament prematurely; for + whatever may happen, all will be well if we only have health; for + happiness exists—merely in the imagination. + </p> + <p> + Last Thursday week I went in the forenoon to wait on Count Savioli, and + asked him if it were possible to induce the Elector to keep me here this + winter, as I was anxious to give lessons to his children. His answer was, + "I will suggest it to the Elector, and if it depends on me, the thing will + certainly be done." In the afternoon I went to Cannabich's, and as I had + gone to Savioli by his advice, he immediately asked me if I had been + there. I told him everything, on which he said, "I should like you very + much to spend the winter with us, but still more to see you in some + permanent situation." I replied, "I could wish nothing better than to be + settled near you, but I don't see how it is possible. You have already two + Capellmeisters, so I don't know what I could have, for I would not be + subordinate to Vogler." "That you would never be," said he. "Here not one + of the orchestra is under the Capellmeister, nor even under the Intendant. + The Elector might appoint you Chamber Court composer; only wait a little, + and I will speak to Count Savioli on the subject." On the Thursday after + there was a grand concert. When the Count saw me, he apologized for not + having yet spoken to the Elector, these being still gala days; but as soon + as they were over (next Monday) he would certainly speak to his Royal + Highness. I let three days pass, and, still hearing nothing whatever, I + went to him to make inquiries. He said, "My good M. Mozart, (this was + yesterday, Friday,) today there was a chasse, so it was impossible for me + to ask the Elector, but to-morrow at this hour I will certainly give you + an answer." I begged him not to forget it. To tell you the truth, when I + left him I felt rather indignant, so I resolved to take with me the + easiest of my six variations of the Fischer minuet, (which I wrote here + for this express purpose,) to present to the young Count, in order to have + an opportunity to speak to the Elector myself. When I went there, you + cannot conceive the delight of the governess, by whom I was most politely + received. When I produced the variations, and said that they were intended + for the young Count, she said, "Oh! that is charming, but I hope you have + something for the Countess also." "Nothing as yet," said I, "but if I stay + here long enough to have time to write something I will do so." "A + propos," said she, "I am so glad that you stay the winter here." "I? I + have not heard a word of it." "That does surprise me; how very odd! for + the Elector told me so himself lately; he said, 'By the by, Mozart remains + here all winter.'" "Well, when he said so, he was the only man who could + say so, for without the Elector I of course cannot remain here;" and then + I told her the whole story. We agreed that I should come the next day + (that is, to-day) at four o'clock, and bring some piece of music for the + Countess. She was to speak to the Elector before I came; and I should be + certain to meet him. I went today, but he had not been there at all; but I + shall go again to-morrow. I have written a Rondo for the Countess. Have I + not then sufficient cause to stay here and await the result? As this + important step is finally taken, ought I at this moment to set off? I have + now an opportunity of speaking to the Elector myself. I shall most + probably spend the winter here, for I am a favorite with his Royal + Highness, who thinks highly of me, and knows what I can do. I hope to be + able to give you good news in my next letter. I entreat you once more + neither to rejoice nor to be uneasy too soon, and not to confide the + affair to any one except Herr Bullinger and my sister. I send my sister + the allegro and the andante of the sonata I wrote for Madlle. Cannabich. + The Rondo will follow shortly; the packet would have been too heavy had I + sent it with the others. You must be satisfied with the original, for you + can more easily get it copied for six kreutzers a sheet than I for + twenty-four. Is not that dear? Adieu! Possibly you have heard some stray + bits of this sonata; for at Cannabich's it is sung three times a day at + least, played on the piano and violin, or whistled—only sotto voce, + to be sure. + </p> + <p> + <br />81. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Dec. 3, 1777. + </p> + <p> + I CAN still write nothing certain about my fate here. Last Monday, after + going three days in succession to my ARCH pupils, morning and afternoon, I + had the good fortune at last to meet the Elector. We all, indeed, thought + that I had again come in vain, as it was so late in the day, but at length + we saw him coming. The governess made the Countess seat herself at the + piano, and I placed myself beside her to give her a lesson, and it was + thus the Elector found us on entering. We rose, but he desired us to + continue the lesson. When she had finished playing, the governess + addressed him, saying that I had written a beautiful Rondo. I played it, + and it pleased him exceedingly. At last he said, "Do you think that she + will be able to learn it?" "Oh! yes," said I; "I only wish I had the good + fortune to teach it to her myself." He smiled, and said, "I should also + like it; but would it not be prejudicial to her to have two masters?" "Oh, + no! your Highness," said I; "it all depends on whether she has a good or a + bad one. I hope your Highness will place trust and confidence in me." "Oh, + assuredly," said he. The governess then said, "M. Mozart has also written + these variations on the Fischer minuet for the young Count." I played + them, and he seemed to like them much. He now began to jest with the + Countess. I thanked him for his present of a watch. He said, "I must + reflect on your wish; how long do you intend to remain here?" My answer + was, "As long as your Highness commands me to do so;" and then the + interview was at an end. I went there again this morning, and was told + that the Elector had repeated yesterday, "Mozart stays here this winter." + Now I am fairly in for it; so you see I must wait. + </p> + <p> + I dined to-day (for the fourth time) with Wendling. Before dinner, Count + Savioli came in with Capellmeister Schweitzer, who arrived yesterday + evening. Savioli said to me, "I spoke again yesterday to the Elector, but + he has not yet made up his mind." I answered, "I wish to say a few words + to you privately;" so we went to the window. I told him the doubt the + Elector had expressed, and complained of the affair dragging on so long, + and said how much I had already spent here, entreating him to persuade the + Elector to engage me permanently; for I fear that he will give me so + little during the winter that it will be impossible for me to remain. "Let + him give me work; for I like work." He said he would certainly suggest it + to him, but this evening it was out of the question, as he was not to go + to court; to-morrow, however, he promised me a decided answer. Now, let + what will happen. If he does not engage me, I shall, at all events, apply + for a sum of money for my travelling expenses, as I have no intention to + make him a present of the Rondo and the variations. I assure you I am very + easy on the subject, because I feel quite certain that, come what may, all + will go right. I am entirely submissive to the will of God. + </p> + <p> + Your letter of the 27th arrived yesterday, and I hope you received the + allegro and andante of the sonata. I now enclose the Rondo. Schweitzer is + a good, worthy, upright man, dry and candid like our Haydn; only his mode + of speaking is more polished. There are some very beautiful things in his + new opera, and I don't doubt that it will prove a great success. "Alceste" + is much liked, and yet it is not half so fine as "Rosamunde." Being the + first German operetta no doubt contributed very much to its popularity; + but now—N. B., on minds chiefly attracted by novelty—it + scarcely makes the same impression. Herr Wieland, whose poetry it is, is + also to come here this winter. That is a man I should indeed like to see. + Who knows? Perhaps I may. When you read this, dear papa, please God, all + will be settled. + </p> + <p> + If I do stay here, I am going to Paris during Lent with Herr Wendling, + Herr Ramm, the hautboy-player, who plays admirably, and Ballet-master + Cauchery. Wendling assures me I shall never regret it; he has been twice + in Paris, and has only just returned from there. He says, "It is, in fact, + the only place where either real fame or money is to be acquired. You are + a man of genius; I will put you on the right path. You must write an opera + seria and comique, an oratorio, and every kind of thing. Any one who + composes a couple of operas in Paris receives a certain sum yearly. There + is also the Concert Spirituel and the Academie des Amateurs, where you get + five louis-d'or for a symphony. If you teach, the custom is three + louis-d'or for twelve lessons; and then you get your sonatas, trios, and + quartets published by subscription. Cannabich and Toeschi send a great + part of their music to Paris." Wendling is a man who understands + travelling. Write me your opinion of this scheme, I beg; it seems to me + both wise and profitable. I shall travel with a man who knows all the ins + and outs of Paris (as it now is) by heart, for it is very much changed. I + should spend very little—indeed, I believe not one half of what I do + at present, for I should only have to pay for myself, as mamma would stay + here, and probably with the Wendlings. + </p> + <p> + On the 12th of this month, Herr Ritter, who plays the bassoon beautifully, + sets off for Paris. If I had been alone, this would have been a famous + opportunity for me; indeed, he spoke to me himself about it. Ramm + (hautboy-player) is a good, jolly, worthy man, about thirty-five, who has + travelled a great deal, so has much experience. The first and best + musicians here like me very much, and respect me too. They always call me + Herr Capellmeister. I cannot say how much I regret not having at least the + copy of a mass with me, for I should certainly have had it performed, + having lately heard one of Holzbauer's, which is also in our style. If I + had only a copy of the Misericordias! But so it is, and it can't be helped + now. I would have had one transcribed here, but copying does cost so much. + Perhaps I should not have got as much for the mass itself as I must have + paid for the copy. People here are by no means so very liberal. + </p> + <p> + <br />82. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Dec. 6, 1777. + </p> + <p> + I CAN tell you nothing certain yet. I begin to be rather tired of this + joke; I am only curious to know the result. Count Savioli has spoken three + times to the Elector, and the answer was invariably a shrug of the + shoulders, and "I will give you an answer presently, but—I have not + yet made up my mind." My kind friends here quite agree with me in thinking + that this hesitation and reserve are rather a favorable omen than the + reverse. For if the Elector was resolved not to engage me, he would have + said so at once; so I attribute the delay to Denari siamo un poco + scrocconi [we are a little stingy of our money]. Besides, I know for + certain that the Prince likes me; a buon canto, so we must wait. I may now + say that it will be very welcome to me if the affair turns out well; if + not, I shall much regret having lingered here so long and spent so much + money. At all events, whatever the issue may be, it cannot be an evil one + if it be the will of God; and my daily prayer is that the result may be in + accordance with it. You have indeed, dear papa, rightly guessed the chief + cause of Herr Cannabich's friendship for me. There is, however, another + small matter in which he can make use of me—namely, he is obliged to + publish a collection of all his ballets arranged for the piano. Now, he + cannot possibly write these out himself in such a manner that the work may + be correct and yet easy. For this purpose I am very welcome to him; (this + was the case already with one of his contredanses.) He has been out + shooting for the last week, and is not to return till next Tuesday. Such + things contribute, indeed, very much to our good friendship; but, + independent of this, he would at least never be inimical to me, for he is + very much changed. When a man comes to a certain age, and sees his + children grown up, he then no doubt thinks a little differently. His + daughter, who is fifteen, and his eldest child, is a very pretty, pleasing + girl. She has great good sense for her age, and an engaging demeanor; she + is rather grave and does not talk much, but what she does say is always + amiable and good-natured. She caused me most indescribable pleasure + yesterday, by playing my sonata in the most admirable manner. The andante + (which must not be played QUICK) she executed with the greatest possible + feeling; and she likes to play it. You know that I finished the first + allegro when I had been only two days here, and that I had then only seen + Madlle. Cannabich once. Young Danner asked me how I intended to compose + the andante. "Entirely in accordance with Madlle. Rose's character," said + I. When I played it, it seemed to please much. Danner mentioned afterwards + what I had said. And it is really so; she is just what the andante is. + To-day I dined for the sixth time with Wendling, and for the second time + in the company of Herr Schweitzer. To-morrow, by way of a change, I dine + there again; I actually have my board there. I must now go to bed, so I + wish you good-night. + </p> + <p> + I have this moment returned from Wendling's, and as soon as I have posted + this letter I am going back there, for the opera is to be rehearsed in + camera caritatis, as it were. I am going to Cannabich's afterwards, at + half-past six o'clock, to give my usual daily music-lesson. A propos, I + must correct a statement of mine. I said yesterday that Madlle. Cannabich + was fifteen; it seems, however, that she is only just thirteen. Our kind + regards to all our friends, especially to Herr Bullinger. + </p> + <p> + <br />83. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Dec. 10, 1777. + </p> + <p> + ALL is at an end, for the present, with the Elector. I went to the court + concert the day before yesterday, in the hope of getting an answer. Count + Savioli evidently wished to avoid me; but I went up to him. When he saw me + he shrugged his shoulders. "What!" said I, "still no answer?" "Pardon me!" + said he, "but I grieve to say nothing can be done." "Eh, bien!" said I, + "the Elector might have told me so sooner!" "True," said he, "but he would + not even now have made up his mind, if I had not driven him to it by + saying that you had already stayed here too long, spending your money in a + hotel." "Truly, that is what vexes me most of all," I replied; "it is very + far from pleasant. But, at all events, I am very much indebted to you, + Count, (for he is not called "your Excellency,") for having taken my part + so zealously, and I beg you will thank the Elector from me for his + gracious, though somewhat tardy information; and I can assure him that, + had he accepted my services, he never would have had cause to regret it." + "Oh!" said he, "I feel more convinced of that than perhaps you think." + When I told Herr Wendling of the final decision, he colored and said, + quite indignantly, "Then we must find the means; you must, at least, + remain here for the next two months, and after that we can go together to + Paris. To-morrow Cannabich returns from shooting, and then we can talk + further on the subject." I left the concert immediately, and went straight + to Madame Cannabich. On my way thither, Herr Schatzmeister having come + away from the concert with me, I told him all about it, as he is a good + worthy man and a kind friend of mine. You cannot conceive how angry he + was. When we went into Madame Cannabich's house, he spoke first, saying, + "I bring you a man who shares the usual happy fate of those who have to do + with courts." "What!" said Madame, "so it has all come to nothing?" I told + her the whole, and in return they related to me numbers of similar things + which had occurred here. When Madlle. Rose (who was in the third room from + us, busy with the linen) had finished, she came in and said to me, "Do you + wish me to begin now?" as it was the hour for her lesson. "I am at your + orders," said I. "Do you know," said she, "that I mean to be very + attentive to-day?" "I am sure you will," answered I, "for the lessons will + not continue much longer." "How so? What do you mean?—Why?" She + turned to her mamma, who told her. "What!" said she, "is this quite + certain? I cannot believe it." "Yes—yes; quite certain," said I. She + then played my sonata, but looked very grave. Do you know, I really could + not suppress my tears; and at last they had all tears in their eyes—mother, + daughter, and Schatzmeister, for she was playing the sonata at the moment, + which is the favorite of the whole family. "Indeed," said Schatzmeister, + "if the Herr Capellmeister (I am never called anything else here) leaves + us, it will make us all weep." I must say that I have very kind friends + here, for it is under such circumstances that we learn to know them; for + they are so, not only in words but in deeds. Listen to this! The other day + I went, as usual, to dine with Wendling, when he said to me, "Our Indian + friend (a Dutchman, who lives on his own means, and is an amateur of all + the fine arts, and a great friend and admirer of mine) is certainly an + excellent fellow. He will give you twenty florins to write for him three + little easy short concertos, and a couple of quattros for a leading flute. + Cannabich can get you at least two pupils, who will play well; and you + could write duets for the piano and violin, and publish them by + subscription. Dinner and supper you will always have with us, and lodgings + you have at the Herr Hofkammerrath's; so all this will cost you nothing. + As for your mother, we can easily find her a cheap lodging for these two + months, till you have had time to write about the matter to your father, + when she will leave this for Salzburg and we for Paris." Mamma is quite + satisfied; so all that is yet wanting is your consent, of which I feel so + sure that, if the time for our journey were now come, I would set off for + Paris without waiting for your reply; for I could expect nothing else from + a sensible father, hitherto so anxious for the welfare of his children. + Herr Wendling, who sends you his compliments, is very intimate with our + dear friend Grimm, who, when he was here, spoke a great deal about me to + Wendling; this was when he had just come from us at Salzburg. As soon as I + receive your answer to this letter, I mean to write to him, for a stranger + whom I met at dinner to-day told me that Grimm was now in Paris. As we + don't leave this till the 8th of March, I beg you, if possible, to try to + procure for me, either through Herr Mesmer at Vienna, or some one else, a + letter to the Queen of France, if it can be done without much difficulty; + if not, it does not much matter. It would be better if I could have one—of + that there is no doubt; this is also the advice of Herr Wendling. I + suppose what I am now writing must appear very strange to you, because you + are in a city where there are only stupid enemies, and weak and simple + friends, whose dreary daily bread at Salzburg is so essential to them, + that they become flatterers, and are not to be depended on from day to + day. Indeed, this was why I wrote you nothing but childish nonsense, and + jokes, and folly; I wished to await the event here, to save you from + vexation, and my good friends from blame; for you very unwarrantably + accuse them of working against me in an underhand way, which they + certainly never did. Your letters obliged me to relate the whole affair to + you. I entreat you most earnestly not to distress yourself on the subject; + God has willed it so. Reflect also on this most undoubted truth, that we + cannot do all we wish. We often think that such and such a thing would be + very good, and another equally bad and evil, and yet if these things came + to pass, we should sometimes learn that the very reverse was the case. + </p> + <p> + I must now go to bed. I shall have plenty of work to do during the two + months of my stay,—three concertos, two quartets, five or six duets + for the piano, and I also have thoughts of composing a new grand mass, and + dedicating it to the Elector. Adieu! I will write to Prince Zeill next + post-day to press forward matters in Munich; if you would also write to + him, I should be very glad. But short and to the point—no cringing! + for that I cannot bear. It is quite certain that he can do it if he likes, + for all Munich told me so [see Nos. 56 and 60]. + </p> + <p> + <br />84. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Dec. 14, 1777. + </p> + <p> + I CAN only write a few words, as I did not get home till four o'clock, + when I had a lesson to give to the young lady of the house. It is now + nearly half-past five, so time to close my letter. I will ask mamma to + write a few days beforehand, so that all our news may not be of the same + date, for I can't easily do this. The little time that I have for writing + must be devoted to composition, for I have a great deal of work before me. + I entreat you to answer me very soon as to my journey to Paris. I played + over my concertone on the piano to Herr Wendling, who said it was just the + thing for Paris; if I were to play that to Baron Bach, he would be in + ecstasies. Adieu! + </p> + <p> + <br />85. + </p> + <p> + [A P.S. TO A LETTER FROM HIS MOTHER.] + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Dec. 18, 1777. + </p> + <p> + IN the greatest haste and hurry! The organ that was tried to-day in the + Lutheran church is very good, not only in certain registers, but in its + whole compass. [Footnote: The mother writes: "A Lutheran of degree called + on us to-day, and invited Wolfgang, with all due politeness, to try their + new organ."] Vogler played on it. He is only a juggler, so to speak; as + soon as he wishes to play in a majestic style, he becomes dull. Happily + this seems equally tedious to himself, so it does not last long; but then, + what follows? only an incomprehensible scramble. I listened to him from a + distance. He began a fugue, in chords of six notes, and presto. I then + went up to him, for I would far rather see than hear him. There were a + great many people present, and among the musicians Holzbauer, Cannabich, + Toeschi, &c. + </p> + <p> + A quartet for the Indian Dutchman, that true benefactor of man, will soon + be finished. A propos, Herr told me that he had written to you by the last + post. Addio! I was lately obliged to direct the opera with some violins at + Wendling's, Schweitzer being unwell. + </p> + <p> + <br />86. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Dec. 20, 1777. + </p> + <p> + I WISH you, dearest papa, a very happy new-year, and that your health, so + precious in my eyes, may daily improve, for the benefit and happiness of + your wife and children, the satisfaction of your true friends, and for the + annoyance and vexation of your enemies. I hope also that in the coming + year you will love me with the same fatherly tenderness you have hitherto + shown me. I on my part will strive, and honestly strive, to deserve still + more the love of such an admirable father. I was cordially delighted with + your last letter of the 15th of December, for, thank God! I could gather + from it that you are very well indeed. We, too, are in perfect health, God + be praised! Mine is not likely to fail if constant work can preserve it. I + am writing this at eleven at night, because I have no other leisure time. + We cannot very well rise before eight o'clock, for in our rooms (on the + ground-floor) it is not light till half-past eight. I then dress quickly; + at ten o'clock I sit down to compose till twelve or half-past twelve, when + I go to Wendling's, where I generally write till half-past one; we then + dine. At three o'clock I go to the Mainzer Hof (an hotel) to a Dutch + officer, to give him lessons in galanterie playing and thorough bass, for + which, if I mistake not, he gives me four ducats for twelve lessons. At + four o'clock I go home to teach the daughter of the house. We never begin + till half past four, as we wait for lights. At six o'clock I go to + Cannabich's to instruct Madlle. Rose. I stay to supper there, when we + converse and sometimes play; I then invariably take a book out of my + pocket and read, as I used to do at Salzburg. I have already written to + you the pleasure your last letter caused me, which is quite true; only one + thing rather vexed me, the inquiry whether I had not perchance forgotten + to go to confession. I shall not say anything further on this. Only allow + me to make you one request, which is, not to think so badly of me. I like + to be merry, but rest assured that I can be as serious as any one. Since I + quitted Salzburg (and even in Salzburg) I have met with people who spoke + and acted in a way that I should have felt ashamed to do, though they were + ten, twenty, and thirty years older than myself. I implore of you + therefore once more, and most earnestly, to have a better opinion of me. + </p> + <p> + <br />87. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Dec. 27, 1777. + </p> + <p> + A PRETTY sort of paper this! I only wish I could make it better; but it is + now too late to send for any other. You know, from our previous letters, + that mamma and I have a capital lodging. It never was my intention that + she should live apart from me; in fact, when the Hofkammerrath Serrarius + so kindly offered me his house, I only expressed my thanks, which is by no + means saying yes. The next day I went to see him with Herr Wendling and M. + de Jean (our worthy Dutchman), and only waited till he should himself + begin the subject. At length he renewed his offer, and I thanked him in + these words: "I feel that it is a true proof of friendship on your part to + do me the honor to invite me to live in your house; but I regret that + unfortunately I cannot accept your most kind proposal. I am sure you will + not take it amiss when I say that I am unwilling to allow my mother to + leave me without sufficient cause; and I certainly know no reason why + mamma should live in one part of the town and I in another. When I go to + Paris, her not going with me would be a considerable pecuniary advantage + to me, but here for a couple of months a few gulden more or less do not + signify." + </p> + <p> + By this speech my wish was entirely fulfilled,—that is, that our + board and lodging do not at all events make us poorer. I must go up-stairs + to supper, for we have now chatted till half-past ten o'clock. I lately + went with my scholar, the Dutch officer, M. de la Pottrie, into the + Reformed church, where I played for an hour and a half on the organ. It + came right from my heart too. We—that is, the Cannabichs, Wendlings, + Serrariuses, and Mozarts—are going to the Lutheran Church, where I + shall amuse myself gloriously on the organ. I tried its tone at the same + rehearsal that I wrote to you about, but played very little, only a + prelude and a fugue. + </p> + <p> + I have made acquaintance with Herr Wieland. He does not, however, know me + as I know him, for he has heard nothing of me as yet. I had not at all + imagined him to be what I find him. He speaks in rather a constrained way, + and has a childish voice, his eyes very watery, and a certain pedantic + uncouthness, and yet at times provokingly condescending. I am not, + however, surprised that he should choose to behave in this way at + Mannheim, though no doubt very differently at Weimar and elsewhere, for + here he is stared at as if he had fallen from the skies. People seem to be + so ceremonious in his presence, no one speaks, all are as still as + possible, striving to catch every word he utters. It is unlucky that they + are kept so long in expectation, for he has some impediment in his speech + which causes him to speak very slowly, and he cannot say six words without + pausing. Otherwise he is, as we all know, a man of excellent parts. His + face is downright ugly and seamed with the small-pox, and he has a long + nose. His height is rather beyond that of papa. + </p> + <p> + You need have no misgivings as to the Dutchman's 200 florins. I must now + conclude, as I should like to compose for a little time. One thing more: I + suppose I had better not write to Prince Zeill at present. The reason you + no doubt already know, (Munich being nearer to Salzburg than to Mannheim,) + that the Elector is at the point of death from small-pox. This is certain, + so there will be a struggle there. Farewell! As for mamma's journey home, + I think it could be managed best during Lent, by her joining some + merchants. This is only my own idea; but what I do feel quite sure of is, + that whatever you think right will be best, for you are not only the Herr + Hofcapellmeister, but the most rational of all rational beings. If you + know such a person as papa, tell him I kiss his hands 1000 times, and + embrace my sister from my heart, and in spite of all this scribbling I am + your dutiful son and affectionate brother. + </p> + <p> + <br />88. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Jan. 7, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I HOPE you are both well. I am, thank God! in good health and spirits. You + may easily conceive my sorrow at the death of the Elector of Bavaria. My + sole wish is that our Elector here may have the whole of Bavaria, and + transfer himself to Munich. I think you also would like this. This + forenoon at twelve o'clock, Carl Theodor was proclaimed at court Duke of + Bavaria. At Munich, Count Daun, Oberststallmeister, immediately on the + death of the Prince, received homage in the name of the Elector, and sent + the dragoons to ride all round the environs of the city with trumpets and + kettledrums, and to shout "Long live our Elector, Carl Theodor!" If all + goes well, as I hope it may, Count Daun will receive a very handsome + present. His aid-de-camp, whom he dispatched here with the tidings, (his + name is Lilienau,) got 3000 florins from the Elector. + </p> + <p> + <br />89. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Jan 10, 1778 + </p> + <p> + YES, indeed! I also wish that from my heart. [Footnote: In the mother's + letter, she had written, "May God grant us the blessing of peace'" for + there was much talk about the invasion of Bavaria by the Prussians and + Austrians, on account of the succession.] You have already learned my true + desire from my last letter. It is really high time that we should think of + mamma's journey home, for though we have had various rehearsals of the + opera, still its being performed is by no means certain, and if it is not + given, we shall probably leave this on the 15th of February. When that + time arrives, (after receiving your advice on the subject,) I mean to + follow the opinions and habits of my fellow-travellers, and, like them, + order a suit of black clothes, reserving the laced suit for Germany, as it + is no longer the fashion in Paris. In the first place, it is an economy, + (which is my chief object in my Paris journey,) and, secondly, it wears + well and suits both country and town. You can go anywhere with a black + coat. To-day the tailor brought Herr Wendling his suit. The clothes I + think of taking with me are my puce-brown spagnolet coat, and the two + waistcoats. + </p> + <p> + Now for something else. Herr Wieland, after meeting me twice, seems quite + enchanted with me. The last time, after every sort of eulogium, he said, + "It is really fortunate for me having met you here," and pressed my hand. + To-day "Rosamunde" has been rehearsed in the theatre; it is well enough, + but nothing more, for if it were positively bad it could not be performed, + I suppose,—just as some people cannot sleep without lying in a bed! + But there is no rule without an exception, and I have seen an instance of + this; so good night! Now for something more to the purpose. I know for + certain that the Emperor intends to establish a German opera in Vienna, + and is eagerly looking out for a young Capellmeister who understands the + German language, and has genius, and is capable of bringing something new + into the world. Benda at Gotha has applied, but Schweitzer is determined + to succeed. I think it would be just the thing for me, but well paid of + course. If the Emperor gives me 1000 gulden, I will write a German opera + for him, and if he does not choose to give me a permanent engagement, it + is all the same to me. Pray write to every kind friend you can think of in + Vienna, that I am capable of doing credit to the Emperor. If he will do + nothing else, he may at least try me with an opera, and as to what may + occur hereafter I care not. Adieu! I hope you will put the thing in train + at once, or some one may forestall me. + </p> + <p> + <br />90. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Jan. 17, 1778. + </p> + <p> + NEXT Wednesday I am going for some days to Kirchheim-Boland, the residence + of the Princess of Orange. I have heard so much praise of her here, that + at last I have resolved to go. A Dutch officer, a particular friend of + mine, [M. de la Pottrie,] was much upbraided by her for not bringing me + with him when he went to offer his new-year's congratulations. I expect to + receive at least eight louis-d'or, for as she has a passionate admiration + of singing, I have had four arias copied out for her. I will also present + her with a symphony, for she has a very nice orchestra and gives a concert + every day. Besides, the copying of the airs will not cost me much, for a + M. Weber who is going there with me has copied them. He has a daughter who + sings admirably, and has a lovely pure voice; she is only fifteen. + [Footnote: Aloysia, second daughter of the prompter and theatrical + copyist, Weber, a brother of Carl Maria von Weber's father.] She fails in + nothing but in stage action; were it not for that, she might be the prima + donna of any theatre. Her father is a downright honest German who brings + up his children well, for which very reason the girl is persecuted here. + He has six children,—five girls and a son. He and his wife and + children have been obliged to live for the last fourteen years on an + income of 200 florins, but as he has always done his duty well, and has + lately provided a very accomplished singer for the Elector, he has now + actually 400 florins. My aria for De' Amicis she sings to perfection with + all its tremendous passages: she is to sing it at Kirchheim-Boland. + </p> + <p> + Now for another subject. Last Wednesday there was a great feast in our + house, [at Hofkammerrath Serrarius's,] to which I was also invited. There + were fifteen guests, and the young lady of the house [Pierron, the "House + Nymph"] was to play in the evening the concerto I had taught her at eleven + o'clock in the forenoon. The Herr Kammerrath and Herr Vogler called on me. + Herr Vogler seems quite determined to become acquainted with me, as he + often importuned me to go to see him, but he has overcome his pride and + paid me the first visit. Besides, people tell me that he is now very + different, being no longer so much admired; for at first he was made quite + an idol of here. We went up-stairs together, when by degrees the guests + assembled, and there was no end to talking. After dinner, Vogler sent for + two pianos of his, which were tuned alike, and also his wearisome engraved + sonatas. I had to play them, while he accompanied me on the other piano. + At his urgent request I sent for my sonatas also. N. B.—Before + dinner he had scrambled through my sonata at sight, (the Litzau one which + the young lady of the house plays.) He took the first part prestissimo—the + Andante allegro—and the Rondo more prestissimo still. He played + great part of the bass very differently from the way in which it is + written, inventing at times quite another harmony and melody. It is + impossible to do otherwise in playing at such a pace, for the eyes cannot + see the notes, nor the hands get hold of them. What merit is there in + this? The listeners (I mean those worthy of the name) can only say that + they have SEEN music and piano-playing. All this makes them hear, and + think, and feel as little—as he does. You may easily believe that + this was beyond all endurance, because I could not venture to say to him + MUCH TOO QUICK! besides, it is far easier to play a thing quickly than + slowly; some notes may then be dropped without being observed. But is this + genuine music? In rapid playing the right and left hands may be changed, + and no one either see or hear it; but is this good? and in what does the + art of reading prima vista consist? In this—to play the piece in the + time in which it ought to be played, and to express all the notes and + apoggiaturas, &c., with proper taste and feeling as written, so that + it should give the impression of being composed by the person who plays + it. His fingering also is miserable; his left thumb is just like that of + the late Adlgasser, all the runs downwards with the right hand he makes + with the first finger and thumb! + </p> + <p> + <br />91. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Feb. 2 1778. + </p> + <p> + I COULD no delay writing to you till the usual Saturday arrived, because + it was so long since I had the pleasure of conversing with you by means of + my pen. The first thing I mean to write about is how my worthy friends and + I got on at Kirchheim-Boland. It was simply a holiday excursion, and + nothing more. On Friday morning at eight o'clock we drove away from here, + after I had breakfasted with Herr Weber. We had a capital covered coach + which held four; at four o'clock we arrived at Kirchheim-Boland. We + immediately sent a list of our names to the palace. Next morning early, + Herr Concertmeister Rothfischer called on us. He had been already + described to me at Mannheim as a most honorable man, and such I find him + to be. In the evening we went to court, (this was on Saturday,) where + Madlle. Weber sang three airs. I say nothing of her singing, but it is + indeed admirable. I wrote to you lately with regard to her merits; but I + cannot finish this letter without writing further about her, as I have + only recently known her well, so now first discover her great powers. We + dined afterwards at the officers' table. Next day we went some distance to + church, for the Catholic one is rather far away. This was on Sunday. In + the forenoon we dined again with the officers. In the evening there was no + music, because it was Sunday. Thus they have music only 300 times during + the year. In the evening we might have supped at court, but we preferred + being all together at the inn. We would gladly have made them a present + also of the dinners at the officers' table, for we were never so pleased + as when by ourselves; but economy rather entered our thoughts, since we + were obliged to pay heavily enough at the inn. + </p> + <p> + The following day, Monday, we had music again, and also on Tuesday and + Wednesday. Madlle. Weber sang in all thirteen times, and played twice on + the piano, for she plays by no means badly. What surprises me most is, + that she reads music so well. Only think of her playing my difficult + sonatas at sight, SLOWLY, but without missing a single note. I give you my + honor I would rather hear my sonatas played by her than by Vogler. I + played twelve times, and once, by desire, on the organ of the Lutheran + church. I presented the Princess with four symphonies, and received only + seven louis-d'or in silver, and our poor dear Madlle. Weber only five. + This I certainly did not anticipate! I never expected great things, but at + all events I hoped that each of us would at least receive eight + louis-d'or. Basta! We were not, however, losers, for I have a profit of + forty-two florins, and the inexpressible pleasure of becoming better + acquainted with worthy upright Christian people, and good Catholics, I + regret much not having known them long ago. + </p> + <p> + The 4th.—Now comes something urgent, about which I request an + answer. Mamma and I have discussed the matter, and we agree that we do not + like the sort of life the Wendlings lead. Wendling is a very honorable and + kind man, but unhappily devoid of all religion, and the whole family are + the same. I say enough when I tell you that his daughter was a most + disreputable character. Ramm is a good fellow, but a libertine. I know + myself, and I have such a sense of religion that I shall never do anything + which I would not do before the whole world; but I am alarmed even at the + very thoughts of being in the society of people, during my journey, whose + mode of thinking is so entirely different from mine (and from that of all + good people). But of course they must do as they please. I have no heart + to travel with them, nor could I enjoy one pleasant hour, nor know what to + talk about; for, in short, I have no great confidence in them. Friends who + have no religion cannot be long our friends. I have already given them a + hint of this by saying that during my absence three letters had arrived, + of which I could for the present divulge nothing further than that it was + unlikely I should be able to go with them to Paris, but that perhaps I + might come later, or possibly go elsewhere; so they must not depend on me. + I shall be able to finish my music now quite at my ease for De Jean, who + is to give me 200 florins for it. I can remain here as long as I please, + and neither board nor lodging cost me anything. In the meantime Herr Weber + will endeavor to make various engagements for concerts with me, and then + we shall travel together. If I am with him, it is just as if I were with + you. This is the reason that I like him so much; except in personal + appearance, he resembles you in all respects, and has exactly your + character and mode of thinking. If my mother were not, as you know, too + COMFORTABLY LAZY to write, she would say precisely what I do. I must + confess that I much enjoyed my excursion with them. We were pleased and + merry; I heard a man converse just like you; I had no occasion to trouble + myself about anything; what was torn I found repaired. In short, I was + treated like a prince. I am so attached to this oppressed family that my + greatest wish is to make them happy, and perhaps I may be able to do so. + My advice is that they should go to Italy, so I am all anxiety for you to + write to our good friend Lugiati [impresario], and the sooner the better, + to inquire what are the highest terms given to a prima donna in Verona—the + more the better, for it is always easy to accept lower terms. Perhaps it + would be possible to obtain the Ascensa in Venice. I will be answerable + with my life for her singing, and her doing credit to my recommendation. + She has, even during this short period, derived much profit from me, and + how much further progress she will have made by that time! I have no fears + either with regard to her acting. If this plan be realized, M. Weber, his + two daughters, and I, will have the happiness of visiting my dear papa and + dear sister for a fortnight, on our way through Salzburg. My sister will + find a friend and companion in Madlle. Weber, for, like my sister in + Salzburg, she enjoys the best reputation here, owing to the careful way in + which she has been brought up; the father resembles you, and the whole + family that of Mozart. They have indeed detractors, as with us, but when + it comes to the point they must confess the truth; and truth lasts + longest. I should be glad to go with them to Salzburg, that you might hear + her. My air that De' Amicis used to sing, and the bravura aria "Parto m' + affretto," and "Dalla sponda tenebrosa," she sings splendidly. Pray do all + you can to insure our going to Italy together. You know my greatest desire + is—to write operas. + </p> + <p> + I will gladly write an opera for Verona for thirty zecchini, solely that + Madlle. Weber may acquire fame by it; for, if I do not, I fear she may be + sacrificed. Before then I hope to make so much money by visiting different + places that I shall be no loser. I think we shall go to Switzerland, + perhaps also to Holland; pray write to me soon about this. Should we stay + long anywhere, the eldest daughter [Josepha, afterwards Madaine Hofer, for + whom the part of the Queen of the Night in the "Flauto magico" was + written] would be of the greatest use to us; for we could have our own + menage, as she understands cooking. + </p> + <p> + Send me an answer soon, I beg. Don't forget my wish to write an opera; I + envy every person who writes one; I could almost weep from vexation when I + hear or see an aria. But Italian, not German—seria, not buffa! I + have now written you all that is in my heart; my mother is satisfied with + my plan. + </p> + <p> + The mother, however, adds the following postscript:— + </p> + <p> + "No doubt you perceive by the accompanying letter that when Wolfgang makes + new friends he would give his life for them. It is true that she does sing + incomparably; still, we ought not to lose sight of our own interests. I + never liked his being in the society of Wendling and Ramm, but I did not + venture to object to it, nor would he have listened to me; but no sooner + did he know these Webers than he instantly changed his mind. In short, he + prefers other people to me, for I remonstrate with him sometimes, and that + he does not like. I write this quite secretly while he is at dinner, for I + don't wish him to know it." + </p> + <p> + A few days later Wolfgang urges his father still more strongly. + </p> + <p> + <br />92. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Feb. 7, 1778. + </p> + <p> + HERR SCHIEDENHOFEN might have let me know long ago through you that his + wedding was soon to take place [see Nos. 7, 10, 19], and I would have + composed a new minuet for the occasion. I cordially wish him joy; but his + is, after all, only one of those money matches, and nothing else! I hope + never to marry in this way; I wish to make my wife happy, but not to + become rich by her means; so I will let things alone, and enjoy my golden + freedom till I am so well off that I can support both wife and children. + Herr Schiedenhofen was forced to choose a rich wife; his title imposed + this on him. The nobility must not marry for love or from inclination, but + from interest, and all kinds of other considerations. It would not at all + suit a grandee to love his wife after she had done her duty, and brought + into the world an heir to the property. But we poor humble people are + privileged not only to choose a wife who loves us, and whom we love, but + we may, can, and do take such a one, because we are neither noble, nor + highborn, nor rich, but, on the contrary, lowly, humble, and poor; we + therefore need no wealthy wife, for our riches being in our heads, die + with us, and these no man can deprive us of unless he cut them off, in + which case we need nothing more. + </p> + <p> + I lately wrote to you my chief reason for not going to Paris with these + people, but another is that I have reflected well on what I have to do in + Paris. I could not get on passably without pupils, which is a kind of work + that does not suit me—of this I have a strong example here. I might + have had two pupils: I went three times to each, but finding one of them + not at home, I never went back. I am willing to give lessons out of + complaisance, especially when I see genius, and inclination and anxiety to + learn; but to be obliged to go to a house at a certain hour, or else to + wait at home, is what I cannot submit to, if I were to gain twice what I + do. I find it impossible, so must leave it to those who can do nothing but + play the piano. I am a composer, and born to become a Kapellmeister, and I + neither can nor ought thus to bury the talent for composition with which + God has so richly endowed me (I may say this without arrogance, for I feel + it now more than ever); and this I should do were I to take many pupils, + for it is a most unsettled metier; and I would rather, SO TO SPEAK, + neglect the piano than composition, for I look on the piano to be only a + secondary consideration, though, thank God! a very strong one too. My + third reason is, that I am by no means sure our friend Grimm is in Paris. + If he is, I can go there at any time with the post-carriage, for a capital + one travels from here to Paris by Strassburg. We intended at all events to + have gone by it. They travel also in this way. Herr Wendling is + inconsolable at my not going with them, but I believe this proceeds more + from self-interest than from friendship. Besides the reason I gave him + (about the three letters that had come during my absence), I also told him + about the pupils, and begged him to procure something certain for me, in + which case I would be only too glad to follow him to Paris, (for I can + easily do so,)—above all, if I am to write an opera, which is always + in my thoughts; but French rather than German, and Italian rather than + French or German. The Wendlings, one and all, are of opinion that my + compositions would please much in Paris. I have no fears on the subject, + for, as you know, I can pretty well adapt or conform myself to any style + of composition. Shortly after my arrival I composed a French song for + Madlle. Gustel (the daughter), who gave me the words, and she sings it + inimitably. I have the pleasure to enclose it for you. It is sung every + day at Wendling's, for they are quite infatuated with it. + </p> + <p> + <br />93. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Feb. 14, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I PERCEIVE by your letter of the 9th of February that you have not yet + received my last two letters. Wendling and Kamm leave this early to-morrow + morning. If I thought that you would be really displeased with me for not + going to Paris with them, I should repent having stayed here; but I hope + it is not so. The road to Paris is still open to me. Wendling has promised + to inquire immediately about Herr Grimm, and to send me information at + once. With such a friend in Paris, I certainly shall go there, for no + doubt he will bring something to bear for me. The main cause of my not + going with them is, that we have not been able to arrange about mamma + returning to Augsburg. The journey will not cost much, for there are + vetturini here who can be engaged at a cheap rate. By that time, however, + I hope to have made enough to pay mamma's journey home. Just now I don't + really see that it is possible. Herr de Jean sets off to-morrow for Paris, + and as I have only finished two concertos and three quartets for him, he + sent me 96 florins (having made a mistake of four florins, thinking this + sum the half of the 200); he must, however, pay me in full, for such was + the agreement I made with Wendling, and I can send him the other pieces. + It is not surprising that I have been unable to finish them, for I never + have a single quiet hour here. I can only write at night, so I cannot rise + early; besides, one is not always disposed to work. I could, to be sure, + scrawl away all day, but a thing of this kind goes forth to the world, and + I am resolved not to have cause to be ashamed of my name on the + title-page. Moreover, you know that I become quite obtuse when obliged to + write perpetually for an instrument that I cannot bear; so from time to + time I do something else, such as duets for the piano and violin, and I + also worked at the mass. Now I have begun the pianoforte duets in good + earnest, in order to publish them. If the Elector were only here, I would + very quickly finish the mass; but what must be must be! + </p> + <p> + I am very grateful to you, dear papa, for your fatherly letter; I will + preserve it as a treasure, and always refer to it. Pray do not forget + about my mother's journey from Augsburg to Salzburg, and let me know the + precise day; and I beg you will also remember the arias I mentioned in my + last letter. If I recollect rightly, there are also some cadenzas which I + once jotted down, and at all events an aria cantabile with coloraturas? I + wish to have these first, for they will serve as exercises for Madlle. + Weber. I have just taught her an andantino cantabile of Bach's. Yesterday + there was a concert at Cannabich's, where from first to last all the music + was of my composition, except the first symphony, which was Cannabich's. + Madlle. Rose played my concerto in B, then Herr Ramm (by way of a change) + played for the fifth time the hautboy concerto dedicated to Ferlendi, + which makes a great sensation here. It is now quite Ramm's cheval de + bataille. Madlle. Weber sang De' Amicis's aria di bravura quite + charmingly. Then I played my old concerto in D, because it is such a + favorite here, and likewise extemporized for half an hour, after which + Madlle. Weber sang De' Amicis's air, "Parto m' affretto;" and, as a + finale, my symphony "Il Re Pastore" was given. I do entreat you urgently + to interest yourself in Madlle. Weber; it would make me so happy if + good-fortune were to attend her. Husband and wife, five children, and a + salary of 450 florins! Don't forget about Italy, and my desire to go + there; you know my strong wish and passion. I hope all may go right. I + place my trust in God, who will never forsake us. Now farewell, and don't + forget all my requests and recommendations. + </p> + <p> + These letters alarmed the father exceedingly, so he wrote a long and very + earnest letter to his son as follows:—"The object of your journey + was to assist your parents, and to contribute to your dear sister's + welfare, but, above all, that you might acquire honor and fame in the + world, which you in some degree did in your boyhood; and now it rests + entirely with you to raise yourself by degrees to one of the highest + positions ever attained by any musician. This is a duty you owe to a kind + Providence in return for the remarkable talents with which He has gifted + you; and it depends wholly on your own good sense and good conduct, + whether you become a commonplace artist whom the world will forget, or a + celebrated Capellmeister, of whom posterity will read hereafter in books,—whether, + infatuated with some pretty face, you one day breathe your last on a straw + sack, your wife and children in a state of starvation, or, after a + well-spent Christian life, die peacefully in honor and independence, and + your family well provided for." He goes on to represent to him how little + he has hitherto fulfilled the object of his journey, and, above all, the + folly of wishing to place so young a girl on the Italian stage as a prima + donna, both time and great training being previously required. Moreover, + it would be quite unworthy of him to wander about the world with + strangers, and to compose at random merely for money. "Get off to Paris + without delay. Take your place by the side of really great people. Aut + Caesar aut nihil. The very idea of Paris should have guarded you from all + passing fancies." + </p> + <p> + To this Wolfgang replies:— + </p> + <p> + <br />94. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Feb. 19, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I ALWAYS thought that you would disapprove of my journey with the Webers, + but I never had any such intention—I mean, UNDER PRESENT + CIRCUMSTANCES. I gave them my word of honor to write to you to that + effect. Herr Weber does not know how we stand, and I certainly shall tell + it to no one. I wish my position had been such that I had no cause to + consider any one else, and that we were all independent; but in the + intoxication of the moment I forgot the present impossibility of the + affair, and also to tell you what I had done. The reasons of my not being + now in Paris must be evident to you from my last two letters. If my mother + had not first begun on the subject, I certainly would have gone with my + friends; but when I saw that she did not like it, I began to dislike it + also. When people lose confidence in me, I am apt to lose confidence in + myself. The days when, standing on a stool, I sang Oragna fiaguta fa, + [Footnote: Words sounding like Italian, but devoid of meaning, for which + he had invented a melody. Nissen gives it in his Life of Mozart, p. 35.] + and at the end kissed the tip of your nose, are indeed gone by; but still, + have my reverence, love, and obedience towards yourself ever failed on + that account? I say no more. As for your reproach about the little singer + in Munich [see No. 62], I must confess that I was an ass to write such a + complete falsehood. She does not as yet know even what singing means. It + was true that, for a person who had only learned music for three months, + she sang surprisingly; and, besides, she has a pleasing pure voice. The + reason why I praised her so much was probably my hearing people say, from + morning to night, "There is no better singer in all Europe; those who have + not heard her have heard nothing." I did not venture to disagree with + them, partly because I wished to acquire friends, and partly because I had + come direct from Salzburg, where we are not in the habit of contradicting + any one; but as soon as I was alone I never could help laughing. Why, + then, did I not laugh at her in my letter to you? I really cannot tell. + </p> + <p> + The bitter way in which you write about my merry and innocent intercourse + with your brother's daughter, makes me justly indignant; but as it is not + as you think, I require to give you no answer on the subject. I don't know + what to say about Wallerstein; I was very grave and reserved with Becke, + and at the officers' table also I had a very serious demeanor, not saying + one word to anybody. But let this all pass; you only wrote it in a moment + of irritation [see No. 74]. Your remarks about Madlle. Weber are just; but + at the time I wrote to you I knew quite as well as you that she is still + too young, and must be first taught how to act, and must rehearse + frequently on the stage. But with some people one must proceed step by + step. These good people are as tired of being here as—you know WHO + and WHERE, [meaning the Mozarts, father and son, in Salzburg,] and they + think everything feasible. I promised them to write everything to my + father; but when the letter was sent off to Salzburg, I constantly told + her that she must have a little patience, for she was still rather too + young, &c. They take in all I say in good part, for they have a high + opinion of me. By my advice, Herr Weber has engaged Madlle. Toscani (an + actress) to give his daughter lessons in acting. All you write of Madlle. + Weber is true, except, that she sings like a Gabrielli, [see Nos. 10, 37,] + for I should not at all like her to sing in that style. Those who have + heard Gabrielli say, and must say, that she was only an adept in runs and + roulades; but as she adopted so uncommon a reading, she gained admiration, + which, however, did not last longer than hearing her four times. She could + not please in the long run, for roulades soon become very tiresome, and + she had the misfortune of not being able to sing. She was not capable of + sustaining a breve properly, and having no messa di voce, she could not + dwell on her notes; in short, she sang with skill, but devoid of + intelligence. Madlle. Weber's singing, on the contrary, goes to the heart, + and she prefers a cantabile. I have lately made her practise the passages + in the Grand Aria, because, if she goes to Italy, it is necessary that she + should sing bravuras. The cantabile she certainly will never forget, being + her natural bent. Raaff (who is no flatterer), when asked to give his + sincere opinion, said, "She does not sing like a scholar, but like a + professor." + </p> + <p> + So now you know everything. I do still recommend her to you with my whole + heart, and I beg you will not forget about the arias, cadenzas, &c. I + can scarcely write from actual hunger. My mother will display the contents + of our large money-box. I embrace my sister lovingly. She is not to lament + about every trifle, or I will never come back to her. + </p> + <p> + <br />95. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Feb. 22, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I HAVE been now two days confined to the house, and taking antispasmodics, + black powders, and elderflower tea as a sudorific, because I have had a + catarrh, a cold in my head, sore throat, headache, pains in my eyes, and + earache; but, thank God, I am now better, and hope to be able to go out + tomorrow, being Sunday. I got your letter of the 16th and the two unsealed + letters of introduction for Paris. I rejoice that my French song pleases + you [see No. 92]. You must forgive my not writing much this time, but I + really cannot—I am so afraid of bringing back my headache, and, + besides, I feel no inclination to write to-day. It is impossible to write + all we think—at least, I find it to be so. I would rather say it + than write it. My last letter told you the whole thing just as it stands. + Believe what you please of me, only nothing bad. There are people who + think no one can love a poor girl without evil designs. But I am no + Brunetti [a violinist in Salzburg], no Misliweczeck. I am a Mozart; and, + though young, still a high-principled Mozart. Pardon me if, in my + eagerness, I become somewhat excited—which is, I suppose, the term, + though I might rather say, if I write as I feel. I might have said a great + deal on this subject, but I cannot—I feel it to be impossible. Among + my many faults I have also that of believing that those friends who know + me, do so thoroughly. Then many words are not necessary; and if they do + not know me, oh! how could I find words sufficient? It is painful enough + to employ words and letters for such a purpose. This, however, is not at + all meant to apply to you, dearest papa. No! You understand me too well, + and you are too kind to try to deprive any one of his good name. I only + meant it for—you can guess to whom I allude—to people who can + believe such a thing. + </p> + <p> + I have resolved to stay in the house to-day, although Sunday, as it is + snowing heavily. To-morrow I must go out, for our "house-nymph," Madlle. + Pierron, my highly esteemed pupil, who has usually a French concert every + Monday, intends to scramble through my hochgrafliche Litzau concerto. I + also mean, for my sins, to let them give me something to hack away at, and + show that I can do something too prima fista; for I am a regular + greenhorn, and all I can do is to strum a little on the piano! I must now + conclude, being more disposed to-day to write music than letters. Don't + forget the cadenzas and the cantabile. Many thanks for having had the + arias written out so quickly, for it shows that you place confidence in me + when I beg a favor of you. + </p> + <p> + <br />96. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Feb. 28, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I HOPE to receive the arias next Friday or Saturday, although in your last + letter you made no further mention of them, so I don't know whether you + sent them off on the 22d by the post-carriage. I hope so, for I should + like to play and sing them to Madlle. Weber. I was yesterday at Raafl's to + take him an aria that I lately wrote for him [Kochel, No. 295]. The words + are—"Se al labbro mio non credi, nemica mia." I don't think they are + by Metastasio. The aria pleased him beyond all measure. It is necessary to + be very particular with a man of this kind. I chose these words expressly, + because he had already composed an aria for them, so of course he can sing + it with greater facility, and more agreeably to himself. I told him to say + honestly if it did not suit his voice or please him, for I would alter it + if he wished, or write another. "Heaven forbid!" said he; "it must remain + just as it is, for nothing can be more beautiful. I only wish you to + curtail it a little, for I am no longer able to sustain my voice through + so long a piece." "Most gladly," I answered, "as much as ever you please; + I made it purposely rather long, for it is always easy to shorten, but not + so easy to lengthen." After he had sung the second part, he took off his + spectacles, and, looking at me deliberately, said, "Beautiful! beautiful! + This second part is quite charming;" and he sang it three times. When I + went away he cordially thanked me, while I assured him that I would so + arrange the aria that he would certainly like to sing it. I think an aria + should fit a singer as accurately as a well-made coat. I have also, for + practice, arranged the air "Non so d' onde viene" which has been so + charmingly composed by Bach. Just because I know that of Bach so well, and + it pleases me and haunts my ear, I wished to try if, in spite of all this, + I could succeed in writing an aria totally unlike the other. And, indeed, + it does not in the very least resemble it. I at first intended this aria + for Raaff; but the beginning seemed to me too high for Raaff's voice, but + it pleased me so much that I would not alter it; and from the orchestral + accompaniment, too, I thought it better suited to a soprano. I therefore + resolved to write it for Madlle. Weber. I laid it aside, and took the + words "Se al labbro" for Raaff. But all in vain, for I could write nothing + else, as the first air always came back into my head; so I returned to it, + with the intention of making it exactly in accordance with Madlle. Weber's + voice. It is andante sostenuto, (preceded by a short recitative,) then + follows the other part, Nel seno destarmi, and after this the sostenuto + again. When it was finished, I said to Madlle. Weber, "Learn the air by + yourself, sing it according to your own taste, then let me hear it, and I + will afterwards tell you candidly what pleases and what displeases me." + </p> + <p> + In the course of a couple of days I went to see her, when she sang it for + me and accompanied herself, and I was obliged to confess that she had sung + it precisely as I could have wished, and as I would have taught it to her + myself. This is now the best aria that she has, and will insure her + success whereever she goes. [Footnote: This wonderfully beautiful aria is + appended to my Life of Mozart.—Stuttgart, Bruckmaun, 1863.] + Yesterday at Wendling's I sketched the aria I promised his wife [Madame + Wendling was a fine singer], with a short recitative. The words were + chosen by himself from "Didone": "Ah non lasciarmi no." She and her + daughter quite rave about this air. I promised the daughter also some + French ariettes, one of which I began to-day. I think with delight of the + Concert Spirituel in Paris, for probably I shall be desired to compose + something for it. The orchestra is said to be good and numerous, so my + favorite style of composition can be well given there—I mean + choruses, and I am very glad to hear that the French place so much value + on this class of music. The only fault found with Piccini's [Gluck's + well-known rival] new opera "Roland" is that the choruses are too meagre + and weak, and the music also a little monotonous; otherwise it was + universally liked. In Paris they are accustomed to hear nothing but + Gluck's choruses. Only place confidence in me; I shall strive with all my + might to do honor to the name of Mozart. I have no fears at all on the + subject. + </p> + <p> + My last letters must have shown you HOW THINGS ARE, and WHAT I REALLY + MEANT. I do entreat of you never to allow the thought to cross your mind + that I can ever forget you, for I cannot bear such an idea. My chief aim + is, and always will be, to endeavor that we may meet soon and happily, but + we must have patience. You know even better than I do that things often + take a perverse turn, but they will one day go straight—only + patience! Let us place our trust in God, who will never forsake us. I + shall not be found wanting; how can you possibly doubt me? Surely it + concerns me also to work with all my strength, that I may have the + pleasure and the happiness (the sooner the better, too) of embracing from + my heart my dearest and kindest father. But, lo and behold! nothing in + this world is wholly free from interested motives. If war should break out + in Bavaria, I do hope you will come and join me at once. I place faith in + three friends—and they are powerful and invincible ones—namely, + God, and your head and mine. Our heads are, indeed, very different, but + each in its own way is good, serviceable, and useful; and in time I hope + mine may by degrees equal yours in that class of knowledge in which you at + present surpass me. Farewell! Be merry and of good cheer! Remember that + you have a son who never intentionally failed in his filial duty towards + you, and who will strive to become daily more worthy of so good a father. + </p> + <p> + After these frank confessions, which would, he knew, restore the previous + good understanding between him and his father, Mozart's genuine good heart + was so relieved and lightened, that the natural balance of his mind, which + had for some weeks past been entirely destroyed, was speedily restored, + and his usual lively humor soon began to revive. Indeed, his old delight + in doggerel rhymes and all kinds of silly puns seems to return. He + indulges fully in these in a letter to his Basle (cousin), which is + undoubtedly written just after the previous one. + </p> + <p> + <br />97. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Feb. 28, 1778. + </p> + <p> + MADEMOISELLE, MA TRES-CHERE COUSINE,— + </p> + <p> + You perhaps think or believe that I must be dead? Not at all! I beg you + will not think so, for how could I write so beautifully if I were dead? + Could such a thing be possible? I do not attempt to make any excuses for + my long silence, for you would not believe me if I did. But truth is + truth; I have had so much to do that though I have had time to think of my + cousin, I have had no time to write to her, so I was obliged to let it + alone. But at last I have the honor to inquire how you are, and how you + fare? If we soon shall have a talk? If you write with a lump of chalk? If + I am sometimes in your mind? If to hang yourself you're inclined? If + you're angry with me, poor fool? If your wrath begins to cool?—Oh! + you are laughing! VICTORIA! I knew you could not long resist me, and in + your favor would enlist me. Yes! yes! I know well how this is, though I'm + in ten days off to Paris. If you write to me from pity, do so soon from + Augsburg city, so that I may get your letter, which to me would be far + better. + </p> + <p> + Now let us talk of other things. Were you very merry during the Carnival? + They are much gayer at Augsburg at that time than here. I only wish I had + been there that I might have frolicked about with you. Mamma and I send + our love to your father and mother, and to our cousin, and hope they are + well and happy; better so, so better! A propos, how goes on your French? + May I soon write you a French letter? from Paris, I suppose? + </p> + <p> + Now, before I conclude, which I must soon do because I am in haste, + (having just at this moment nothing to do,) and also have no more room, as + you see my paper is done, and I am very tired, and my fingers tingling + from writing so much, and lastly, even if I had room, I don't know what I + could say, except, indeed, a story which I have a great mind to tell you. + So listen! It is not long since it happened, and in this very country too, + where it made a great sensation, for really it seemed almost incredible, + and, indeed, between ourselves, no one yet knows the result of the affair. + So, to be brief, about four miles from here—I can't remember the + name of the place, but it was either a village or a hamlet, or something + of that kind. Well, after all, it don't much signify whether it was called + Triebetrill or Burmsquick; there is no doubt that it was some place or + other. There a shepherd or herdsman lived, who was pretty well advanced in + years, but still looked strong and robust; he was unmarried and + well-to-do, and lived happily. But before telling you the story, I must + not forget to say that this man had a most astounding voice when he spoke; + he terrified people when he spoke! Well! to make my tale as short as + possible, you must know that he had a dog called Bellot, a very handsome + large dog, white with black spots. Well! this shepherd was going along + with his sheep, for he had a flock of eleven thousand under his care, and + he had a staff in his hand, with a pretty rose-colored topknot of ribbons, + for he never went out without his staff; such was his invariable custom. + Now to proceed; being tired, after having gone a couple of miles, he sat + down on a bank beside a river to rest. At last he fell asleep, when he + dreamt that he had lost all his sheep, and this fear awoke him, but to his + great joy he saw his flock close beside him. At length he got up again and + went on, but not for long; indeed, half an hour could scarcely have + elapsed, when he came to a bridge which was very long, but with a parapet + on both sides to prevent any one falling into the river. Well; he looked + at his flock, and as he was obliged to cross the bridge, he began to drive + over his eleven thousand sheep. Now be so obliging as to wait till the + eleven thousand sheep are all safely across, and then I will finish the + story. I already told you that the result is not yet known; I hope, + however, that by the time I next write to you, all the sheep will have + crossed the bridge; but if not, why should I care? So far as I am + concerned, they might all have stayed on this side. In the meantime you + must accept the story so far as it goes; what I really know to be true I + have written, and it is better to stop now than to tell you what is false, + for in that case you would probably have discredited the whole, whereas + now you will only disbelieve one half. + </p> + <p> + I must conclude, but don't think me rude; he who begins must cease, or the + world would have no peace. My compliments to every friend, welcome to kiss + me without end, forever and a day, till good sense comes my way; and a + fine kissing that will be, which frightens you as well as me. Adieu, ma + chere cousine! I am, I was, I have been, oh! that I were, would to heavens + I were! I will or shall be, would, could, or should be—what?—A + blockhead! W. A. M. + </p> + <p> + <br />98. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, March 7, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I have received your letter on the 26th February, and am much obliged to + you for all the trouble you have taken about the arias, which are quite + accurate in every respect. "Next to God comes papa" was my axiom when a + child, and I still think the same. You are right when you say that + "knowledge is power"; besides, except your trouble and fatigue, you will + have no cause for regret, as Madlle. Weber certainly deserves your + kindness. I only wish that you could hear her sing my new aria which I + lately mentioned to you,—I say, hear her sing it, because it seems + made expressly for her; a man like you who really understands what + portamento in singing means, would certainly feel the most intense + pleasure in hearing her. When I am happily settled in Paris, and our + circumstances, please God, improved, and we are all more cheerful and in + better humor, I will write you my thoughts more fully, and ask you to do + me a great kindness. I must now tell you I was so shocked that tears came + to my eyes, on reading in your last letter that you are obliged to go + about so shabbily dressed. My very dearest papa, this is certainly not my + fault; you know it is not. We economize in every possible way here; food + and lodging, wood and light, cost us nothing, which is all we could hope + for. As for dress, you are well aware that, in places where you are not + known, it is out of the question to be badly dressed, for appearances must + be kept up. + </p> + <p> + My whole hopes are now centred in Paris, for German princes are all + niggards. I mean to work with all my strength, that I may soon have the + happiness of extricating you from your present distressing circumstances. + </p> + <p> + <br />99. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, March. 11, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I HAVE duly received your letter of the 26th February, and learn from it + with great joy that our best and kindest of all friends, Baron Grimm [the + well-known Encyclopedist, with whom Mozart had become acquainted during + his last visit to France], is now in Paris. The vetturino has offered to + convey us to Paris by Metz (which, as you probably know, is the shortest + route) for eleven louis-d'or. If to-morrow he agrees to do it for ten, I + shall certainly engage him, and perhaps at eleven, for even then it will + be the cheapest way for us, which is the main point, and more convenient + too, for he will take our carriage—that is, he will place the body + on wheels of his own. The convenience is great, as we have so many small + packages that we can stow away quite comfortably in our own carriage, + which we cannot do in the DILIGENCE, and besides we shall be alone and + able to talk as we like. But I do assure you that if, after all, we go in + the DILIGENCE, my sole annoyance is the bore of not being able to say what + we choose and wish, though, as it is very necessary that we should take + the cheapest conveyance, I am still rather disposed to do so. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THIRD PART.—PARIS.—MARCH 1778 TO JANUARY 1779. + </h2> + <p> + <br />100. + </p> + <p> + Paris, March 24, 1778. + </p> + <p> + YESTERDAY (Monday, the 23d), at four o'clock in the afternoon, we arrived + here, thank God! safely, having been nine days and a half on our journey. + We thought we really could not have gone through with it; in my life I + never was so wearied. You may easily imagine what it was to leave Mannheim + and so many dear kind friends, and then to travel for ten days, not only + without these friends, but without any human being—without a single + soul whom we could associate with or even speak to. Now, thank Heaven! we + are at our destination, and I trust that, with the help of God, all will + go well. To-day we are to take a fiacre and go in quest of Grimm and + Wendling. Early to-morrow I intend to call on the Minister of the + Palatinate, Herr von Sickingen, (a great connoisseur and passionate lover + of music, and for whom I have two letters from Herr von Gemmingen and M. + Cannabich.) Before leaving Mannheim I had the quartet transcribed that I + wrote at Lodi one evening in the inn there, and also the quintet and the + Fischer variations for Herr von Gemmingen [author of the "Deutsche + Hausvater"], on which he wrote me a most polite note, expressing his + pleasure at the souvenir I had left him, and sending me a letter to his + intimate friend Herr von Sickingen, adding, "I feel sure that you will be + a greater recommendation to the letter than the letter can possibly be to + you;" and, to repay the expense of writing out the music, he sent me three + louis-d'or; he also assured me of his friendship, and requested mine in + return. I must say that all those who knew me, Hofrathe, Kammerrathe, and + other high-class people, as well as all the court musicians, were very + grieved and reluctant to see me go; and really and truly so. + </p> + <p> + We left on Saturday, the 14th, and on the previous Thursday there was an + afternoon concert at Cannabich's, where my concerto for three pianos was + given. Madlle. Rose Cannabich played the first, Madlle. Weber the second, + and Madlle. Pierron Serrarius (our "house-nymph") the third. We had three + rehearsals of the concerto, and it went off well. Madlle. Weber sang three + arias of mine, the "Aer tranquillo" from the "Re Pastore," [Footnote: A + festal opera that Mozart had composed in 1775, in honor of the visit of + the Archduke Maximilian Francis to Salzburg.] and the new "Non so d' onde + viene." With this last air my dear Madlle. Weber gained very great honor + both for herself and for me. All present said that no aria had ever + affected them like this one; and, indeed, she sang it as it ought to be + sung. The moment it was finished, Cannabich exclaimed, "Bravo! bravissimo + maestro! veramente scritta da maestro!" It was given for the first time on + this occasion with instruments. I should like you to have heard it also, + exactly as it was executed and sung there, with such precision in time and + taste, and in the pianos and fortes. Who knows? you may perhaps still hear + her. I earnestly hope so. The members of the orchestra never ceased + praising the aria and talking about it. + </p> + <p> + I have many kind friends at Mannheim (both highly esteemed and rich) who + wished very much to keep me there. Well! where I am properly paid, I am + content to be. Who can tell? it may still come to pass. I wish it may; and + thus it ever is with me—I live always in hope. Herr Cannabich is an + honorable, worthy man, and a kind friend of mine. He has only one fault, + which is, that although no longer very young, he is rather careless and + absent,—if you are not constantly before his eyes, he is very apt to + forget all about you. But where the interests of a real friend are in + question, he works like a horse, and takes the deepest interest in the + matter; and this is of great use, for he has influence. I cannot, however, + say much in favor of his courtesy or gratitude; the Webers (for whom I + have not done half so much), in spite of their poverty and obscurity, have + shown themselves far more grateful. Madame Cannabich and her daughter + never thanked me by one single word, much less thought of offering me some + little remembrance, however trifling, merely as a proof of kindly feeling; + but nothing of the sort, not even thanks, though I lost so much time in + teaching the daughter, and took such pains with her. She can now perfectly + well perform before any one; as a girl only fourteen, and an amateur, she + plays remarkably well, and for this they have to thank me, which indeed is + very well known to all in Mannheim. She has now neatness, time, and good + fingering, as well as even shakes, which she had not formerly. They will + find that they miss me much three months hence, for I fear she will again + be spoiled, and spoil herself; unless she has a master constantly beside + her, and one who thoroughly understands what he is about, she will do no + good, for she is still too childish and giddy to practise steadily and + carefully alone. [Footnote: Rosa Cannabich became, indeed, a remarkable + virtuoso. C L. Junker mentions her, even in his musical almanac of 1783, + among the most eminent living artists.] + </p> + <p> + Madlle. Weber paid me the compliment kindly to knit two pairs of mits for + me, as a remembrance and slight acknowledgment. M. Weber wrote out + whatever I required gratis, gave me the music-paper, and also made me a + present of Moliere's Comedies (as he knew that I had never read them), + with this inscription:—"Ricevi, amico, le opere di Moliere, in segno + di gratitudine, e qualche volta ricordati di me." [Footnote: "Accept, my + dear friend, Moliere's works as a token of my gratitude; and sometimes + think of me."] And when alone with mamma he said, "Our best friend, our + benefactor, is about to leave us. There can be no doubt that your son has + done a great deal for my daughter, and interested himself much about her, + and she cannot be too thankful to him." [Footnote: Aloysia Weber became + afterwards Madame Lange. She had great fame as a singer. We shall hear + more of her in the Vienna letters.] The day before I set off, they would + insist on my supping with them, but I managed to give them two hours + before supper instead. They never ceased thanking me, and saying they only + wished they were in a position to testify their gratitude, and when I went + away they all wept. Pray forgive me, but really tears come to my eyes when + I think of it. Weber came down-stairs with me, and remained standing at + the door till I turned the corner and called out Adieu! + </p> + <p> + In Paris he at once plunged into work, so that his love-affair was for a + time driven into the background. Compositions for the Concert Spirituel, + for the theatre, and for dilettanti, as well as teaching and visits to + great people, occupied him. His mother writes: "I cannot describe to you + how much Wolfgang is beloved and praised here. Herr Wendling had said much + in his favor before he came, and has presented him to all his friends. He + can dine daily, if he chooses, with Noverre [the famed ballet-master], and + also with Madame d'Epinay" [Grimm's celebrated friend]. The mother herself + scarcely saw him all day, for on account of their small close apartment, + he was obliged to compose at Director Le Gros's house. She had (womanlike) + written to the father about the composition of a Miserere. Wolfgang + continues the letter, more fully explaining the matter. + </p> + <p> + <br />101. + </p> + <p> + Paris, April 5, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I MUST now explain more, clearly what mamma alludes to, as she has written + rather obscurely. Capellmeister Holzbauer has sent a Miserere here, but as + the choruses at Mannheim are weak and poor, whereas here they are strong + and good, his choruses would make no effect. M. Le Gros (Director of the + Concert Spirituel) requested me therefore to compose others; Holzbauer's + introductory chorus being retained. "Quoniam iniquitatem meam," an + allegro, is the first air by me. The second an adagio, "Ecce enim in + iniquitatibus." Then an allegro, "Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti" to the + "ossa humiliata." Then an andante for soprano, tenor, and bass Soli; "Cor + mundum," and "Redde mihi," allegro to "ad se convertentur." I also + composed a recitative for a bass air, "Libera me de sanguinibus," because + a bass air of Holzbauer's follows. The "sacrificium Deo spiritus" being an + aria andante for Raaff, with a hautboy and a bassoon solo obligato. I have + added a short recitative with hautboy and bassoon, for here recitative is + much liked. "Benigne fac" to "muri Jerusalem" andante moderate. Chorus. + Then "Tunc acceptabis" to "super altare," allegro and tenor solo (Le Gros) + and chorus. Finis. [None of this music is known.] + </p> + <p> + I must say that I am right glad to have done with this task, for it is + really detestable not to be able to write at home, and to be hurried into + the bargain; but now, God be praised! it is finished, and I hope it will + make some effect. M. Gussec, whom you no doubt know, when he saw my first + chorus, said to Le Gros (I was not present) that it was charming, and + could not fail to be successful, that the words were so well arranged, + and, above all, admirably set to music. He is a kind friend of mine, but + very reserved. I am not merely to write an act for an opera, but an entire + one in two acts. The poet has already completed the first act. Noverre + [ballet-master], with whom I dine as often as I please, managed this, and + indeed suggested the idea. I think it is to be called "Alexander and + Roxana." Madame Jenome is also here. I am about to compose a sinfonie + concertante,—flute, Wendling; oboe, Ramm; French horn, Punto; and + bassoon, Ritter. Punto plays splendidly. I have this moment returned from + the Concert Spirituel. Baron Grimm and I often give vent to our wrath at + the music here; N.B.—when tete-a-tete, for in public we call out + "Bravo! bravissimo!" and clap our hands till our fingers tingle. + </p> + <p> + <br />102. + </p> + <p> + Paris, May 1, 1778. + </p> + <p> + THE little violoncellist Zygmatofsky and his unprincipled father are here. + Perhaps I may already have written you this; I only mention it cursorily, + because I just remember that I met him at a house which I must now tell + you about. I mean that of the Duchesse de Chabot. M. Grimm gave me a + letter to her, so I drove there, the purport of the letter being chiefly + to recommend me to the Duchesse de Bourbon, who when I was last here + [during Mozart's first visit to Paris] was in a convent, and to introduce + me afresh to her and recall me to her memory. A week elapsed without the + slightest notice of my visit, but as eight days previously she had + appointed me to call on her, I kept my engagement and went. I waited half + an hour in a large room without any fire, and as cold as ice. At last the + Duchess came in, and was very polite, begging me to make allowances for + her piano, as none of her instruments were in good order, but I might at + least try it. I said that I would most gladly play something, but at this + moment it was impossible, as my fingers were quite benumbed from the cold, + so I asked her at all events to take me to a room where there was a fire. + "Oh! oui, Monsieur, vous avez raison"—was her answer. She then + seated herself, and drew for a whole hour in company with several + gentlemen, all sitting in a circle round a large table, and during this + time I had the honor to wait. The windows and doors were open, so that not + only my hands, but my body and my feet were cold, and my head also began + to ache. Moreover, there was altum silentium, and I really did not know + what to do from cold, headache, and weariness. I again and again thought + to myself, that if it were not on M. Grimm's account I would leave the + house at once. At last, to cut matters short, I played on the wretched, + miserable piano. What however vexed me most of all was, that the Duchess + and all the gentlemen did not cease drawing for a single moment, but + coolly continued their occupation; so I was left to play to the chairs and + tables, and the walls. My patience gave way under such unpropitious + circumstances. I therefore began the Fischer variations, and after playing + one half of them I rose. Then came eulogiums without end. I, however, said + all that could be said—which was, that I could do myself no justice + on such a piano, but I should be very glad to fix some other day to play, + when a better instrument might be found. But the Duchess would not hear of + my going away; so I was obliged to wait till her husband came in, who + placed himself beside me and listened to me with great attention, while, + as for me, I became unconscious of all cold and all headache, and, in + spite of the wretched piano, played as I CAN play when I am in the right + mood. Give me the best piano in Europe, and listeners who understand + nothing, or don't wish to understand, and who do not sympathize with me in + what I am playing, I no longer feel any pleasure. I afterwards told all + this to M. Grimm. + </p> + <p> + You write to me that I ought to pay a good many visits in order to make + new acquaintances, and to renew former ones. This is, however, impossible, + from the distances being so great, and it is too muddy to go on foot, for + really the mud in Paris is beyond all description. To go in a carriage + entails spending four or five livres a day, and all for nothing; it is + true the people say all kinds of civil things, but there it ends, as they + appoint me to come on such and such a day, when I play, and hear them + exclaim, "Oh! c'est un prodige, c'est inconcevable, c'est etonnant!" and + then, Adieu! At first I spent money enough in driving about, and to no + purpose, from not finding the people at home. Unless you lived here, you + could not believe what an annoyance this is. Besides, Paris is much + changed; the French are far from being as polite as they were fifteen + years ago; their manner now borders on rudeness, and they are odiously + self-sufficient. + </p> + <p> + I must proceed to give you an account of the Concert Spirituel. By the by, + I must first briefly tell you that my chorus-labors were in a manner + useless, for Holzbauer's Miserere was too long in itself, and did not + please, so they gave only two of my choruses instead of four, and chose to + leave out the best; but this was of no great consequence, for many there + were not aware that any of the music was by me, and many knew nothing at + all about me. Still, at the rehearsal great approbation was expressed, and + I myself (for I place no great reliance on Parisian praise) was very much + satisfied with my choruses. With regard to the sinfonie concertante there + appears to be a hitch, and I believe that some unseen mischief is at work. + It seems that I have enemies here also; where have I not had them? But + this is a good sign. I was obliged to write the symphony very hurriedly, + and worked very hard at it. The four performers were and are perfectly + enchanted with the piece. Le Gros had it for the last four days to be + copied, but I invariably saw it lying in the same place. Two days ago I + could not find it, though I searched carefully among the music; and at + last I discovered it hidden away. I took no notice, but said to Le Gros, + "A propos, have you given my sinfonie to be copied?" "No; I forgot all + about it." As, of course, I have no power to compel him to have it + transcribed and performed, I said nothing; but I went to the concert on + the two days when the sinfonie was to have been performed, when Ramm and + Punto came to me in the greatest rage to ask me why my sinfonie + concertante was not to be given. "I don't know. This is the first I hear + of it. I cannot tell." Ramm was frantic, and abused Le Gros in the + music-room in French, saying how very unhandsome it was on his part, etc. + I alone was to be kept in the dark! If he had even made an excuse—that + the time was too short, or something of the kind!—but he never said + a syllable. I believe the real cause to be Cambini, an Italian maestro; + for at our first meeting at Le Gros's, I unwittingly took the wind out of + his sails. He composes quintets, one of which I heard at Mannheim; it was + very pretty, so I praised it, and played the beginning to him. Ritter, + Ramm, and Punto were all present, and gave me no peace till I agreed to + continue, and to supply from my own head what I could not remember. I + therefore did so, and Cambini was quite excited, and could not help + saying, "Questa e una gran testa!" Well, I suppose after all he did not + quite relish this, [The symphony in question has also entirely + disappeared.] + </p> + <p> + If this were a place where people had ears to hear or hearts to feel, and + understood just a little of music, and had some degree of taste, these + things would only make me laugh heartily, but as it is (so far as music is + concerned) I am surrounded by mere brute beasts. But how can it be + otherwise? for in all their actions, inclinations, and passions, they are + just the same. There is no place in the world like Paris. You must not + think that I exaggerate when I speak in this way of the music here; refer + to whom you will, except to a Frenchman born, and (if trustworthy) you + will hear the same. But I am now here, and must endure it for your sake. I + shall be grateful to Providence if I get away with my natural taste + uninjured. I pray to God every day to grant me grace to be firm and + steadfast here, that I may do honor to the whole German nation, which will + all redound to His greater honor and glory, and to enable me to prosper + and make plenty of money, that I may extricate you from your present + emergencies, and also to permit us to meet soon, and to live together + happily and contentedly; but "His will be done in earth as it is in + heaven." I entreat you, dearest father, in the meantime, to take measures + that I may see Italy, in order to bring me to life again. Bestow this + great happiness upon me, I implore you! I do hope you will keep up your + spirits; I shall cut my way through here as I best can, and trust I shall + get off safely. Adieu! + </p> + <p> + <br />103. + </p> + <p> + Paris, May 14, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I HAVE already so much to do that I don't know how I am to manage when + winter comes. I think I wrote to you in my last letter that the Duc de + Guines, whose daughter is my pupil in composition, plays the flute + inimitably, and she the harp magnificently; she has a great deal of talent + and genius, and, above all, a wonderful memory, for she plays all her + pieces, about 200 in number, by heart. She, however, doubts much whether + she has any genius for composition, especially as regards ideas or + invention; but her father (who, entre nous, is rather too infatuated about + her) declares that she certainly has ideas, and that she is only diffident + and has too little self-reliance. Well, we shall see. If she acquires no + thoughts or ideas, (for hitherto she really has none whatever,) it is all + in vain, for God knows I can't give her any! It is not the father's + intention to make her a great composer. He says, "I don't wish her to + write operas, or arias, or concertos, or symphonies, but grand sonatas for + her instrument and for mine." I gave her to-day her fourth lesson on the + rules of composition and harmony, and am pretty well satisfied with her. + She made a very good bass for the first minuet, of which I had given her + the melody, and she has already begun to write in three parts; she can do + it, but she quickly tires, and I cannot get her on, for it is impossible + to proceed further as yet; it is too soon, even if she really had genius, + but, alas! there appears to be none; all must be done by rule; she has no + ideas, and none seem likely to come, for I have tried her in every + possible way. Among other things it occurred to me to write out a very + simple minuet, and to see if she could not make a variation on it. Well, + that utterly failed. Now, thought I, she has not a notion how or what to + do first. So I began to vary the first bar, and told her to continue in + the same manner, and to keep to the idea. At length this went tolerably + well. When it was finished, I told her she must try to originate something + herself—only the treble of a melody. So she thought it over for a + whole quarter of an hour, AND NOTHING CAME. Then I wrote four bars of a + minuet, saying to her, "See what an ass I am! I have begun a minuet, and + can't even complete the first part; be so very good as to finish it for + me." She declared this was impossible. At last, with great difficulty, + SOMETHING CAME, and I was only too glad that ANYTHING AT ALL CAME. I told + her then to complete the minuet—that is, the treble only. The task I + set her for the next lesson was to change my four bars, and replace them + by something of her own, and to find out another beginning, even if it + were the same harmony, only changing the melody. I shall see to-morrow + what she has done. + </p> + <p> + I shall soon now, I think, receive the poetry for my two-act opera, when I + must first present it to the Director, M. de Vismes, to see if he will + accept it; but of this there can be no doubt, as it is recommended by + Noverre, to whom De Vismes is indebted for his situation. Noverre, too, is + soon to arrange a new ballet, for which I am to write the music. Rudolf + (who plays the French horn) is in the royal service here, and a very kind + friend of mine; he understands composition thoroughly, and writes well. He + has offered me the place of organist at Versailles if I choose to accept + it: the salary is 2000 livres a year, but I must live six months at + Versailles and the remaining six in Paris, or where I please. I don't, + however, think that I shall close with the offer; I must take the advice + of good friends on the subject. 2000 livres is no such very great sum; in + German money it may be so, but not here. It amounts to 83 louis-d'or 8 + livres a year—that is, 915 florins 45 kreutzers of our money, (which + is certainly a considerable sum,) but only to 383 ecus 2 livres, and that + is not much, for it is frightful to see how quickly a dollar goes here! I + am not at all surprised that so little is thought of a louis-d'or in + Paris, for it does not go far. Four dollars, or a louis-d'or, which are + the same, are gone in no time. Adieu! + </p> + <p> + <br />104. + </p> + <p> + Paris, May 29, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I AM pretty well, thank God! but still I am often puzzled to know what to + make of it all. I feel neither hot nor cold, and don't take much pleasure + in anything. What, however, cheers and strengthens me most is the thought + that you, dearest papa, and my dear sister, are well; that I am an honest + German, and though I cannot SAY, I may at all events THINK what I please, + and, after all, that is the chief thing. Yesterday I was for the second + time at Count Sickingen's, ambassador from the Elector Palatine; (I dined + there once before with Wendling and Ramm.) I don't know whether I told you + what a charming man he is, and a great connoisseur and devoted lover of + music. I passed eight hours quite alone with him. The whole forenoon, and + afternoon too, till ten o'clock at night, we were at the piano, playing + all kind of music, praising, admiring, analyzing, discussing, and + criticizing. He has nearly thirty scores of operas. I must not forget to + tell you that I had the satisfaction of seeing your "School for the + Violin" translated into French; I believe it is about eight years since + the translation appeared. I have just returned from a music-shop where I + went to buy a sonata of Schobert's for one of my pupils, and I mean to go + again soon to examine the book more closely, that I may write to you about + it minutely, for to-day I have not time to do this. + </p> + <p> + <br />105. + </p> + <p> + Paris, June 12, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I MUST now write something that concerns our Raaff. [Footnote: Mozart + wrote the part of Idomeneo for Raaff in the year 1781.] You no doubt + remember that I did not write much in his favor from Mannheim, and was by + no means satisfied with his singing—in short, that he did not please + me at all. The cause, however, was that I can scarcely say I really heard + him at Mannheim. The first time was at the rehearsal of Holzbauer's + "Gunther," when he was in his every-day clothes, his hat on his head, and + a stick in his hand. When he was not singing, he stood looking like a + sulky child. When he began to sing the first recitative, it went tolerably + well, but every now and then he gave a kind of shriek, which I could not + bear. He sang the arias in a most indolent way, and yet some of the notes + with too much emphasis, which is not what I like. This has been an + invariable habit of his, which the Bernacchi school probably entails; for + he is a pupil of Bernacchi's. At court, too, he used to sing all kinds of + airs which, in my opinion, by no means suited his voice; so he did not at + all please me. When at length he made his debut here in the Concert + Spirituel, he sang Bach's scena, "Non so d' onde viene" which is, besides, + my great favorite, and then for the first time I really heard him sing, + and he pleased me—that is, in this class of music; but the style + itself, the Bernacchi school, is not to my taste. He is too apt to fall + into the cantabile. I admit that, when he was younger and in his prime, + this must have made a great impression and taken people by surprise; I + could like it also, but there is too much of it, and it often seems to me + positively ludicrous. What does please me in him is when he sings short + pieces—for instance, andantinos; and he has likewise certain arias + which he gives in a manner peculiar to himself. Let each occupy his proper + place. I fancy that bravura singing was once his forte, which is even + still perceptible in him, and so far as age admits of it he has a good + chest and a long breath; and then his andantino! His voice is fine and + very pleasing; if I shut my eyes and listen to him, I think his singing + very like Meissner's, only Raaff's voice seems to me more agreeable. I + speak of the present time, for I never heard either in his best days. I + can therefore only refer to their style or method of singing, for this a + singer always retains. Meissner, as you know, had the bad habit of + purposely making his voice tremble at times,—entire quavers and even + crotchets, when marked sostenuto,—and this I never could endure in + him. Nothing can be more truly odious; besides, it is a style of singing + quite contrary to nature. The human voice is naturally tremulous, but only + so far as to be beautiful; such is the nature of the voice, and it is + imitated not only on wind instruments, but on stringed instruments, and + even on the piano. But the moment the proper boundary is passed it is no + longer beautiful, because it becomes unnatural. It seems to me then just + like an organ when the bellows are panting. Now Raaff never does this,—in + fact, he cannot bear it. Still, so far as a genuine cantabile goes, + Meissner pleases me (though not altogether, for he also exaggerates) + better than Raaff. In bravura passages and roulades, Raaff is indeed a + perfect master, and he has such a good and distinct articulation, which is + a great charm; and, as I already said, his andantinus and canzonetti are + delightful. He composed four German songs, which are lovely. He likes me + much, and we are very intimate; he comes to us almost every day. I have + dined at least six times with Count von Sickingen, and always stay from + one o'clock till ten. Time, however, flies so quickly in his house that it + passes quite imperceptibly. He seems fond of me, and I like very much + being with him, for he is a most friendly, sensible person, possessing + excellent judgment and a true insight into music, I was there again to-day + with Raaff. I took some music with me, as the Count (long since) asked me + to do so. I brought my newly completed symphony, with which, on Corpus + Christi day, the Concert Spirituel is to commence. The work pleased them + both exceedingly, and I am also well satisfied with it. Whether it will be + popular here, however, I cannot tell, and, to say the truth, I care very + little about it. For whom is it to please? I can answer for its pleasing + the few intelligent Frenchmen who may be there; as for the numskulls—why, + it would be no great misfortune if they were dissatisfied. I have some + hope, nevertheless, that even the dunces among them may find something to + admire. Besides, I have been careful not to neglect le premier coup + d'archet; and that is sufficient. All the wiseacres here make such a fuss + on that point! Deuce take me if I can see any difference! Their orchestra + begins all at one stroke, just as in other places. It is too laughable! + Raaff told me a story of Abaco on this subject. He was asked by a + Frenchman, in Munich or elsewhere,—"Monsieur, vous avez ete a + Paris?" "Oui." "Est-ce que vous etiez au Concert Spirituel?" "Oui." "Que + dites-vous du premier coup d'archet? avez-vous entendu le premier coup + d'archet?" "Oui, j'ai entendu le premier et le dernier." "Comment le + dernier? que veut dire cela?" "Mais oui, le premier et le dernier; et le + dernier meme m'a donne plus de plaisir." [Footnote: The imposing + impression produced by the first grand crash of a numerous orchestra, + commencing with precision, in tutti, gave rise to this pleasantry.] A few + days afterwards his kind mother was taken ill. Even in her letters from + Mannheim she often complained of various ailments, and in Paris also she + was still exposed to the discomfort of cold dark lodgings, which she was + obliged to submit to for the sake of economy; so her illness soon assumed + the worst aspect, and Mozart experienced the first severe trial of his + life. The following letter is addressed to his beloved and faithful + friend, Abbe Bullinger, tutor in Count Lodron's family in Salzburg. + </p> + <p> + (Private.) 106. + </p> + <p> + Paris, July 3, 1778. + </p> + <p> + MY VERY DEAR FRIEND,— + </p> + <p> + Mourn with me! This has been the most melancholy day of my life; I am now + writing at two o'clock in the morning. I must tell you that my mother, my + darling mother, is no more. God has called her to Himself; I clearly see + that it was His will to take her from us, and I must learn to submit to + the will of God. The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. Only think of + all the distress, anxiety, and care I have endured for the last fourteen + days. She died quite unconscious, and her life went out like a light. She + confessed three days before, took the sacrament, and received extreme + unction. The last three days, however, she was constantly delirious, and + to-day, at twenty minutes past five o'clock, her features became + distorted, and she lost all feeling and perception. I pressed her hand, I + spoke to her, but she did not see me, she did not hear me, and all feeling + was gone. She lay thus till the moment of her death, five hours after, at + twenty minutes past ten at night. There was no one present but myself, + Herr Heiner, a kind friend whom my father knows, and the nurse. It is + quite impossible for me to describe the whole course of the illness + to-day. I am firmly convinced that she must have died, and that God had so + ordained it. All I would ask of you at present is to act the part of a + true friend, by preparing my father by degrees for this sad intelligence. + I have written to him by this post, but only that she is seriously ill; + and now I shall wait for your answer and be guided by it. May God give him + strength and courage! My dear friend, I am consoled not only now, but have + been so for some time past. By the mercy of God I have borne it all with + firmness and composure. When the danger became imminent, I prayed to God + for only two things—a happy death for my mother, and strength and + courage for myself; and our gracious God heard my prayer and conferred + these two boons fully on me. I entreat you, therefore, my best friend, to + watch over my father for me; try to inspire him with courage, that the + blow may not be too hard and heavy on him when he learns the worst. I + also, from my heart, implore you to comfort my sister. Pray go straight to + them, but do not tell them she is actually dead—only prepare them + for the truth. Do what you think best, say what you please; only act so + that my mind may be relieved, and that I may not have to dread another + misfortune. Support and comfort my dear father and my dear sister. Answer + me at once, I entreat. Adieu! Your faithful + </p> + <p> + W. A. M. + </p> + <p> + <br />107. + </p> + <p> + Paris, July 3, 1778. + </p> + <p> + MONSIEUR MON TRES-CHER PERE,— + </p> + <p> + I have very painful and sad news to give you, which has, in fact, been the + cause of my not having sooner replied to your letter of the 11th. My + dearest mother is very ill. She has been bled according to her usual + custom, which was indeed very necessary; it did her much good, but a few + days afterwards she complained of shivering and feverishness; then + diarrhoea came on and headache. At first we only used our home remedies, + antispasmodic powders; we would gladly have had recourse to the black + powder, but we had none, and could not get it here. As she became every + moment worse, could hardly speak, and lost her hearing, so that we were + obliged to shout to her, Baron Grimm sent his doctor to see her. She is + very weak, and still feverish and delirious. They do give me some hope, + but I have not much. I hoped and feared alternately day and night for + long, but I am quite reconciled to the will of God, and hope that you and + my sister will be the same. What other resource have we to make us calm? + More calm, I ought to say; for altogether so we cannot be. Whatever the + result may be, I am resigned, knowing that it comes from God, who wills + all things for our good, (however unaccountable they may seem to us;) and + I do firmly believe (and shall never think otherwise) that no doctor, no + man living, no misfortune, no casualty, can either save or take away the + life of any human being—none but God alone. These are only the + instruments that He usually employs, but not always; we sometimes see + people swoon, fall down, and be dead in a moment. When our time does come, + all means are vain,—they rather hurry on death than retard it; this + we saw in the case of our friend Hefner. I do not mean to say by this that + my mother will or must die, or that all hope is at an end; she may recover + and be restored to health, but only if the Lord wills it thus. After + praying to God with all my strength for health and life for my darling + mother, I like to indulge in such consolatory thoughts, and, after doing + so, I feel more cheerful and more calm and tranquil, and you may easily + imagine how much I require comfort. Now for another subject. Let us put + aside these sad thoughts, and still hope, but not too much; we must place + our trust in the Lord, and console ourselves by the thought that all must + go well if it be in accordance with the will of the Almighty, as he knows + best what is most profitable and beneficial both for our temporal and + spiritual welfare. + </p> + <p> + I have composed a symphony for the opening of the Concert Spirituel, which + was performed with great applause on Corpus Christi day. I hear, too, that + there is a notice of it in the "Courrier de l'Europe," and that it has + given the greatest satisfaction. I was very nervous during the rehearsal, + for in my life I never heard anything go so badly. You can have no idea of + the way in which they scraped and scrambled through my symphony twice + over; I was really very uneasy, and would gladly have had it rehearsed + again, but so many things had been tried over that there was no time left. + I therefore went to bed with an aching heart and in a discontented and + angry spirit. Next day I resolved not to go to the concert at all; but in + the evening, the weather being fine, I made up my mind at last to go, + determined that if it went as badly as at the rehearsal, I would go into + the orchestra, take the violin out of the hands of M. La Haussaye, the + first violin, and lead myself. I prayed to God that it might go well, for + all is to His greater honor and glory; and ecce, the symphony began, Raaff + was standing beside me, and just in the middle of the allegro a passage + occurred which I felt sure must please, and there was a burst of applause; + but as I knew at the time I wrote it what effect it was sure to produce, I + brought it in once more at the close, and then rose shouts of "Da capo!" + The andante was also liked, but the last allegro still more so. Having + observed that all last as well as first allegros here begin together with + all the other instruments, and generally unisono, mine commenced with only + two violins, piano for the first eight bars, followed instantly by a + forte; the audience, as I expected, called out "hush!" at the soft + beginning, and the instant the forte was heard began to clap their hands. + The moment the symphony was over I went off in my joy to the Palais Royal, + where I took a good ice, told over my beads, as I had vowed, and went + home, where I am always happiest, and always shall be happiest, or in the + company of some good, true, upright German, who, so long as he is + unmarried, lives a good Christian life, and when he marries loves his + wife, and brings up his children properly. + </p> + <p> + I must give you a piece of intelligence that you perhaps already know—namely, + that the ungodly arch-villain Voltaire has died miserably like a dog—just + like a brute. This is his reward! You must long since have remarked that I + do not like being here, for many reasons, which, however, do not signify + as I am actually here. I never fail to do my very best, and to do so with + all my strength. Well, God will make all things right. I have a project in + my head, for the success of which I daily pray to God. If it be His + almighty will, it must come to pass; but, if not, I am quite contented. I + shall then at all events have done my part. When this is in train, and if + it turns out as I wish, you must then do your part also, or the whole work + would be incomplete. Your kindness leads me to hope that you will + certainly do so. Don't trouble yourself by any useless thoughts on the + subject; and one favor I must beg of you beforehand, which is, not to ask + me to reveal my thoughts more clearly till the time comes. It is very + difficult at present to find a good libretto for an opera. The old ones, + which are the best, are not written in the modern style, and the new ones + are all good for nothing; for poetry, which was the only thing of which + France had reason to be proud, becomes every day worse, and poetry is the + only thing which requires to be good here, for music they do not + understand. There are now two operas in aria which I could write, one in + two acts, and the other in three. The two-act one is "Alexandra et + Roxane," but the author of the libretto is still in the country; the one + in three acts is "Demofonte" (by Metastasio). It is a translation + interspersed with choruses and dancing, and specially adapted to the + French stage. But this one I have not yet got a sight of. Write to me + whether you have Schroter's concertos in Salzburg, or Hullmandell's + sonatas. I should like to buy them to send to you. Both of them are + beautiful. With regard to Versailles, it never was my intention to go + there. I asked the advice of Baron Grimm and other kind friends on the + point, and they all thought just as I did. The salary is not much, and I + should be obliged to live a dreary life for six months in a place where + nothing is to be gained, and my talents completely buried. Whoever enters + the king's service is forgotten in Paris; and then to become an organist! + A good appointment would be most welcome to me, but only that of a + Capellmeister, and a well-paid one too. + </p> + <p> + Now, farewell! Be careful of your health; place your trust in God, and + then you will find consolation. My dearest mother is in the hands of the + Almighty. If He still spares her to us, as I wish He may, we will thank + Him for this blessing, but if He takes her to Himself, all our anguish, + misery, and despair can be of no avail. Let us rather submit with firmness + to His almighty will, in the full conviction that it will prove for our + good, as he does nothing without a cause. Farewell, dearest papa! Do what + you can to preserve your health for my sake. + </p> + <p> + <br />108. + </p> + <p> + Paris, July 9, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I HOPE you are prepared to receive with firmness most melancholy and + painful intelligence. My last letter of the 3d must have shown you that no + good news could be hoped for. That very same day, the 3d, at twenty + minutes past ten at night, my mother fell asleep peacefully in the Lord; + indeed, when I wrote to you she was already in the enjoyment of heavenly + bliss, for all was then over. I wrote to you in the night, and I hope you + and my dear sister will forgive me for this slight but very necessary + deception; for, judging of your grief and sorrow by my own, I could not + prevail on myself to startle you suddenly by such dreadful intelligence; + but I hope you have now summoned up courage to hear the worst, and that, + after at first giving way to natural and only too just anguish and tears, + you will eventually submit to the will of God, and adore His inscrutable, + unfathomable, and all-wise providence. You can easily conceive what I have + had to endure, and what courage and fortitude I required to bear with + composure seeing her become daily worse and worse; and yet our gracious + God bestowed this boon on me. I have, indeed, suffered and wept, but what + did it avail? So I strove to be comforted, and I do hope, my dear father, + that my dear sister and you will do likewise. Weep, weep, as you cannot + fail to weep, but take comfort at last; remember that God Almighty has + ordained it, and how can we rebel against Him? Let us rather pray to Him + and thank Him for His goodness, for she died a happy death. Under these + heart-rending circumstances there were three things that consoled me—my + entire and steadfast submission to the will of God, and the sight of her + easy and blessed death, which made me feel that in a moment she had become + so happy; for how far happier is she now than we are! Indeed, I would fain + at that moment have gone with her. From this wish and longing proceeded my + third source of consolation—namely, that she is not lost to us + forever, that we shall see her again, and live together far more happily + and blessedly than in this world. The time as yet we know not, but that + does not disturb me; when God wills it I am ready. His heavenly and holy + will has been fulfilled. Let us therefore pray a pious Vater unser for her + soul, and turn our thoughts to other matters, for there is a time for + everything. + </p> + <p> + I write this in the house of Madame d'Epinay and M. Grimm, with whom I now + live; I have a pretty little room with a very agreeable prospect, and am + as happy as it is possible to be under my present circumstances. It will + be a great aid in restoring my tranquillity, to hear that my dear father + and sister submit with calmness and fortitude to the will of God, and + trust Him with their whole heart, in the entire belief that He orders all + for the best. My dearest father, do not give way! My dearest sister, be + firm! You do not as yet know your brother's kind heart, because he has not + yet had an opportunity to prove it. Remember, my loved ones both, that you + have a son and a brother anxious to devote all his powers to make you + happy, knowing well that the day must come when you will not be hostile to + his wish and his desire,—not certainly such as to be any discredit + to him,—and that you will do all that lies in your power to make him + happy. Oh! then we shall all live together as peacefully, honorably, and + contentedly as it is possible to do in this world, and at last in God's + good time all meet again above—the purpose for which we were + destined and created. + </p> + <p> + I received your last letter of the 29th, and see with pleasure that you + are both, thank God! in good health. I could not help laughing heartily at + Haydn's tipsy fit. Had I been there, I certainly should have whispered in + his ear "Adlgasser!" It is really disgraceful in so clever a man to render + himself incapable by his own folly of performing his duties at a festival + instituted in honor of God; when the Archbishop too and his whole court + were present, and the church full of people, it was quite + abominable.[Footnote: The father had written, "Haydn (organist of the + church of the Holy Trinity) played the organ in the afternoon at the + Litany, and the Te Deum laudamus, but in such a dreadful manner that we + were quite startled, and thought he was about to undergo the fate of the + deceased Adlgasser [who was seized with paralysis when playing the organ] + It turned out, however, that he was only rather intoxicated, so his head + and hands did not agree"] This is one of my chief reasons for detesting + Salzburg—those coarse, slovenly, dissipated court musicians, with + whom no honest man of good breeding could possibly live! instead of being + glad to associate with them, he must feel ashamed of them. It is probably + from this very cause that musicians are neither loved nor respected with + us. If the orchestra were only organised like that at Mannheim! I wish you + could see the subordination that prevails there—the authority + Cannabich exercises; where all is done in earnest. Cannabich, who is the + best director I ever saw, is both beloved and feared by his subordinates, + who, as well as himself, are respected by the whole town. But certainly + they behave very differently, have good manners, are well dressed (and do + not go to public-houses to get drunk). This can never be the case in + Salzburg, unless the Prince will place confidence either in you or me and + give us full powers, which are indispensable to a conductor of music; + otherwise it is all in vain. In Salzburg every one is master—so no + one is master. If I were to undertake it, I should insist on exercising + entire authority. The Grand Chamberlain must have nothing to say as to + musical matters, or on any point relating to music. Not every person in + authority can become a Capellmeister, but a Capellmeister must become a + person of authority. + </p> + <p> + By the by, the Elector is again in Mannheim. Madame Cannabich and also her + husband correspond with me. If what I fear were to come to pass, and it + would be a sad pity if it did,—namely, that the orchestra were to be + much diminished,—I still cherish one hope. You know that there is + nothing I desire more than a good appointment,—good in reputation, + and good in money,—no matter where, provided it be in a Catholic + country. You fenced skilfully indeed with Count Stahremberg [FOOTNOTE: A + prebendary of Salzburg, to whom the father had "opened his heart," and + told him all that had occurred in Salzburg. Wolfgang's reinstatement in + his situation was being negotiated at the time.] throughout the whole + affair; only continue as you have begun, and do not allow yourself to be + deluded; more especially be on your guard if by any chance you enter into + conversation with that silly goose—-; [FOOTNOTE: He probably alludes + to the Archbishop's sister, Countess Franziska von Walles, who did the + honors of her brother's court, and who, no doubt, also interfered in this + matter.] I know her, and believe me, though she may have sugar and honey + on her lips, she has gall and wormwood in her head and in her heart. It is + quite natural that the whole affair should still be in an unsettled state, + and many things must be conceded before I could accept the offer; and even + if every point were favorably adjusted, I would rather be anywhere than at + Salzburg. But I need not concern myself on the matter, for it is not + likely that all I ask should be granted, as I ask a great deal. Still it + is not impossible; and if all were rightly organized, I would no longer + hesitate, but solely for the happiness of being with you. If the + Salzburgers wish to have me, they must comply with my wishes, or they + shall never get me. + </p> + <p> + So the Prelate of Baumburg has died the usual prelatical death; but I had + not heard that the Prelate of the Holy Cross [in Augsburg] was also dead. + I grieve to hear it, for he was a good, honest, upright man. So you had no + faith in Deacon Zeschinger [see No. 68] being made prelate? I give you my + honor I never conjectured anything else; indeed, I do not know who else + could have got it; and what better prelate could we have for music? + </p> + <p> + My friend Raaff leaves this to-morrow; he goes by Brussels to + Aix-la-Chapelle and Spa, and thence to Mannheim, when he is to give me + immediate notice of his arrival, for we mean to correspond. He sends + numerous greetings to you and to my sister. You write that you have heard + nothing for a very long time of my pupil in composition; very true, but + what can I say about her? She will never be a composer; all labor is vain + with her, for she is not only vastly stupid, but also vastly lazy. + </p> + <p> + I had previously answered you about the opera. As to Noverre's ballet, I + only wrote that he might perhaps arrange a new one. He wanted about one + half to complete it, and this I set to music. That is, six pieces are + written by others, consisting entirely of old trumpery French airs; the + symphony and contre-danses, and about twelve more pieces, are contributed + by me. This ballet has already been given four times with great applause. + I am now positively determined to write nothing more without previously + knowing what I am to get for it: but this was only a friendly act towards + Noverre. Herr Wendling left this last May. If I were to see Baron Bach, I + must have very good eyes, for he is not here but in London. Is it possible + that I did not tell you this? You shall find that, in future, I will + answer all your letters minutely. It is said that Baron Bach will soon + return here; I should be glad of that for many reasons, especially because + at his house there will be always opportunity to try things over in good + earnest. Capellmeister Bach will also soon be here; I believe he is + writing an opera. The French are, and always will be, downright donkeys; + they can do nothing themselves, so they must have recourse to foreigners. + I talked to Piccini at the Concert Spirituel; he is always most polite to + me and I to him when we do by chance meet. Otherwise I do not seek much + acquaintance, either with him or any of the other composers; they + understand their work and I mine, and that is enough. I already wrote to + you of the extraordinary success my symphony had in the Concert Spirituel. + If I receive a commission to write an opera, I shall have annoyance + enough, but this I shall not much mind, being pretty well accustomed to it—if + only that confounded French language were not so detestable for music! It + is, indeed, too provoking; even German is divine in comparison. And then + the singers—but they do not deserve the name, for they do not sing, + but scream and bawl with all their might through their noses and throats. + I am to compose a French oratorio for the ensuing Lent, to be given at the + Concert Spirituel. M. Le Gros (the director) is amazingly well-disposed + towards me. You must know that (though I used to see him every day) I have + not been near him since Easter; I felt so indignant at his not having my + symphony performed. I was often in the same house visiting Raaff, and thus + passed his rooms constantly. His servants often saw me, when I always sent + him my compliments. It is really a pity he did not give the symphony—it + would have been a good hit; and now he has no longer the opportunity to do + so, for how seldom are four such performers to be found together! One day, + when I went to call on Raaff, I was told that he was out, but would soon + be home; so I waited. M. Le Gros came into the room and said, "It is + really quite a marvel to have the pleasure of seeing you once more." "Yes; + I have a great deal to do." "I hope you will stay and dine with us + to-day?" "I regret that I cannot, being already engaged." "M. Mozart, we + really must soon spend a day together." "It will give me much pleasure." A + long pause; at length, "A propos, are you disposed to write a grand + symphony for me for Corpus Christi day?" "Why not?" "May I then rely on + this?" "Oh, yes! if I may, with equal confidence, rely on its being + performed, and that it will not fare like the sinfonie concertante." This + opened the flood-gates; he excused himself in the best way he could, but + did not find much to say. In short, the symphony [Kochel, No. 297] was + highly approved of; and Le Gros is so satisfied with it that he says it is + his very best symphony. The andante, however, has not the good fortune to + please him; he declares that it has too many modulations, and is too long. + He derives this opinion from the audience forgetting to clap their hands + as loudly, and to be as vociferous, as at the end of the first and last + movements. But this andante is a great favorite WITH MYSELF, as well as + with all connoisseurs, amateurs, and the greater part of those who heard + it. It is the exact reverse of what Le Gros says, for it is both simple + and short. But in order to satisfy him (and no doubt some others) I have + written a fresh one. Each good in its own way—each having a + different character. The last pleases me the best. The first good + opportunity I have, I will send you this sinfonie concertante, and also + the "School for the Violin," some pieces for the piano, and Vogler's book + ("Ton Wissenschaft und Kunst"), and then I hope to have your opinion of + them. On August 15th, Ascension Day, my sinfonie, with the new andante, is + to be performed for the second time. The sinfonie is in Re, the andante in + Sol, for here one must not say in D or in G. Le Gros is now all for me. + </p> + <p> + Take comfort and pray without ceasing; this is the only resource we have. + I hope you will cause a holy mass to be said in Maria Plain and in + Loretto. I have done so here. As for the letter to Herr Bahr, I don't + think it is necessary to send it to me; I am not as yet acquainted with + him; I only know that he plays the clarionet well, but is in other + respects no desirable companion, and I do not willingly associate with + such people; no credit is derived from them, and I really should feel + positively ashamed to give him a letter recommending me to him—even + if he could be of service to me; but it so happens that he is by no means + in good repute here. Many do not know him at all. Of the two Staunitz, the + junior only is here [Mannheim composer]. The elder of the two (the + veritable Hafeneder composer) is in London. They are wretched scribblers, + gamblers, and drunkards, and not the kind of people for me. The one now + here has scarcely a coat to his back. By the by, if Brunetti should ever + be dismissed, I would be glad to recommend a friend of mine to the + Archbishop as first violin; he is a most worthy man, and very steady. I + think he is about forty years of age, and a widower; his name is + Rothfischer. He is Concertmeister at Kirchheim-Boland, with the Princess + of Nassau-Weilberg [see No. 91]. Entre nous, he is dissatisfied, for he is + no favorite with his Prince—that is, his music is not. He urged me + to forward his interests, and it would cause me real pleasure to be of use + to him, for never was there such a kind man. + </p> + <p> + <br />109. + </p> + <p> + Paris, July 18, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I HOPE you got my last two letters. Let us allude no more to their chief + purport. All is over; and were we to write whole pages on the subject, we + could not alter the fact. + </p> + <p> + The principal object of this letter is to congratulate my dear sister on + her name-day. I think I wrote to you that M. Raaff had left this, but that + he is my very true and most particular friend, and I can entirely depend + on his regard. I could not possibly write to you, because I did not myself + know that he had so much affection for me. Now, to write a story properly, + one ought to begin from the beginning. I ought to tell you, first, that + Raaff lodged with M. Le Gros. It just occurs to me that you already know + this; but what am I to do? It is written, and I can't begin the letter + again, so I proceed. When he arrived, we happened to be at dinner. This, + too, has nothing to do with the matter; it is only to let you know that + people do dine in Paris, as elsewhere. When I went home I found a letter + for me from Herr Weber, and the bearer of it was Raaff. If I wished to + deserve the name of a historian, I ought here to insert the contents of + this letter; and I can with truth say that I am very reluctant to decline + giving them. But I must not be too prolix; to be concise is a fine thing, + which you can see by my letter. The third day I found him at home and + thanked him; it is always advisable to be polite. I no longer remember + what we talked about. An historian must be unusually dull who cannot + forthwith supply some falsehood—I mean some romance. Well! we spoke + of the fine weather; and when we had said our say, we were silent, and I + went away. Some days after—though what day it was I really forget, + but one day in the week assuredly—I had just seated myself, at the + piano of course; and Ritter, the worthy Holzbeisser, was sitting beside + me. Now, what is to be deduced from that? A great deal. Raaff had never + heard me at Mannheim except at a concert, where the noise and uproar was + so great that nothing could be heard; and HE had such a miserable piano + that I could not have done myself any justice on it. Here, however, the + instrument was good, and I saw Raaff sitting opposite me with a + speculative air; so, as you may imagine, I played some preludes in the + Fischietti method, and also played a florid sonata in the style and with + the fire, spirit, and precision of Haydn, and then a fugue with all the + skill of Lipp, Silber, and Aman. [Footnote: Fischietti was Capellmeister + in Salzburg; Michael Haydn and Lipp, organists.] My fugue-playing has + everywhere gained me the greatest applause. When I had quite finished, + (Raaff all the time calling out Bravo! while his countenance showed his + true and sincere delight,) I entered into conversation with Ritter, and + among other things said that I by no means liked being here; adding, "The + chief cause of this is music; besides, I can find no resources here, no + amusement, no agreeable or sociable intercourse with any one,—especially + with ladies, many of whom are disreputable, and those who are not so are + deficient in good breeding." Ritter could not deny that I was right. Raaff + at last said, smiling, "I can quite believe it, for M. Mozart is not + WHOLLY here to admire the Parisian beauties; one half of him is elsewhere—where + I have just come from." This of course gave rise to much laughing and + joking; but Raaff presently said, in a serious tone, "You are quite right, + and I cannot blame you; she deserves it, for she is a sweet, pretty, good + girl, well educated, and a superior person with considerable talent." This + gave me an excellent opportunity strongly to recommend my beloved Madlle. + Weber to him; but there was no occasion for me to say much, as he was + already quite fascinated by her. He promised me, as soon as he returned to + Mannheim, to give her lessons, and to interest himself in her favor. I + ought, by rights, to insert something here, but I must first finish the + history of our friendship; if there is still room, I may do so. He was in + my eyes only an every-day acquaintance, and no more; but I often sat with + him in his room, so by degrees I began to place more confidence in him, + and at last told him all my Mannheim history,—how I had been + bamboozled and made a fool of, adding that perhaps I might still get an + appointment there. He neither said yes nor no; and on every occasion when + I alluded to it he seemed each time more indifferent and less interested + in the matter. At last, however, I thought I remarked more complacency in + his manner, and he often, indeed, began to speak of the affair himself. I + introduced him to Herr Grimm and to Madame d'Epinay. On one occasion he + came to me and said that he and I were to dine with Count Sickingen some + day soon; adding, "The Count and I were conversing together, and I said to + him, 'A propos, has your Excellency heard our Mozart?' 'No; but I should + like very much both to see and to hear him, for they write me most + astonishing things about him from Mannheim.' 'When your Excellency does + hear him, you will see that what has been written to you is rather too + little than too much.' 'Is it possible?' 'Beyond all doubt, your + Excellency.'" Now, this was the first time that I had any reason to think + Raaff interested in me. Then it went on increasing, and one day I asked + him to come home with me; and after that he often came of his own accord, + and at length every day. The day after he left this, a good-looking man + called on me in the forenoon with a picture, and said, "Monsieur, je viens + de la part de ce Monsieur," showing me a portrait of Raaff, and an + admirable likeness. Presently he began to speak German; and it turned out + that he was a painter of the Elector's, whom Raaff had often mentioned to + me, but always forgot to take me to see him. I believe you know him, for + it must be the very person Madame Urspringer, of Mayence, alludes to in + her letter, because he says he often met us at the Urspringers'. His name + is Kymli. He is a most kind, amiable man, well-principled, honorable, and + a good Christian; one proof of which is the friendship between him and + Raaff. Now comes the best evidence of Raaff's regard for me, and the + sincere interest he takes in my welfare: it is, that he imparts his + intentions rather to those whom he can trust than to those more + immediately concerned, being unwilling to promise without the certainty of + a happy result. This is what Kymli told me. Raaff asked him to call on me + and to show me his portrait, to see me often, and to assist me in every + way, and to establish an intimate friendship with me. It seems he went to + him every morning, and repeatedly said to Kymli, "I was at Herr Mozart's + again yesterday evening; he is, indeed, a wonderful little fellow; he is + an out-and-outer, and no mistake!" and was always praising me. He told + Kymli everything, and the whole Mannheim story—in short, all. The + fact is, that high-principled, religious, and well-conducted people always + like each other. Kymli says I may rest assured that I am in good hands. + "Raaff will certainly do all he can for you, and he is a prudent man who + will set to work cleverly; he will not say that it is your wish, but + rather your due. He is on the best footing with the Oberststallmeister. + Rely on it, he will not be beat; only you must let him go his own way to + work." One thing more. Father Martini's letter to Raaff, praising me, must + have been lost. Raaff had, some time since, a letter from him, but not a + word about me in it. Possibly it is still lying in Mannheim; but this is + unlikely, as I know that, during his stay in Paris, all his letters have + been regularly forwarded to him. As the Elector justly entertains a very + high opinion of the Padre Maestro, I think it would be a good thing if you + would be so kind as to apply to him to write again about me to Raaff; it + might be of use, and good Father Martini would not hesitate to do a + friendly thing twice over for me, knowing that he might thus make my + fortune. He no doubt would express the letter in such a manner that it + could be shown, if need be, to the Elector. Now enough as to this; my wish + for a favorable issue is chiefly that I may soon have the happiness of + embracing my dear father and sister. Oh! how joyously and happily we shall + live together! I pray fervently to God to grant me this favor; a new leaf + will at last be turned, please God! In the fond hope that the day will + come, and the sooner the better, when we shall all be happy, I mean, in + God's name, to persevere in my life here, though so totally opposed to my + genius, inclinations, knowledge, and sympathies. Believe me, this is but + too true,—I write you only the simple truth. If I were to attempt to + give you all my reasons, I might write my fingers off and do no good. For + here I am, and I must do all that is in my power. God grant that I may not + thus impair my talents; but I hope it will not continue long enough for + that. God grant it! By the by, the other day an ecclesiastic called on me. + He is the leader of the choir at St. Peter's, in Salzburg, and knows you + very well; his name is Zendorff; perhaps you may not remember him? He + gives lessons here on the piano—in Paris. N. B., have not you a + horror of the very name of Paris? I strongly recommend him as organist to + the Archbishop; he says he would be satisfied with three hundred florins. + Now farewell! Be careful of your health, and strive to be cheerful. + Remember that possibly you may ere long have the satisfaction of tossing + off a good glass of Rhenish wine with your son—your truly happy son. + Adieu! + </p> + <p> + <br />20th.—Pray forgive my being so late in sending you my + congratulations, but I wished to present my sister with a little prelude. + The mode of playing it I leave to her own feeling. This is not the kind of + prelude to pass from one key to another, but merely a capriccio to try + over a piano. My sonatas [Kochel, Nos. 301-306] are soon to be published. + No one as yet would agree to give me what I asked for them, so I have been + obliged at last to give in, and to let them go for 15 louis-d'or. It is + the best way too to make my name known here. As soon as they appear I will + send them to you by some good opportunity (and as economically as + possible) along with your "School for the Violin," Vogler's book, + Hullmandel's sonatas, Schroter's concertos, some of my pianoforte sonatas, + the sinfonie concertante, two quartets for the flute, and a concerto for + harp and flute [Kochel, No. 298, 299]. + </p> + <p> + Pray, what do you hear about the war? For three days I was very depressed + and sorrowful; it is, after all, nothing to me, but I am so sensitive that + I feel quickly interested in any matter. I heard that the Emperor had been + defeated. At first it was reported that the King of Prussia had surprised + the Emperor, or rather the troops commanded by Archduke Maximilian; that + two thousand had fallen on the Austrian side, but fortunately the Emperor + had come to his assistance with forty thousand men, but was forced to + retreat. Secondly, it was said that the King had attacked the Emperor + himself, and entirely surrounded him, and that if General Laudon had not + come to his relief with eighteen hundred cuirassiers, he would have been + taken prisoner; that sixteen hundred cuirassiers had been killed, and + Laudon himself shot dead. I have not, however, seen this in any newspaper, + but to-day I was told that the Emperor had invaded Saxony with forty + thousand troops. Whether the news be true I know not. This is a fine + griffonage, to be sure! but I have not patience to write prettily; if you + can only read it, it will do well enough. A propos, I saw in the papers + that, in a skirmish between the Saxons and Croats, a Saxon captain of + grenadiers named Hopfgarten had lost his life, and was much lamented. Can + this be the kind, worthy Baron Hopfgarten whom we knew at Paris with Herr + von Bose? I should grieve if it were, but I would rather he died this + glorious death than have sacrificed his life, as too many young men do + here, to dissipation and vice. You know this already, but it is now worse + than ever. + </p> + <p> + N. B. I hope you will be able to decipher the end of the prelude; you need + not be very particular about the time; it is the kind of thing that may be + played as you feel inclined. I should like to inflict twenty-five stripes + on the sorry Vatel's shoulders for not having married Katherl. Nothing is + more shameful, in my opinion, than to make a fool of an honest girl, and + to play her false eventually; but I hope this may not be the case. If I + were her father, I would soon put a stop to the affair. + </p> + <p> + <br />110. + </p> + <p> + Paris, July 31, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I HOPE you have got my two letters of the 11th and 18th. Meantime I have + received yours of the 13th and 20th. The first brought tears of sorrow to + my eyes, as I was reminded by it of the sad death of my darling mother, + and the whole scene recurred vividly to me. Never can I forget it while I + live. You know that (though I often wished it) I had never seen any one + die, and the first time I did so it was fated to be my own mother! My + greatest misery was the thoughts of that hour, and I prayed earnestly to + God for strength. I was heard, and strength was given to me. Melancholy as + your letter made me, still I was inexpressibly happy to find that you both + bear this sorrow as it ought to be borne, and that my mind may now be at + ease about my beloved father and sister. As soon as I read your letter, my + first impulse was to throw myself on my knees, and fervently to thank our + gracious God for this blessing. I am now comparatively happy, because I + have no longer anything to dread on account of the two persons who are + dearest to me in this world; had it been otherwise, such a terrible + misfortune would have utterly overwhelmed me. Be careful therefore of your + precious health for my sake, I entreat, and grant to him who flatters + himself that he is now what you love most in the world the joy and + felicity soon to embrace you. + </p> + <p> + Your last letter also caused my tears to flow from joy, as it convinced me + more than ever of your fatherly love and care. I shall strive with all my + might still more to deserve your affection. I thank you for the powder, + but am sure you will be glad to hear that I do not require to use it. + During my dear mother's illness it would have been very useful, but now, + thank God! I am perfectly well and healthy. At times I have fits of + melancholy, but the best way to get rid of them is by writing or receiving + letters, which always cheers me; but, believe me, these sad feelings never + recur without too good cause. You wish to have an account of her illness + and every detail connected with it; that you shall have; but I must ask + you to let it be short, and I shall only allude to the principal facts, as + the event is over, and cannot, alas! now be altered, and I require some + space to write on business topics. + </p> + <p> + In the first place, I must tell you that NOTHING could have saved my + mother. No doctor in the world could have restored her to health. It was + the manifest will of God; her time was come, and God chose to take her to + Himself. You think she put off being bled too long? it may be so, as she + did delay it for a little, but I rather agree with the people here, who + dissuaded her from being bled at all. The cause of my mother's illness was + internal inflammation. After being bled she rallied for some days, but on + the 19th she complained of headache, and for the first time stayed in bed + the whole day. On the 20th she was seized first with shivering and then + with fever, so I gave her an anti-spasmodic powder. I was at that time + very anxious to send for another doctor, but she would not allow me to do + so, and when I urged her very strongly, she told me that she had no + confidence in any French medical man. I therefore looked about for a + German one. I could not, of course, go out and leave her, but I anxiously + waited for M. Heina, who came regularly every day to see us; but on this + occasion two days passed without his appearing. At last he came, but as + our doctor was prevented paying his usual visit next day, we could not + consult with him; in fact, he did not come till the 24th. The previous + day, when I had been expecting him so eagerly, I was in great trouble, for + my mother suddenly lost her sense of hearing. The doctor, an old German + about seventy, gave her rhubarb in wine. I could not understand this, as + wine is usually thought heating; but when I said so, every one exclaimed, + "How can you say so? Wine is not heating, but strengthening; water is + heating." And all the time the poor invalid was longing for a drink of + fresh water. How gladly would I have complied with her wish! My dear + father, you cannot conceive what I went through, but nothing could be + done, except to leave her in the hands of the physician. All that I could + do with a good conscience, was to pray to God without ceasing, that He + would order all things for her good. I went about as if I had altogether + lost my head. I had ample leisure then to compose, but I was in such a + state that I could not have written a single note. The 25th the doctor did + not come; on the 26th he visited her again. Imagine my feelings when he + all at once said to me, "I fear she will scarcely live through the night; + she may die at any moment. You had better see that she receives the + sacrament." So I hurried off to the end of the Chaussee d'Antin, and went + on beyond the Barriere to find Heina, knowing that he was at a concert in + the house of some count. He said that he would bring a German priest with + him next morning. On my way back I looked in on Madame d'Epinay and M. + Grimm for a moment as I passed. They were distressed that I had not spoken + sooner, as they would at once have sent their doctor. I did not tell them + my reason, which was, that my mother would not see a French doctor. I was + hard put to it, as they said they would send their physician that very + evening. When I came home, I told my mother that I had met Herr Heina with + a German priest, who had heard a great deal about me and was anxious to + hear me play, and that they were both to call on me next day. She seemed + quite satisfied, and though I am no doctor, still seeing that she was + better I said nothing more. I find it impossible not to write at full + length—indeed, I am glad to give you every particular, for it will + be more satisfactory to you; but as I have some things to write that are + indispensable, I shall continue my account of the illness in my next + letter. In the mean time you must have seen from my last letter, that all + my darling mother's affairs and my own are in good order. When I come to + this point, I will tell you how things were arranged. Heina and I + regulated everything ourselves. + </p> + <p> + Now for business. Do not allow your thoughts to dwell on what I wrote, + asking your permission not to reveal my ideas till the proper time + arrived. Pray do not let it trouble you. I cannot yet tell you about it, + and if I did, I should probably do more harm than good; but, to + tranquillize you, I may at least say that it only concerns myself. Your + circumstances will be made neither better nor worse, and until I see you + in a better position I shall think no more about the matter. If the day + ever arrives when we can live together in peace and happiness, (which is + my grand object),—when that joyful time comes, and God grant it may + come soon!—then the right moment will have arrived, and the rest + will depend on yourself. Do not, therefore, discompose yourself on the + subject, and be assured that in every case where I know that your + happiness and peace are involved, I shall invariably place entire + confidence in you, my kind father and true friend, and detail everything + to you minutely. If in the interim I have not done so, the fault is not + solely mine. [FOOTNOTE: He had evidently in his thoughts, what was indeed + manifest in his previous letters, a speedy marriage with his beloved + Aloysia.] M. Grimm recently said to me, "What am I to write to your + father? What course do you intend to pursue? Do you remain here, or go to + Mannheim?" I really could not help laughing: "What could I do at Mannheim + now? would that I had never come to Paris! but so it is. Here I am, and I + must use every effort to get forward." "Well," said he, "I scarcely think + that you will do much good here." "Why? I see a number of wretched + bunglers who make a livelihood, and why, with my talents, am I to fail? I + assure you that I like being at Mannheim, and wish very much to get some + appointment there, but it must be one that is honorable and of good + repute. I must have entire certainty on the subject before I move a step." + "I fear," said he, "that you are not sufficiently active here—you + don't go about enough." "Well," said I, "that is the hardest of all for me + to do." Besides, I could go nowhere during my mother's long illness, and + now two of my pupils are in the country, and the third (the Duke de + Guines's daughter) is betrothed, and means no longer to continue her + lessons, which, so far as my credit is concerned, does not distress me + much. It is no particular loss to me, for the Duke only pays me what every + one else does. Only imagine! I went to his house every day for two hours, + being engaged to give twenty-four lessons, (but it is the custom here to + pay after each twelve lessons.) They went into the country, and when they + came back ten days afterwards, I was not apprised of it; had I not by + chance inquired out of mere curiosity, I should not have known that they + were here. When I did go, the governess took out her purse and said to me, + "Pray excuse my only paying you at present for twelve lessons, for I have + not enough money." This is a noble proceeding! She then gave me three + louis-d'or, adding, "I hope you are satisfied; if not, I beg you will say + so." M. le Duc can have no sense of honor, or probably thinks that I am + only a young man and a thick-headed German, (for this is the way in which + the French always speak of us,) and that I shall be quite contented. The + thick-headed German, however, was very far from being contented, so he + declined receiving the sum offered. The Duke intended to pay me for one + hour instead of two, and all from economy. As he has now had a concerto of + mine for harp and flute, for the last four months, which he has not yet + paid me for, I am only waiting till the wedding is over to go to the + governess and ask for my money. What provokes me most of all is that these + stupid Frenchmen think I am still only seven years old, as they saw me + first when I was that age. This is perfectly true, for Madame d'Epinay + herself told me so quite seriously. I am therefore treated here like a + beginner, except by the musicians, who think very differently; but most + votes carry the day! + </p> + <p> + After my conversation with Grimm, I went the very next day to call on + Count Sickingen. He was quite of my opinion that I ought to have patience + and wait till Raaff arrives at his destination, who will do all that lies + in his power to serve me. If he should fail, Count Sickingen has offered + to procure a situation for me at Mayence. In the mean time my plan is to + do my utmost to gain a livelihood by teaching, and to earn as much money + as possible. This I am now doing, in the fond hope that some change may + soon occur; for I cannot deny, and indeed at once frankly confess, that I + shall be delighted to be released from this place. Giving lessons is no + joke here, and unless you wear yourself out by taking a number of pupils, + not much money can be made. You must not think that this proceeds from + laziness. No! it is only quite opposed to my genius and my habits. You + know that I am, so to speak, plunged into music,—that I am occupied + with it the whole day,—that I like to speculate, to study, and to + reflect. Now my present mode of life effectually prevents this. I have, + indeed, some hours at liberty, but those few hours are more necessary for + rest than for work. + </p> + <p> + I told you already about the opera. One thing is certain—I must + compose a great opera or none. If I write only smaller ones, I shall get + very little, for here everything is done at a fixed price, and if it + should be so unfortunate as not to please the obtuse French, it is all up + with it. I should get no more to write, have very little profit, and find + my reputation damaged. If, on the other hand, I write a great opera, the + remuneration is better, I am working in my own peculiar sphere, in which I + delight, and I have a greater chance of being appreciated, because in a + great work there is more opportunity to gain approval. I assure you that + if I receive a commission to write an opera, I have no fears on the + subject. It is true that the devil himself invented their language, and I + see the difficulties which all composers have found in it. But, in spite + of this, I feel myself as able to surmount these difficulties as any one + else. Indeed, when I sometimes think in my own mind that I may look on my + opera as a certainty, I feel quite a fiery impulse within me, and tremble + from head to foot, through the eager desire to teach the French more fully + how to know, and value, and fear the Germans. Why is a great opera never + intrusted to a Frenchman? Why is it always given to a foreigner? To me the + most insupportable part of it will be the singers. Well, I am ready. I + wish to avoid all strife, but if I am challenged I know how to defend + myself. If it runs its course without a duel, I should prefer it, for I do + not care to wrestle with dwarfs. + </p> + <p> + God grant that some change may soon come to pass! In the mean time I shall + certainly not be deficient in industry, trouble, and labor. My hopes are + centred on the winter, when every one returns from the country. My heart + beats with joy at the thought of the happy day when I shall once more see + and embrace you. + </p> + <p> + The day before yesterday my dear friend Weber, among other things, wrote + to me that the day after the Elector's arrival it was publicly announced + that he was to take up his residence in Munich, which came like a + thunder-clap on Mannheim, wholly, so to say, extinguishing the universal + illumination by which the inhabitants had testified their joy on the + previous day. The fact was also communicated to all the court musicians, + with the addition that each was at liberty to follow the court to Munich + or to remain in Mannheim, (retaining the same salaries,) and in a + fortnight each was to give a written and sealed decision to the Intendant. + Weber, who is, as you know, in the most miserable circumstances, wrote as + follows:—"I anxiously desire to follow my gracious master to Munich, + but my decayed circumstances prevent my doing so." Before this occurred + there was a grand court concert, where poor Madlle. Weber felt the fangs + of her enemies; for on this occasion she did not sing! It is not known who + was the cause of this. Afterwards there was a concert at Herr von + Gemmingen's, where Count Seeau also was. She sang two arias of mine, and + was so fortunate as to please, in spite of those Italian scoundrels [the + singers of Munich], those infamous charlatans, who circulated a report + that she had very much gone off in her singing. When her songs were + finished, Cannabich said to her, "Mademoiselle, I hope you will always + continue to fall off in this manner; tomorrow I will write to M. Mozart in + your praise." One thing is certain; if war had not already broken out, the + court would by this time have been transferred to Munich. Count Seeau, who + is quite determined to engage Madlle. Weber, would have left nothing + undone to insure her coming to Munich, so that there was some hope that + the family might have been placed in better circumstances; but now that + all is again quiet about the Munich journey, these poor people may have to + wait a long time, while their debts daily accumulate. If I could only help + them! Dearest father, I recommend them to you from my heart. If they could + even for a few years be in possession of 1000 florins! + </p> + <p> + <br />111. + </p> + <p> + To HERR BULLINGER. + </p> + <p> + Paris, August 7, 1778. + </p> + <p> + MY VERY DEAR FRIEND,— + </p> + <p> + Allow me above all to thank you most warmly for the proof of friendship + you gave me by your interest in my dear father—first in preparing, + and then kindly consoling him for his loss [see No. 106]. You played your + part admirably. These are my father's own words. My kind friend, how can I + sufficiently thank you? You saved my father for me. I have you to thank + that I still have him. Permit me to say no more on the subject, and not to + attempt to express my gratitude, for I feel too weak and incompetent to do + so. My best friend, I am forever your debtor; but patience! It is too true + that I am not yet in a position to repay what I owe you, but rely on it + God will one day grant me the opportunity of showing by deeds what I am + unable to express by words. Such is my hope; till that happy time, + however, arrives, allow me to beg you to continue your precious and valued + friendship to me, and also to accept mine afresh, now and forever; to + which I pledge myself in all sincerity of heart. It will not, indeed, be + of much use to you, but not on that account less sincere and lasting. You + know well that the best and truest of all friends are the poor. The rich + know nothing of friendship, especially those who are born to riches, and + even those whom fate enriches often become very different when fortunate + in life. But when a man is placed in favorable circumstances, not by + blind, but reasonable good fortune and merit, who during his early and + less prosperous days never lost courage, remaining faithful to his + religion and his God, striving to be an honest man and good Christian, + knowing how to value his true friends,—in short, one who really + deserves better fortune,—from such a man no ingratitude is to be + feared. + </p> + <p> + I must now proceed to answer your letter. You can be under no further + anxiety as to my health, for you must have ere this received three letters + from me. The first, containing the sad news of my mother's death, was + enclosed, my dear friend, to you. You must forgive my silence on the + subject, but my thoughts recur to it constantly. You write that I should + now think only of my father, tell him frankly all my thoughts, and place + entire confidence in him. How unhappy should I be if I required this + injunction! It was expedient that you should suggest it, but I am happy to + say (and you will also be glad to hear it) that I do not need this advice. + In my last letter to my dear father, I wrote to him all that I myself know + up to this time, assuring him that I would always keep him minutely + informed of everything, and candidly tell him my intentions, as I place + entire faith in him, being confident of his fatherly care, love, and + goodness. I feel assured that at a future day he will not deny me a + request on which my whole happiness in life depends, and which (for he + cannot expect anything else from me) will certainly be quite fair and + reasonable. My dear friend, do not let my father read this. You know him; + he would only fancy all kinds of things, and to no purpose. + </p> + <p> + Now for our Salzburg affair. You, my dear friend, are well aware how I do + hate Salzburg, not only on account of the injustice shown to my father and + myself there, which was in itself enough to make us wish to forget such a + place, and to blot it out wholly from our memory. But do not let us refer + to that, if we can contrive to live respectably there. To live respectably + and to live happily, are two very different things; but the latter I never + could do short of witchcraft,—it would indeed be supernatural if I + did,—so this is impossible, for in these days there are no longer + any witches. Well, happen what may, it will always be the greatest + possible pleasure to me to embrace my dear father and sister, and the + sooner the better. Still I cannot deny that my joy would be twofold were + this to be elsewhere, for I have far more hope of living happily anywhere + else. Perhaps you may misunderstand me, and think that Salzburg is on too + small a scale for me. If so, you are quite mistaken. I have already + written some of my reasons to my father. In the mean time, let this one + suffice, that Salzburg is no place for my talent. In the first place, + professional musicians are not held in much consideration; and, secondly, + one hears nothing. There is no theatre, no opera there; and if they really + wished to have one, who is there to sing? For the last five or six years + the Salzburg orchestra has always been rich in what is useless and + superfluous, but very poor in what is useful and indispensable; and such + is the case at the present moment. Those cruel French are the cause of the + band there being without a Capellmeister. [FOOTNOTE: The old + Capellmeister, Lolli, had died a short time previously.] I therefore feel + assured that quiet and order are now reigning in the orchestra. This is + the result of not making provision in time. Half a dozen Capellmeisters + should always be held in readiness, that, if one fails, another can + instantly be substituted. But where, at present, is even ONE to be found? + And yet the danger is urgent. It will not do to allow order, quiet, and + good-fellowship to prevail in the orchestra, or the mischief would still + further increase, and in the long run become irremediable. Is there no + ass-eared old periwig, no dunderhead forthcoming, to restore the concern + to its former disabled condition? I shall certainly do my best in the + matter. To-morrow I intend to hire a carriage for the day, and visit all + the hospitals and infirmaries, to see if I can't find a Capellmeister in + one of them. Why were they so improvident as to allow Misliweczeck to give + them the slip, and he so near too? [See No. 64.] He would have been a + prize, and one not so easy to replace,—freshly emerged, too, from + the Duke's Clementi Conservatorio. He was just the man to have awed the + whole court orchestra by his presence. Well, we need not be uneasy: where + there is money there are always plenty of people to be had. My opinion is + that they should not wait too long, not from the foolish fear that they + might not get one at all,—for I am well aware that all these + gentlemen are expecting one as eagerly and anxiously as the Jews do their + Messiah,—but simply because things cannot go on at all under such + circumstances. It would therefore be more useful and profitable to look + out for a Capellmeister, there being NONE at present, than to write in all + directions (as I have been told) to secure a good female singer. + </p> + <p> + [FOOTNOTE: In order the better to conciliate Wolfgang, Bullinger had been + desired to say that the Archbishop, no longer satisfied with Madlle. + Haydn, intended to engage another singer; and it was hinted to Mozart, + that he might be induced to make choice of Aloysia Weber; (Jahn, ii. 307.) + Madlle. Haydn was a daughter of Lipp, the organist, and sent by the + Archbishop to Italy to cultivate her voice. She did not enjoy a very good + reputation.] + </p> + <p> + I really can scarcely believe this. Another female singer, when we have + already so many, and all admirable! A tenor, though we do not require one + either, I could more easily understand—but a prima donna, when we + have still Cecarelli! It is true that Madlle. Haydn is in bad health, for + her austere mode of life has been carried too far. There are few of whom + this can be said. I wonder that she has not long since lost her voice from + her perpetual scourgings and flagellations, her hair-cloth, unnatural + fasts, and night-prayers! But she will still long retain her powers, and + instead of becoming worse, her voice will daily improve. When at last, + however, she departs this life to be numbered among the saints, we still + have five left, each of whom can dispute the palm with the other. So you + see how superfluous a new one is. But, knowing how much changes and + novelty and variety are liked with us, I see a wide field before me which + may yet form an epoch. [FOOTNOTE: Archbishop Hieronymus, in the true + spirit of Frederick the Great, liked to introduce innovations with an + unsparing hand; many, however, being both necessary and beneficent.] Do + your best that the orchestra may have a leg to stand on, for that is what + is most wanted. A head they have [the Archbishop], but that is just the + misfortune; and till a change is made in this respect, I will never come + to Salzburg. When it does take place, I am willing to come and to turn + over the leaf as often as I see V. S. [volti subito] written. Now as to + the war [the Bavarian Succession]. So far as I hear, we shall soon have + peace in Germany. The King of Prussia is certainly rather alarmed. I read + in the papers that the Prussians had surprised an Imperial detachment, but + that the Croats and two Cuirassier regiments were near, and, hearing the + tumult, came at once to their rescue, and attacked the Prussians, placing + them between two fires, and capturing five of their cannon. The route by + which the Prussians entered Bohemia is now entirely cut up and destroyed. + The Bohemian peasantry do all the mischief they can to the Prussians, who + have besides constant desertions among their troops; but these are matters + which you must know both sooner and better than we do. But I must write + you some of our news here. The French have forced the English to retreat, + but it was not a very hot affair. The most remarkable thing is that, + friends and foes included, only 100 men were killed. In spite of this, + there is a grand jubilation here, and nothing else is talked of. It is + also reported that we shall soon have peace. It is a matter of + indifference to me, so far as this place is concerned; but I should indeed + be very glad if we were soon to have peace in Germany, for many reasons. + Now farewell! Your true friend and obedient servant, + </p> + <p> + WOLFGANG ROMATZ. + </p> + <p> + <br />112. + </p> + <p> + St. Germains, August 27, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I WRITE to you very hurriedly; you will see that I am not in Paris. Herr + Bach, from London [Johann Christian], has been here for the last + fortnight. He is going to write a French opera, and is only come for the + purpose of hearing the singers, and afterwards goes to London to complete + the opera, and returns here to put it on the stage. You may easily imagine + his joy and mine when we met again; perhaps his delight may not be quite + as sincere as mine, but it must be admitted that he is an honorable man + and willing to do justice to others. I love him from my heart (as you + know), and esteem him; and as for him, there is no doubt that he praises + me warmly, not only to my face, but to others also, and not in the + exaggerated manner in which some speak, but in earnest. Tenducci is also + here, Bach's dearest friend, and he expressed the greatest delight at + seeing me again. I must now tell you how I happen to be at St. Germains. + The Marechal de Noailles lives here, as you no doubt know, (for I am told + I was here fifteen years ago, though I don't remember it.) Tenducci is a + great favorite of his, and as he is exceedingly partial to me, he was + anxious to procure me this acquaintance. I shall gain nothing here, a + trifling present perhaps, but at the same time I do not lose, for it costs + me nothing; and even if I do not get anything, still I have made an + acquaintance that may be very useful to me. I must make haste, for I am + writing a scena for Tenducci, which is to be given on Sunday; it is for + pianoforte, hautboy, horn, and bassoon, the performers being the + Marechal's own people—Germans, who play very well. I should like to + have written to you long since, but just as I had begun the letter (which + is now lying in Paris) I was obliged to drive to St. Germains, intending + to return the same day, and I have now been here a week. I shall return to + Paris as soon as I can, though I shall not lose much there by my absence, + for I have now only one pupil, the others being in the country. I could + not write to you from here either, because we were obliged to wait for an + opportunity to send a letter to Paris. I am quite well, thank God, and + trust that both of you are the same. You must have patience—all goes + on slowly; I must make friends. France is not unlike Germany in feeding + people with encomiums, and yet there is a good hope that, by means of your + friends, you may make your fortune. One lucky thing is, that food and + lodging cost me nothing. When you write to the friend with whom I am + staying [Herr Grimm], do not be too obsequious in your thanks. There are + some reasons for this which I will write to you some other time. The rest + of the sad history of the illness will follow in the next letter. You + desire to have a faithful portrait of Rothfischer? He is an attentive, + assiduous director, not a great genius, but I am very much pleased with + him, and, best of all, he is the kindest creature, with whom you can do + anything—if you know how to set about it, of course. He directs + better than Brunetti, but is not so good in solo-playing. He has more + execution, and plays well in his way, (a little in the old-fashioned + Tartini mode,) but Brunetti's style is more agreeable. The concertos which + he writes for himself are pretty and pleasant to listen to, and also to + play occasionally. Who can tell whether he may not please? At all events, + he plays a thousand million times better than Spitzeger, and, as I already + said, he directs well, and is active in his calling. I recommend him to + you heartily, for he is the most good-natured man! Adieu! + </p> + <p> + <br />113. + </p> + <p> + Paris, Sept. 11, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I HAVE received your three letters. I shall only reply to the last, being + the most important. When I read it, (Heina was with me and sends you his + regards,) I trembled with joy, for I fancied myself already in your arms. + True it is (and this you will yourself confess) that no great stroke of + good fortune awaits me; still, when I think of once more embracing you and + my dear sister, I care for no other advantage. This is indeed the only + excuse I can make to the people here, who are vociferous that I should + remain in Paris; but my reply invariably is, "What would you have? I am + content, and that is everything; I have now a place I can call my home, + and where I can live in peace and quiet with my excellent father and + beloved sister. I can do what I choose when not on duty. I shall be my own + master, and have a certain competency; I may leave when I like, and travel + every second year. What can I wish for more?" The only thing that disgusts + me with Salzburg, and I tell you of it just as I feel it, is the + impossibility of having any satisfactory intercourse with the people, and + that musicians are not in good repute there, and—that the Archbishop + places no faith in the experience of intelligent persons who have seen the + world. For I assure you that people who do not travel (especially artists + and scientific men) are but poor creatures. And I at once say that if the + Archbishop is not prepared to allow me to travel every second year, I + cannot possibly accept the engagement. A man of moderate talent will never + rise above mediocrity, whether he travels or not, but a man of superior + talents (which, without being unthankful to Providence, I cannot deny that + I possess) deteriorates if he always remains in the same place. If the + Archbishop would only place confidence in me, I could soon make his music + celebrated; of this there can be no doubt. I also maintain that my journey + has not been unprofitable to me—I mean, with regard to composition, + for as to the piano, I play it as well as I ever shall. One thing more I + must settle about Salzburg, that I am not to take up the violin as I + formerly did. I will no longer conduct with the violin; I intend to + conduct, and also accompany airs, with the piano. It would have been a + good thing to have got a written agreement about the situation of + Capellmeister, for otherwise I may have the honor to discharge a double + duty, and be paid only for one, and at last be superseded by some + stranger. My dear father, I must decidedly say that I really could not + make up my mind to take this step were it not for the pleasure of seeing + you both again; I wish also to get away from Paris, which I detest, though + my affairs here begin to improve, and I don't doubt that if I could bring + myself to endure this place for a few years, I could not fail to succeed. + I am now pretty well known—that is, the people all know ME, even if + I don't know them. I acquired considerable fame by my two symphonies; and + (having heard that I was about to leave) they now really want me to write + an opera, so I said to Noverre, "If you will be responsible for its BEING + PERFORMED as soon as it is finished, and will name the exact sum that I am + to receive for it, I will remain here for the next three months on + purpose," for I could not at once decline, or they would have thought that + I distrusted myself. This was not, however, done; and I knew beforehand + that they could not do it, for such is not the custom here. You probably + know that in Paris it is thus:—When the opera is finished it is + rehearsed, and if these stupid Frenchmen do not think it good it is not + given, and the composer has had all his trouble for nothing; if they + approve, it is then put on the stage; as its popularity increases, so does + the rate of payment. There is no certainty. I reserve the discussion of + these matters till we meet, but I must candidly say that my own affairs + begin to prosper. It is no use trying to hurry matters—chi va piano, + va sano. My complaisance has gained me both friends and patrons; were I to + write you all, my fingers would ache. I will relate it to you personally + and place it clearly before you. M. Grimm may be able to help CHILDREN, + but not grown-up people; and—but no, I had better not write on the + subject. Yet I must! Do not imagine that he is the same that he was; were + it not for Madame d'Epinay, I should be no longer in this house. And he + has no great cause to be so proud of his good deeds towards me, for there + were four houses where I could have had both board and lodging. The worthy + man does not know that, if I had remained in Paris, I intended to have + left him next month to go to a house that, unlike his, is neither stupid + nor tiresome, and where a man has not constantly thrown in his face that a + kindness has been done him. Such conduct is enough to cause me to forget a + benefit, but I will be more generous than he is. I regret not remaining + here only because I should have liked to show him that I do not require + him, and that I can do as much as his Piccini, although I am only a + German! The greatest service he has done me consists in fifteen louis-d'or + which he lent me bit by bit during my mother's life and at her death. Is + he afraid of losing them? If he has a doubt on the subject, then he + deserves to be kicked, for in that case he must mistrust my honesty (which + is the only thing that can rouse me to rage) and also my talents; but the + latter, indeed, I know he does, for he once said to me that he did not + believe I was capable of writing a French opera. I mean to repay him his + fifteen louis-d'or, with thanks, when I go to take leave of him, + accompanied by some polite expressions. My poor mother often said to me, + "I don't know why, but he seems to me somehow changed." But I always took + his part, though I secretly felt convinced of the very same thing. He + seldom spoke of me to any one, and when he did, it was always in a stupid, + injudicious, or disparaging way. He was constantly urging me to go to see + Piccini, and also Caribaldi,—for there is a miserable opera buffa + here,—but I always said, "No, I will not go a single step," &c. + In short, he is of the Italian faction; he is insincere himself, and + strives to crush me. This seems incredible, does it not? But still such is + the fact, and I give you the proof of it. I opened my whole heart to him + as a true friend, and a pretty use he made of this! He always gave me bad + advice, knowing that I would follow it; but he only succeeded in two or + three instances, and latterly I never asked his opinion at all, and if he + did advise me to do anything, I never did it, but always appeared to + acquiesce, that I might not subject myself to further insolence on his + part. + </p> + <p> + But enough of this; we can talk it over when we meet. At all events, + Madame d'Epinay has a better heart. The room I inhabit belongs to her, not + to him. It is the invalid's room—that is, if any one is ill in the + house, he is put there; it has nothing to recommend it except the view,—only + four bare walls, no chest of drawers—in fact, nothing. Now you may + judge whether I could stand it any longer. I would have written this to + you long ago, but feared you would not believe me. I can, however, no + longer be silent, whether you believe me or not; but you do believe me, I + feel sure. I have still sufficient credit with you to persuade you that I + speak the truth. I board too with Madame d'Epinay, and you must not + suppose that he pays anything towards it, but indeed I cost her next to + nothing. They have the same dinner whether I am there or not, for they + never know when I am to be at home, so they can make no difference for me; + and at night I eat fruit and drink one glass of wine. All the time I have + been in their house, now more than two months, I have not dined with them + more than fourteen times at most, and with the exception of the fifteen + louis-d'or, which I mean to repay with thanks, he has no outlay whatever + on my account but candles, and I should really be ashamed of myself more + than of him, were I to offer to supply these; in fact I could not bring + myself to say such a thing. This is my nature. Recently, when he spoke to + me in such a hard, senseless, and stupid way, I had not nerve to say that + he need not be alarmed about his fifteen louis-d'or, because I was afraid + of offending him; I only heard him calmly to the end, when I asked whether + he had said all he wished—and then I was off! He presumes to say + that I must leave this a week hence—IN SUCH HASTE IS HE. I told him + it was impossible, and my reasons for saying so. "Oh! that does not + matter; it is your father's wish." "Excuse me, in his last letter he wrote + that he would let me know in his next when I was to set off." "At all + events hold yourself in readiness for your journey." But I must tell you + plainly that it will be impossible for me to leave this before the + beginning of next month, or at the soonest the end of the present one, for + I have still six arias to write, which will be well paid. I must also + first get my money from Le Gros and the Duc de Guines; and as the court + goes to Munich the end of this month, I should like to be there at the + same time to present my sonatas myself to the Electress, which perhaps + might bring me a present. I mean to sell my three concertos to the man who + has printed them, provided he gives me ready money for them; one is + dedicated to Jenomy, another to Litzau; the third is in B. I shall do the + same with my six difficult sonatas, if I can; even if not much, it is + better than nothing. Money is much wanted on a journey. As for the + symphonies, most of them are not according to the taste of the people + here; if I have time, I mean to arrange some violin concertos from them, + and curtail them; in Germany we rather like length, but after all it is + better to be short and good. In your next letter I shall no doubt find + instructions as to my journey; I only wish you had written to me alone, + for I would rather have nothing more to do with Grimm. I hope so, and in + fact it would be better, for no doubt our friends Geschwender and Heina + can arrange things better than this upstart Baron. Indeed, I am under + greater obligations to Heina than to him, look at it as you will by the + light of a farthing-candle. I expect a speedy reply to this, and shall not + leave Paris till it comes. I have no reason to hurry away, nor am I here + either in vain or fruitlessly, because I shut myself up and work, in order + to make as much money as possible. I have still a request, which I hope + you will not refuse. If it should so happen, though I hope and believe it + is not so, that the Webers are not in Munich, but still at Mannheim, I + wish to have the pleasure of going there to visit them. It takes me, I + own, rather out of my way, but not much—at all events it does not + appear much to me. I don't believe, after all, that it will be necessary, + for I think I shall meet them in Munich; but I shall ascertain this + to-morrow by a letter. If it is not the case, I feel beforehand that you + will not deny me this happiness. My dear father, if the Archbishop wishes + to have a new singer, I can, by heavens! find none better than her. He + will never get a Teyberin or a De' Amicis, and the others are assuredly + worse. I only lament that when people from Salzburg flock to the next + Carnival, and "Rosamunde" is given, Madlle. Weber will not please, or at + all events they will not be able to judge of her merits as they deserve, + for she has a miserable part, almost that of a dumb personage, having only + to sing some stanzas between the choruses. She has one aria where + something might be expected from the ritournelle; the voice part is, + however, alla Schweitzer, as if dogs were yelping. There is only one air, + a kind of rondo in the second act, where she has an opportunity of + sustaining her voice, and thus showing what she can do. Unhappy indeed is + the singer who falls into Schweitzer's hands; for never while he lives + will he learn how to write for the voice. When I go to Salzburg I shall + certainly not fail to plead zealously for my dear friend; in the mean time + you will not neglect doing all you can in her favor, for you cannot cause + your son greater joy. I think of nothing now but the pleasure of soon + embracing you. Pray see that everything the Archbishop promised you is + made quite secure, and also what I stipulated, that my place should be at + the piano. My kind regards to all my friends, and to Herr Bullinger in + particular. How merry shall we be together! I have all this already in my + thoughts, already before my eyes. Adieu! + </p> + <p> + <br />114. + </p> + <p> + Nancy, Oct. 3, 1778. + </p> + <p> + PRAY excuse my not having told you of my journey previous to leaving + Paris. But I really cannot describe to you the way in which the whole + affair was hurried forward, contrary to my expectations, wish, or will. At + the very last moment I wanted to send my luggage to Count Sickingen's, + instead of to the bureau of the diligence, and to remain some days longer + in Paris. This, I give you my honor, I should at once have done had I not + thought of you, for I did not wish to displease you. We can talk of these + matters better at Salzburg. But one thing more—only fancy how Herr + Grimm deceived me, saying that I was going by the diligence, and should + arrive at Strassburg in five days; and I did not find out till the last + day that it was quite another carriage, which goes at a snail's pace, + never changes horses, and is ten days on the journey. You may easily + conceive my rage; but I only gave way to it when with my intimate friends, + for in his presence I affected to be quite merry and pleased. When I got + into the carriage, I received the agreeable information that we should be + travelling for twelve days. So this is an instance of Grimm's good sense! + It was entirely to save money that he sent me by this slow conveyance, not + adverting to the fact that the expense would amount to the same thing from + the constant living at inns. Well, it is now past. What vexed me most in + the whole affair was his not being straightforward with me. He spared his + own money, but not mine, as he paid for my journey, but not for my board. + If I had stayed eight or ten days longer in Paris, I could have paid my + own journey, and made it comfortably. + </p> + <p> + I submitted to this conveyance for eight days, but longer I could not + stand it—not on account of the fatigue, for the carriage was well + hung, but from want of sleep. We were off every morning at four o'clock, + and thus obliged to rise at three. Twice I had the satisfaction of being + forced to get up at one o'clock in the morning, as we were to set off at + two. You know that I cannot sleep in a carriage, so I really could not + continue this without the risk of being ill. I would have taken the post, + but it was not necessary, for I had the good fortune to meet with a person + who quite suited me—a German merchant who resides in Paris, and + deals in English wares. Before getting into the carriage we exchanged a + few words, and from that moment we remained together. We did not take our + meals with the other passengers, but in our own room, where we also slept. + I was glad to meet this man, for, being a great traveller, he understands + it well. He also was very much disgusted with our carriage; so we proceed + to-morrow by a good conveyance, which does not cost us much, to + Strassburg. You must excuse my not writing more, but when I am in a town + where I know no one, I am never in a good humor; though I believe that if + I had friends here I should like to remain, for the town is indeed + charming—handsome houses, spacious streets, and superb squares. + </p> + <p> + I have one request to make, which is to give me a large chest in my room + that I may have all my things within my reach. I should like also to have + the little piano that Fischietti and Rust had, beside my writing-table, as + it suits me better than the small one of Stein. I don't bring many new + things of my own with me, for I have not composed much. I have not yet got + the three quartets and the flute concerto I wrote for M. de Jean; for when + he went to Paris he packed them in the wrong trunk, so they are left at + Mannheim. I can therefore bring nothing finished with me except my sonatas + [with violin]; M. Le Gros purchased the two overtures from me and the + sinfonie concertante, which he thinks exclusively his own; but this is not + the case, for I have it still fresh in my head, and mean to write it out + again as soon as I am at home. + </p> + <p> + The Munich company of comedians are, I conclude, now acting? [in + Salzburg.] Do they give satisfaction? Do people go to see them? I suppose + that, as for the operettas, the "Fischermadchen" ("La Pescatrice" of + Piccini), or "Das Bauernmadchen bei Hof" ("La Contadina in Corte," by + Sacchini), will be given first? The prima donna is, no doubt, Madlle. + Keiserin, whom I wrote to you about from Munich. I have heard her, but do + not know her. At that time it was only her third appearance on any stage, + and she had only learned music three weeks [see No. 62]. Now farewell! I + shall not have a moment's peace till I once more see those I love. + </p> + <p> + <br />115. + </p> + <p> + Strassburg, Oct. 15, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I GOT your three letters safely, but could not possibly answer them + sooner. What you write about M. Grimm, I, of course, know better than you + can do. That he was all courtesy and civility I do not deny; indeed, had + this not been the case, I would not have stood on such ceremony with him. + All that I owe M. Grimm is fifteen louis-d'or, and he has only himself to + blame for their not being repaid, and this I told him. But what avails any + discussion? We can talk it over at Salzburg. I am very much obliged to you + for having put my case so strongly before Father Martini, and also for + having written about me to M. Raaff. I never doubted your doing so, for I + am well aware that it rejoices you to see your son happy and pleased, and + you know that I could never be more so than in Munich; being so near + Salzburg, I could constantly visit you. That Madlle. Weber, or rather MY + DEAR WEBERIN, should now receive a salary, and justice be at last done to + her merits, rejoices me to a degree natural in one who feels such deep + interest in all that concerns her. I still warmly recommend her to you; + though I must now, alas! give up all hope of what I so much wished,—her + getting an engagement in Salzburg,—for the Archbishop would never + give her the salary she now has. All we can now hope for is that she may + sometimes come to Salzburg to sing in an opera. I had a hurried letter + from her father the day before they went to Munich, in which he also + mentions this news. These poor people were in the greatest distress about + me, fearing that I must be dead, a whole month having elapsed without any + letter from me, (owing to the last one being lost;) an idea that was + confirmed by a report in Mannheim that my poor dear mother had died of a + contagious disease. So they have been all praying for my soul. The poor + girl went every day for this purpose into the Capuchin church. Perhaps you + may laugh at this? I did not; on the contrary, I could not help being much + touched by it. + </p> + <p> + To proceed. I think I shall certainly go by Stuttgart to Augsburg, because + I see by your letter that nothing, or at least not much, is to be made in + Donaueschingen; but I will apprise you of all this before leaving + Strassburg. Dearest father, I do assure you that, were it not for the + pleasure of soon embracing you, I would never come to Salzburg; for, with + the exception of this commendable and delightful impulse, I am really + committing the greatest folly in the world. Rest assured that these are my + own thoughts, and not borrowed from others. When my resolution to leave + Paris was known, certain facts were placed before me, and the sole weapons + I had to contend against or to conquer these, were my true and tender love + for my kind father, which could not be otherwise than laudable in their + eyes, but with the remark that if my father had known my present + circumstances and fair prospects, (and had not got different and false + impressions by means of a kind friend,) he certainly would not have + written to me in such a strain as to render me wholly incapable of + offering the least resistance to his wish; and in my own mind I thought, + that had I not been exposed to so much annoyance in the house where I + lived, and the journey come on me like a sudden thunder-clap, leaving me + no time to reflect coolly on the subject, I should have earnestly besought + you to have patience for a time, and to let me remain a little longer in + Paris. I do assure you that I should have succeeded in gaining fame, + honor, and wealth, and been thus enabled to defray your debts. But now it + is settled, and do not for a moment suppose that I regret it; but you + alone, dearest father, you alone can sweeten the bitterness of Salzburg + for me; and that you will do so, I feel convinced. I must also candidly + say that I should arrive in Salzburg with a lighter heart were it not for + my official capacity there, for this thought is to me the most intolerable + of all. Reflect on it yourself, place yourself in my position. At Salzburg + I never know how I stand; at one time I am everything, at another + absolutely nothing. I neither desire SO MUCH nor SO LITTLE, but still I + wish to be SOMETHING—if indeed I am something! In every other place + I know what my duties are. Elsewhere those who undertake the violin stick + to it,—the same with the piano, &c., &c. I trust this will + be regulated hereafter, so that all may turn out well and for my happiness + and satisfaction. I rely wholly on you. + </p> + <p> + Things here are in a poor state; but the day after to-morrow, Saturday the + 17th, I MYSELF ALONE, (to save expense,) to please some kind friends, + amateurs, and connoisseurs, intend to give a subscription concert. If I + engaged an orchestra, it would with the lighting cost me more than three + louis-d'or, and who knows whether we shall get as much? My sonatas are not + yet published, though promised for the end of September. Such is the + effect of not looking after things yourself, for which that obstinate + Grimm is also to blame. They will probably be full of mistakes, not being + able to revise them myself, for I was obliged to devolve the task on + another, and I shall be without my sonatas in Munich. Such an occurrence, + though apparently a trifle, may often bring success, honor, and wealth, + or, on the other hand, misfortune. + </p> + <p> + <br />116. + </p> + <p> + Strassburg, Oct. 20, 1778. + </p> + <p> + You will perceive that I am still here, by the advice of Herr Frank and + other Strassburg magnates, but I leave this to-morrow. In my last letter I + mentioned that on the 17th I was to give a kind of sample of a concert, as + concerts here fare worse than even at Salzburg. It is, of course, over. I + played quite alone, having engaged no musicians, so that I might at least + lose nothing; briefly, I took three louis-d'or. The chief receipts + consisted in the shouts of Bravo! and Bravissimo! which echoed on every + side. Prince Max of Zweibrucken also honored the concert by his presence. + I need not tell you that every one was pleased. I intended then to pursue + my journey, but was advised to stay till the following Saturday, in order + to give a grand concert in the theatre. I did so, and, to the surprise, + indignation, and disgrace of all the Strassburgers, my receipts were + exactly the same. The Director, M. de Villeneuve, abused the inhabitants + of this most detestable town in the most unmeasured terms. I took a little + more money, certainly, but the cost of the band (which is very bad, but + its pay very good), the lighting, printing, the guard at the door, and the + check-takers at the entrances, &c., made up a considerable sum. Still + I must tell you that the applause and clapping of hands almost deafened + me, and made my ears ache; it was as if the whole theatre had gone crazy. + Those who were present, loudly and publicly denounced their + fellow-citizens, and I told them all that if I could have reasonably + supposed so few people would have come, I would gladly have given the + concert gratis, merely for the pleasure of seeing the theatre well filled. + And in truth I should have preferred it, for, upon my word, I don't know a + more desolate sight than a long table laid for fifty, and only three at + dinner. Besides, it was so cold; but I soon warmed myself, for, to show + the Strassburg gentlemen how little I cared, I played a very long time for + my own amusement, giving a concerto more than I had promised, and, at the + close, extemporizing. It is now over, but at all events I gained honor and + fame. + </p> + <p> + I have drawn on Herr Scherz for eight louis-d'or, as a precaution, for no + one can tell what may happen on a journey; and I HAVE is better than I + MIGHT HAVE HAD. I have read the fatherly well-meaning letter which you + wrote to M. Frank when in such anxiety about me. [Footnote: "Your sister + and I confessed, and took the Holy Communion," writes the father, "and + prayed to God fervently for your recovery. Our excellent Bullinger prays + daily for you also."] When I wrote to you from Nancy, not knowing myself, + you of course could not know, that I should have to wait so long for a good + opportunity. Your mind may be quite at ease about the merchant with whom I + am travelling; he is the most upright man in the world, takes more care of + me than of himself, and, entirely to oblige me, is to go with me to + Augsburg and Munich, and possibly even to Salzburg. We actually shed tears + when we think that we must separate. He is not a learned man, but a man of + experience, and we live together like children. When he thinks of his wife + and family whom he has left in Paris, I try to comfort him, and when I + think of my own people he speaks comfort to me. + </p> + <p> + On the 31st of October, my name-day, I amused myself (and, better still, + others) for a couple of hours. At the repeated entreaties of Herr Frank, + de Berger, &c., &c., I gave another concert, by which, after + paying the expenses, (not heavy this time,) I actually cleared a + louis-d'or! Now you see what Strassburg is! I wrote at the beginning of + this letter that I was to leave this on the 27th or 28th, but it proved + impossible, owing to a sudden inundation here, when the floods caused + great damage. You will probably see this in the papers. Of course + travelling was out of the question, which was the only thing that induced + me to consent to give another concert, being obliged to remain at all + events. + </p> + <p> + To-morrow I go by the diligence to Mannheim. Do not be startled at this. + In foreign countries it is expedient to follow the advice of those who + know from experience what ought to be done. Most of the strangers who go + to Stuttgart (N.B., by the diligence) do not object to this detour of + eight hours, because the road is better and also the conveyance. I must + now, dearest father, cordially wish you joy of your approaching name-day. + My kind father, I wish you from my heart all that a son can wish for a + good father, whom he so highly esteems and dearly loves. I thank the + Almighty that He has permitted you again to pass this day in the enjoyment + of perfect health, and implore from Him the boon, that during the whole of + my life (and I hope to live for a good many years to come) I may be able + to congratulate you every year. However strange, and perhaps ridiculous, + this wish may seem to you, I do assure you it is both sincere and + well-intended. + </p> + <p> + I hope you received my last letter from Strassburg. I wish to write + nothing further of M. Grimm, but it is entirely owing to his stupidity in + pressing forward my departure so much, that my sonatas are not yet + engraved, or at all events that I have not got them, and when I do I shall + probably find them full of mistakes. If I had only stayed three days + longer in Paris, I could have revised them myself and brought them with + me. The engraver was desperate when I told him that I could not correct + them, but must commission someone else to do so. Why? Because, being + resolved not to be three days longer in the same house with Grimm, I told + him that on account of the sonatas I was going to stay with Count + Sickingen, when he replied, his eyes sparkling with rage, "If you leave my + house before you leave Paris, I will never in my life see you again. In + that case do not presume ever to come near me, and look on me as your + bitterest enemy." Self-control was indeed very necessary. Had it not been + for your sake, who knew nothing about the matter, I certainly should have + replied, "Be my enemy; by all means be so. You are so already, or you + would not have prevented me putting my affairs in order here, which would + have enabled me to keep my word, to preserve my honor and reputation, and + also to make money, and probably a lucky hit; for if I present my sonatas + to the Electress when I go to Munich, I shall thus keep my promise, + probably receive a present, and make my fortune besides." But as it was, I + only bowed, and left the room without saying a syllable. Before quitting + Paris, however, I said all this to him, but he answered me like a man + totally devoid of sense, or rather like a malicious man who affects to + have none. I have written twice to Herr Heina, but have got no answer. The + sonatas ought to have appeared by the end of September, and M. Grimm was + to have forwarded the promised copies immediately to me, so I expected to + have found them in Strassburg; but M. Grimm writes to me that he neither + hears nor sees anything of them, but as soon as he does they are to be + forwarded, and I hope to have them ere long. + </p> + <p> + Strassburg can scarcely do without me. You cannot think how much I am + esteemed and beloved here. People say that I am disinterested as well as + steady and polite, and praise my manners. Every one knows me. As soon as + they heard my name, the two Herrn Silbermann and Herr Hepp (organist) came + to call on me, and also Capellmeister Richter. He has now restricted + himself very much; instead of forty bottles of wine a day, he only drinks + twenty! I played publicly on the two best organs that Silbermann has here, + in the Lutheran and New Churches, and in the Thomas Church. If the + Cardinal had died, (and he was very ill when I arrived,) I might have got + a good situation, for Herr Richter is seventy-eight years of age. Now + farewell! Be cheerful and in good spirits, and remember that your son is, + thank God! well, and rejoicing that his happiness daily draws nearer. Last + Sunday I heard a new mass of Herr Richter's, which is charmingly written. + </p> + <p> + <br />117. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, November 12, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I arrived here safely on the 6th, agreeably surprising all my kind + friends. God be praised that I am once more in my beloved Mannheim! I + assure you, if you were here you would say the same. I am living at Madame + Cannabich's, who, as well as her family and all my good friends here, was + quite beside herself with joy at seeing me again. We have not yet done + talking, for she tells me of all the events and changes that have taken + place during my absence. I have not been able to dine once at home since I + came, for people are fighting to have me; in a word, just as I love + Mannheim, so Mannheim loves me; and, though of course I don't know it + positively, still I do think it possible that I may get an appointment + here. But HERE, not in Munich, for my own belief is that the Elector will + soon once more take up his residence in Mannheim, for he surely cannot + long submit to the coarseness of the Bavarian gentlemen. You know that the + Mannheim company is in Munich. There they hissed the two best actresses, + Madame Toscani and Madame Urban. There was such an uproar that the Elector + himself leant over his box and called out, "Hush!" To this, however, no + one paid any attention; so he sent down Count Seeau, who told some of the + officers not to make such a noise, as the Elector did not like it; but the + only answer he got was, that they had paid their money, and no man had a + right to give them any orders. But what a simpleton I am! You no doubt + have heard this long ago through our.... + </p> + <p> + I have now something to say. I may PERHAPS make forty louis-d'or here. To + be sure, I should have to stay six weeks, or at most two months, in + Mannheim. Seiler's company is here, whom you no doubt already know by + reputation. Herr von Dalberg is the director. He will not hear of my + leaving this till I have written a duodrama for him, and indeed I did not + long hesitate, for I have often wished to write this style of drama. I + forget if I wrote to you about it the first time that I was here. Twice at + that time I saw a similar piece performed, which afforded me the greatest + pleasure; in fact, nothing ever surprised me so much, for I had always + imagined that a thing of this kind would make no effect. Of course you + know that there is no singing in it, but merely recitation, to which the + music is a sort of obligato recitativo. At intervals there is speaking + while the music goes on, which produces the most striking effect. What I + saw was Benda's "Medea." He also wrote another, "Ariadne auf Naxos," and + both are truly admirable. You are aware that of all the Lutheran + Capellmeisters Benda was always my favorite, and I like those two works of + his so much that I constantly carry them about with me. Conceive my joy at + now composing the very thing I so much wished! Do you know what my idea + is?—that most operatic recitatives should be treated in this way, + and the recitative only occasionally sung WHEN THE WORDS CAN BE THOROUGHLY + EXPRESSED BY THE MUSIC. An Academie des Amateurs is about to be + established here, like the one in Paris, where Herr Franzl is violin + leader, and I am at this moment writing a concerto for violin and piano. I + found my dear friend Raaff still here, but he leaves this on the 8th. He + has sounded my praises here, and shown sincere interest in me, and I hope + he will do the same in Munich. Do you know what that confounded fellow + Seeau said here?—that my opera buffa had been hissed at Munich! + Fortunately he said so in a place where I am well known; still, his + audacity provokes me; but the people, when they go to Munich, will hear + the exact reverse. A whole flock of Bavarians are here, among others + Fraulein de Pauli (for I don't know her present name). I have been to see + her because she sent for me immediately. Oh! what a difference there is + between the people of the Palatinate and those of Bavaria! What a language + it is! so coarse! and their whole mode of address! It quite annoys me to + hear once more their hoben and olles (haben and alles), and their + WORSHIPFUL SIR. Now good-bye! and pray write to me soon. Put only my name, + for they know where I am at the post-office. I am so well known here that + it is impossible a letter for me can be lost. My cousin wrote to me, and + by mistake put Franconian Hotel instead of Palatine Hotel. The landlord + immediately sent the letter to M. Serrarius's, where I lodged when I was + last here. What rejoices me most of all in the whole Mannheim and Munich + story is that Weber has managed his affairs so well. They have now 1600 + florins; for the daughter has 1000 florins and her father 400, and 200 + more as prompter. Cannabich did the most for them. It is quite a history + about Count Seeau; if you don't know it, I will write you the details next + time. + </p> + <p> + I beg, dearest father, that you will make use of this affair at Salzburg, + and speak so strongly and so decidedly, that the Archbishop may think it + possible I may not come after all, and thus be induced to give me a better + salary, for I declare I cannot think of it with composure. The Archbishop + cannot pay me sufficiently for the slavery of Salzburg. As I said before, + I feel the greatest pleasure at the thought of paying you a visit, but + only annoyance and misery in seeing myself once more at that beggarly + court. The Archbishop must no longer attempt to play the great man with me + as he used to do, or I may possibly play him a trick,—this is by no + means unlikely,—and I am sure that you would participate in my + satisfaction. + </p> + <p> + <br />118. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Nov. 24, 1778. + </p> + <p> + MY DEAR BARON VON DALBERG,— + </p> + <p> + I called on you twice, but had not the good fortune to find you at home; + yesterday you were in the house, but engaged, so I could not see you. I + hope you will therefore excuse my troubling you with these few lines, as + it is very important to me to explain myself fully. Herr Baron, you are + well aware that I am not an interested man, particularly when I know that + it is in my power to do a service to so great a connoisseur and lover of + music as yourself. On the other hand, I also know that you certainly would + not wish that I should be a loser on this occasion; I therefore take the + liberty to make my final stipulations on the subject, as it is impossible + for me to remain here longer in uncertainty. I agree to write a monodrama + for the sum of twenty-five louis-d'or, and to stay here for two months + longer to complete everything, and to attend all the rehearsals, &c., + but on this condition, that, happen what may, I am to be paid by the end + of January. Of course I shall also expect free admission to the theatre. + Now, my dear Baron, this is all that I can do, and if you consider, you + will admit that I certainly am acting with great discretion. With regard + to your opera, I do assure you I should rejoice to compose music for it, + but you must yourself perceive that I could not undertake such a work for + twenty-five louis-d'or, as it would be twice the labor of a monodrama + (taken at the lowest rate). The chief obstacle would be your having told + me that Gluck and Schweitzer are partially engaged to write this work. But + were you even to give me fifty louis-d'or, I would still as an honest man + dissuade you from it. An opera without any singers! what is to be done in + such a case? Still, if on this occasion there is a prospect of its being + performed, I will not hesitate to undertake the work to oblige you; but it + is no trifling one—of that I pledge you my word. I have now set + forth my ideas clearly and candidly, and request your decision. + </p> + <p> + <br />119. + </p> + <p> + Mannheim, Dec. 3, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I MUST ask your forgiveness for two things,—first, that I have not + written to you for so long; and secondly, that this time also I must be + brief. My not having answered you sooner is the fault of no one but + yourself, and your first letter to me at Mannheim. I really never could + have believed—but silence! I will say no more on the subject. Lot us + have done with it. Next Wednesday, the 9th, I leave this; I cannot do so + sooner, because, thinking that I was to be here for a couple of months, I + accepted some pupils, and of course wish to make out the twelve lessons. I + assure you that you have no idea what kind and true friends I have here, + which time will prove. Why must I be so brief? Because my hands are more + than full. To please Herr Gemmingen and myself, I am writing the first act + of the melodramatic opera (that I was commissioned to write), but now do + so gratis; I shall bring it with me and finish it at home. You see how + strong my inclination must be for this kind of composition. Of course Herr + von Gemmingen is the poet. The duodrama is called "Semiramis." + </p> + <p> + Next Wednesday I set off, and do you know how I travel? With the worthy + prelate, the Bishop of Kaisersheim. When a kind friend of mine mentioned + me to him, he at once knew my name, expressing the pleasure it would be to + him to have me as a travelling companion. He is (though a priest and + prelate) a most amiable man. I am therefore going by Kaisersheim and not + by Stuttgart; but it is just the same to me, for I am very lucky in being + able to spare my purse a little (as it is slender enough) on the journey. + Be so good as to answer me the following questions. How do the comedians + please at Salzburg? Is not the young lady who sings, Madlle. Keiserin? + Does Herr Feiner play the English horn? Ah! if we had only clarionets too! + You cannot imagine the splendid effect of a symphony with flutes, + hautboys, and clarionets. At my first audience of the Archbishop I shall + tell him much that is new, and also make some suggestions. Oh, how much + finer and better our orchestra might be if the Archbishop only chose! The + chief cause why it is not so, is that there are far too many performances. + I make no objection to the chamber-music, only to the concerts on a larger + scale. + </p> + <p> + A propos, you say nothing of it, but I conclude you have received the + trunk; if not, Herr von Grimm is responsible for it. You will find in it + the aria I wrote for Madlle. Weber. You can have no idea of the effect of + that aria with instruments; you may not think so when you see it, but it + ought to be sung by a Madlle. Weber! Pray, give it to no one, for that + would be most unfair, as it was written solely for her, and fits her like + a well-fitting glove. + </p> + <p> + <br />120. + </p> + <p> + Kaisersheim, Dec. 18, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I ARRIVED here safely on Sunday the 13th, God be praised! I travelled in + the most agreeable way, and had likewise the inexpressible pleasure to + find a letter from you here. The reason that I did not forthwith answer it + was, because I wished to give you sure and precise information as to my + departure, for which I had not fixed any time; but I have at length + resolved, as the prelate goes to Munich on the 26th or 27th, to be again + his companion. I must tell you, however, that he does not go by Augsburg. + I lose nothing by this; but if you have anything to arrange or transact + where my presence is wanted, I can at any time, if you wish it, (being so + near,) make a little expedition from Munich. My journey from Mannheim to + this place would have been most agreeable to a man, leaving a city with a + light heart. The prelate and his Chancellor, an honest, upright, and + amiable man, drove together in one carriage, and Herr Kellermeister, + Father Daniel, Brother Anton, the Secretary, and I, preceded them always + half an hour, or an hour. But for me, to whom nothing could be more + painful than leaving Mannheim, this journey was only partly agreeable, and + would not have been at all so, but rather very tiresome, if I had not from + my early youth been so much accustomed to leave people, countries, and + cities, and with no very sanguine hope of soon or ever again seeing the + kind friends I left. I cannot deny, but at once admit, that not only I + myself, but all my intimate friends, particularly the Cannabichs, were in + the most pitiable distress during the last few days after my departure was + finally settled. We felt as if it were not possible for us to part. I set + off at half-past eight o'clock in the morning, and Madame Cannabich did + not leave her room; she neither would nor could take leave of me. I did + not wish to distress her, so left the house without seeing her. My very + dear father, I can safely say that she is one of my best and truest + friends, for I only call those friends who are so in every situation, who, + day and night, think how they can best serve the interests of their + friend, applying to all influential persons, and toiling to secure his + happiness. Now I do assure you such is the faithful portrait of Madame + Cannabich. There may indeed be an alloy of self-interest in this, for + where does anything take place—indeed, how can anything be done in + this world—without some alloy of selfishness? What I like best in + Madame Cannabich is, that she never attempts to deny this. I will tell you + when we meet in what way she told me so, for when we are alone, which, I + regret to say, is very seldom, we become quite confidential. Of all the + intimate friends who frequent her house, I alone possess her entire + confidence; for I alone know all her domestic and family troubles, + concerns, secrets, and circumstances. We were not nearly so well + acquainted the first time I was here, (we have agreed on this point,) nor + did we mutually under stand each other so well; but living in the same + house affords greater facilities to know a person. When in Paris I first + began fully to appreciate the sincere friendship of the Cannabichs, having + heard from a trustworthy source the interest both she and her husband took + in me. I reserve many topics to explain and to discuss personally, for + since my return from Paris the scene has undergone some remarkable + changes, but not in all things. Now as to my cloister life. The monastery + itself made no great impression on me, after having seen the celebrated + Abbey of Kremsmunster. I speak of the exterior and what they call here the + court square, for the most renowned part I have yet to see. What appears + to me truly ridiculous is the formidable military. I should like to know + of what use they are. At night I hear perpetual shouts of "Who goes + there?" and I invariably reply, "Guess!" You know what a good and kind man + the prelate is, but you do not know that I may class myself among his + favorites, which, I believe, does me neither good nor harm, but it is + always pleasant to have one more friend in the world. With regard to the + monodrama, or duodrama, a voice part is by no means necessary, as not a + single note is sung, but entirely spoken; in short, it is a recitative + with instruments, only the actor speaks the words instead of singing them. + If you were to hear it even with the piano, it could not fail to please + you, but properly performed, you would be quite transported. I can answer + for this; but it requires a good actor or actress. + </p> + <p> + I shall really feel quite ashamed if I arrive in Munich without my + sonatas. I cannot understand the delay; it was a stupid trick of Grimm's, + and I have written to him to that effect. He will now see that he was in + rather too great a hurry. Nothing ever provoked me so much. Just reflect + on it. I know that my sonatas were published in the beginning of November, + and I, the author, have not yet got them, therefore cannot present them to + the Electress, to whom they are dedicated. I have, however, taken measures + in the mean time which will insure my getting them. I hope that my cousin + in Augsburg has received them, or that they are lying at Josef Killiau's + for her; so I have written to beg her to send them to me at once. + </p> + <p> + Until I come myself, I commend to your good offices an organist, and also + a good pianist, Herr Demmler, from Augsburg. I had entirely forgotten him, + and was very glad when I heard of him here. He has considerable genius; a + situation in Salzburg might be very useful in promoting his further + success, for all he requires is a good leader in music; and I could not + find him a better conductor than you, dear father, and it would really be + a pity if he were to leave the right path. [See No. 68.] That melancholy + "Alceste" of Schweitzer's is to be performed in Munich. The best part + (besides some of the openings, middle passages, and the finales of some + arias) is the beginning of the recitative "O Jugendzeit," and this was + made what it is by Raaff's assistance; he punctuated it for Hartig (who + plays Admet), and by so doing introduced the true expression into the + aria. The worst of all, however, (as well as the greater part of the + opera,) is certainly the overture. + </p> + <p> + As for the trifles that are not to be found in the trunk, it is quite + natural that under such circumstances something should be lost, or even + stolen. The little amethyst ring I felt I ought to give to the nurse who + attended my dear mother, whose wedding-ring was left on her finger. [A + large blot.] The ink-bottle is so full, and I am too hasty in dipping in + my pen, as you will perceive. As for the watch, you have guessed rightly. + I sold it, but only got five louis-d'or for it, and that in consideration + of the works, which were good; for the shape, as you know, was + old-fashioned and quite out of date. Speaking of watches, I must tell you + that I am bringing one with me—a genuine Parisian. You know what + sort of thing my jewelled watch was—how inferior all the so-called + precious stones were, how clumsy and awkward its shape; but I would not + have cared so much about that, had I not been obliged to spend so much + money in repairing and regulating it, and after all the watch would one + day gain a couple of hours, and next day lose in the same proportion. The + one the Elector gave me did just the same, and, moreover, the works were + even worse and more fragile. I exchanged these two watches and their + chains for a Parisian one which is worth twenty louis-d'or. So now at last + I know what o'clock it is; with my five watches I never got so far as that + before! At present, out of four, I have, at all events, one on which I can + depend. + </p> + <p> + <br />121. + </p> + <p> + Kaisersheim, Dec. 23, 1778. + </p> + <p> + MA TRES-CHERE COUSINE,— + </p> + <p> + I write to you in the greatest haste, and in the deepest sorrow and + remorse, and with the determined purpose to tell you that it is my + intention to set off to-morrow to Munich. I would, I assure you, gladly + have gone to Augsburg, but the prelate was resolved to claim me, for which + you cannot blame me. It is my loss, so don't be cross. I may perhaps make + an escapade from Munich to Augsburg, but this is by no means certain. If + you will be as glad to see me, as I shall be to see you, do come to the + good town of Munich. Be sure you come by the new year, that I may see your + face so dear, and escort you far and near. One thing I very much regret, + which is that I cannot give you house-room, because I am not at an hotel, + but am living with—whom do you think? I should like to know this + myself [with the Webers]. But now Spassus apart. For that very reason, and + for my sake, it would be advisable you should come; perhaps you may have a + great part to play, but at all events come. I can then pay you in my own + mighty person all proper compliments. Now adieu, angel of piety! I await + you with anxiety. Your sincere cousin, + </p> + <p> + W. A. MOZART. + </p> + <p> + P.S.—Write to me forthwith to Munich, Poste Restante, a little note + of twenty-four pages, but do not mention where you are to lodge, that I + may not find you out nor you me. + </p> + <p> + <br />122. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Dec. 29, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I WRITE from the house of M. Becke [flute-player; see No. 60]. I arrived + here safely, God be praised! on the 25th, but have been unable to write to + you till now. I reserve everything till our glad, joyous meeting, when I + can once more have the happiness of conversing with you, for to-day I can + only weep. I have far too sensitive a heart. In the mean time, I must tell + you that the day before I left Kaisersheim I received the sonatas; so I + shall be able to present them myself to the Electress. I only delay + leaving this till the opera [Footnote: Schweitzer's "Alceste." (See No. + 120.)] is given, when I intend immediately to leave Munich, unless I were + to find that it would be very beneficial and useful to me to remain here + for some time longer. In which case I feel convinced, quite convinced, + that you would not only be satisfied I should do so, but would yourself + advise it. I naturally write very badly, for I never learned to write; + still, in my whole life I never wrote worse than this very day, for I + really am unfit for anything—my heart is too full of tears. I hope + you will soon write to me and comfort me. Address to me, Poste Restante, + and then I can fetch the letter myself. I am staying with the Webers. I + think, after all, it would be better, far better, to enclose your letter + to me to our friend Becke. + </p> + <p> + I intend (I mention it to you in the strictest secrecy) to write a mass + here; all my best friends advise my doing so. I cannot tell you what + friends Cannabich and Raaff have been to me. Now farewell, my kindest and + most beloved father! Write to me soon. + </p> + <p> + A happy new-year! More I cannot bring myself to write to-day. This letter + is scrawled hurriedly, quite unlike the others, and betrays the most + violent agitation of mind. During the whole journey there was nothing to + which Mozart looked forward with such joy as once more seeing his beloved + Madlle. Weber in Munich. He had even destined "a great part" for the Basle + (his cousin) in the affair; but he was now to learn that Aloysia had been + faithless to him. Nissen relates: "Mozart, being in mourning for his + mother, appeared dressed, according to the French custom, in a red coat + with black buttons; but soon discovered that Aloysia's feelings towards + him had undergone a change. She seemed scarcely to recognize one for whose + sake she had once shed so many tears. On which Mozart quickly seated + himself at the piano and sang, "Ich lass das Madel gern das mich nicht + will," ["I gladly give up the girl who slights me."] His father, moreover, + was displeased in the highest degree by Wolfgang's protracted absence, + fearing that the Archbishop might recall his appointment; so Wolfgang + became very uneasy lest he should not meet with a kind reception from his + father on his return home." + </p> + <p> + <br />123. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Dec. 31, 1778. + </p> + <p> + I HAVE this instant received your latter from my friend Becke. I wrote to + you from his house two days ago, but a letter such as I never wrote + before; for this kind friend said so much to me about your tender paternal + love, your indulgence towards me, your complaisance and discretion in the + promotion of my future happiness, that my feelings were softened even to + tears. But, from your letter of the 28th, I see only too clearly that Herr + Becke, in his conversation with me, rather exaggerated. Now, distinctly, + and once for all, as soon as the opera ("Alceste") is given, I intend to + leave this, whether the diligence goes the day after or the same night. If + you had spoken to Madame Robinig, I might have travelled home with her. + But be that as it may, the opera is to be given on the 11th, and on the + 12th (if the diligence goes) I set off. It would be more for my interest + to stay here a little longer, but I am willing to sacrifice this to you, + in the hope that I shall have a twofold reward for it in Salzburg. I don't + think your idea about the sonatas at all good; even if I do not get them, + I ought to leave Munich forthwith. Then you advise my not being seen at + court; to a man so well known as I am here such a thing is impossible. But + do not be uneasy. I received my sonatas at Kaisersheim; and, as soon as + they are bound, I mean to present them to the Electress. A. propos, what + do you mean by DREAMS OF PLEASURE? I do not wish to give up dreaming, for + what mortal on the whole compass of the earth does not often dream? above + all DREAMS OF PLEASURE—peaceful dreams, sweet, cheering dreams if + you will—dreams which, if realized, would have rendered my life (now + far rather sad than pleasurable) more endurable. + </p> + <p> + The 1st.—I have this moment received, through a Salzburg vetturino, + a letter from you, which really at first quite startled me. For Heaven's + sake tell me, do you really think that I can at once fix a day for my + journey; or is it your belief that I don't mean to come at all? When I am + so very near, I do think you might be at ease on that point. When the + fellow had explained his route to me, I felt a strong inclination to go + with him, but at present I really cannot; to-morrow or next day I intend + to present the sonatas to the Electress, and then (no matter how strongly + I may be urged) I must wait a few days for a present. Of one thing I give + you my word, that to please you I have resolved not to wait to see the + opera, but intend to leave this the day after I receive the present I + expect. At the same time I confess I feel this to be very hard on me; but + if a few days more or less appear of such importance to you, so let it be. + Write to me at once on this point. The 2d.—I rejoice at the thoughts + of conversing with you, for then you will first comprehend how my matters + stand here. You need have neither mistrust nor misgivings as to Raaff, for + he is the most upright man in the world, though no lover of + letter-writing. The chief cause of his silence, however, is no doubt that + he is unwilling to make premature promises, and yet is glad to hold out + some hope too; besides, like Cannabich, he has worked for me with might + and main. + </p> + <p> + <br />124. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Jan. 8, 1779. + </p> + <p> + [Footnote: The second grand aria that Mozart wrote for Aloysia, bears the + same date.] + </p> + <p> + I HOPE you received my last letter, which I meant to have given to the + vetturino, but having missed him I sent it by post. I have, in the mean + time, got all your letters safely through Herr Becke. I gave him my letter + to read, and he also showed me his. I assure you, my very dear father, + that I am now full of joy at returning to you, (but not to Salzburg,) as + your last letter shows that you know me better than formerly. There never + was any other cause for my long delay in going home but this doubt, which + gave rise to a feeling of sadness that I could no longer conceal; so I at + last opened my heart to my friend Becke. What other cause could I possibly + have? I have done nothing to cause me to dread reproach from you; I am + guilty of no fault; (by a fault I mean that which does not become a + Christian, and a man of honor;) in short, I now rejoice, and already look + forward to the most agreeable and happy days, but only in the society of + yourself and my dear sister. I give you my solemn word of honor that I + cannot endure Salzburg or its inhabitants, (I speak of the natives of + Salzburg.) Their language, their manners, are to me quite intolerable. You + cannot think what I suffered during Madame Robinig's visit here, for it is + long indeed since I met with such a fool; and, for my still further + annoyance, that silly, deadly dull Mosmayer was also there. + </p> + <p> + But to proceed. I went yesterday, with my dear friend Cannabich, to the + Electress to present my sonatas. Her apartments are exactly what I should + like mine one day to be, very pretty and neat, just like those of a + private individual, all except the view, which is miserable. We were there + fully an hour and a half, and she was very gracious. I have managed to let + her know that I must leave this in a few days, which will, I hope, + expedite matters. You have no cause to be uneasy about Count Seeau; I + don't believe the thing will come through his hands, and even if it does, + he will not venture to say a word. Now, once for all, believe that I have + the most eager longing to embrace you and my beloved sister. If it were + only not in Salzburg! But as I have not hitherto been able to see you + without going to Salzburg, I do so gladly. I must make haste, for the post + is just going. + </p> + <p> + My cousin is here. Why? To please me, her cousin; this is, indeed, the + ostensible cause. But—we can talk about it in Salzburg; and, on this + account, I wished very much that she would come with me there. You will + find a few lines, written by her own hand, attached to the fourth page of + this letter. She is quite willing to go; so if it would really give you + pleasure to see her, be so kind as to write immediately to her brother, + that the thing may be arranged. When you see her and know her, she is + certain to please you, for she is a favorite with every one. + </p> + <p> + Wolfgang's pleasantries, in the following; letter to his cousin, show that + his good humor was fully restored. He was received at home with very great + rejoicings, and his cousin soon followed him. + </p> + <p> + <br />125. + </p> + <p> + Salzburg, May 10, 1779. + </p> + <p> + DEAREST, sweetest, most beauteous, fascinating, and charming of all + cousins, most basely maltreated by an unworthy kinsman! Allow me to strive + to soften and appease your just wrath, which only heightens your charms + and winning beauty, as high as the heel of your slipper! I hope to soften + you, Nature having bestowed on me a large amount of softness, and to + appease you, being fond of sweet pease. As to the Leipzig affair, I can't + tell whether it may be worth stooping to pick up; were it a bag of ringing + coin, it would be a very different thing, and nothing less do I mean to + accept, so there is an end of it. + </p> + <p> + Sweetest cousin, such is life! One man has got a purse, but another has + got the money, and he who has neither has nothing; and nothing is even + less than little; while, on the other hand, much is a great deal more than + nothing, and nothing can come of nothing. Thus has it been from the + beginning, is now, and ever shall be; and as I can make it neither worse + nor better, I may as well conclude my letter. The gods know I am sincere. + How does Probst get on with his wife? and do they live in bliss or in + strife? most silly questions, upon my life! Adieu, angel! My father sends + you his uncle's blessing, and a thousand cousinly kisses from my sister. + Angel, adieu! + </p> + <p> + A TENDER ODE. [Footnote: A parody of Klopstock's "Dein susses Bild, + Edone"] + </p> + <p> + TO MY COUSIN. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + THY sweet image, cousin mine, + Hovers aye before me; Would the form indeed were thine! + How I would adore thee! I see it at the day's decline; I see it + through the pale moonshine, And linger o'er that form divine + + By all the flowers of sweet perfume + I'll gather for my cousin,—By all the wreaths of myrtle-bloom + I'll wreathe her by the dozen,—I call upon that image there To + pity my immense despair, And be indeed my cousin fair +</pre> + <p> + [Footnote: These words are written round the slightly sketched caricature + of a face.] + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FOURTH PART.—MUNICH.—IDOMENEO.—NOVEMBER 1780 TO JANUARY + 1781. + </h2> + <p> + MOZART now remained stationary at Salzburg till the autumn of 1780, highly + dissatisfied at being forced to waste his youthful days in inactivity, and + in such an obscure place, but still as busy as ever. A succession of grand + instrumental compositions were the fruits of this period: two masses, some + vespers, the splendid music for "Konig Thamos," and the operetta "Zaide" + for Schikaneder. At length, however, to his very great joy, a proposal was + made to him from Munich to write a grand opera for the Carnival of 1781. + It was "Idomeneo, Konig von Greta." At the beginning of November he once + more set off to Munich in order to "prepare an exact fit," on the spot, of + the different songs in the opera for the singers, and to rehearse and + practise everything with them. The Abbate Varesco in Salzburg was the + author of the libretto, in which many an alteration had yet to be made, + and these were all to be effected through the intervention of the father. + </p> + <p> + <br />126. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Nov. 8, 1780. + </p> + <p> + FORTUNATE and pleasant was my arrival here,—fortunate, because no + mishap occurred during the journey; and pleasant, because we had scarcely + patience to wait for the moment that was to end this short but + disagreeable journey. I do assure you it was impossible for us to sleep + for a moment the whole night. The carriage jolted our very souls out, and + the seats were as hard as stone! From Wasserburg I thought I never could + arrive in Munich with whole bones, and during two stages I held on by the + straps, suspended in the air and not venturing to sit down. But no matter; + it is past now, though it will serve me as a warning in future rather to + go on foot than drive in a diligence. + </p> + <p> + Now as to Munich. We arrived here at one o'clock in the forenoon, and the + same evening I called on Count Seeau [the Theatre Intendant], but as he + was not at home I left a note for him. Next morning I went there with + Becke. Seeau has been moulded like wax by the Mannheim people. I have a + request to make of the Abbate [Gianbattista Varesco]. The aria of Ilia in + the second act and second scene must be a little altered for what I + require,—"Se il padre perdei, in te lo ritrovo" This verse could not + be better; but now comes what always appeared unnatural to me,—N.B. + in an aria,—I mean, to speak aside. In a dialogue these things are + natural enough, for a few words can be hurriedly said aside, but in an + aria, where the words must be repeated, it has a bad effect; and even were + this not the case, I should prefer an uninterrupted aria. The beginning + may remain if he chooses, for it is charming and quite a natural flowing + strain, where, not being fettered by the words, I can write on quite + easily; for we agreed to bring in an aria andantino here in concert with + four wind instruments, viz. flute, hautboy, horn, and bassoon; and I beg + that you will let me have the air as soon as possible. + </p> + <p> + Now for a grievance. I have not, indeed, the honor of being acquainted + with the hero Del Prato [the musico who was to sing Idamante], but from + description I should say that Cecarelli is rather the better of the two, + for often in the middle of an air our musico's breath entirely fails; nota + bene, he never was on any stage, and Raaff is like a statue. Now only for + a moment imagine the scene in the first act! But there is one good thing, + which is, that Madame Dorothea Wendling is arci-contentissima with her + scena, and insisted on hearing it played three times in succession. The + Grand Master of the Teutonic Order arrived yesterday. "Essex" was given at + the Court Theatre, and a magnificent ballet. The theatre was all + illuminated. The beginning was an overture by Cannabich, which, as it is + one of his last, I did not know. I am sure, if you had heard it you would + have been as much pleased and excited as I was, and if you had not + previously known the fact, you certainly could not have believed that it + was by Cannabich. Do come soon to hear it, and to admire the orchestra. I + have no more to say. There is to be a grand concert this evening, where + Mara is to sing three airs. Tell me whether it snows as heavily in + Salzburg as here. My kind regards to Herr Schikaneder [impresario in + Salzburg], and beg him to excuse my not yet sending him the aria, for I + have not been able to finish it entirely. + </p> + <p> + <br />127. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Nov. 13, 1780. + </p> + <p> + I WRITE in the greatest haste, for I am not yet dressed, and must go off + to Count Seeau's. Cannabich, Quaglio, and Le Grand, the ballet-master, + also dine there to consult about what is necessary for the opera. + Cannabich and I dined yesterday with Countess Baumgarten, [Footnote: He + wrote an air for her, the original of which is now in the State Library at + Munich.] nee Lerchenteld. My friend is all in all in that family, and now + I am the same. It is the best and most serviceable house here to me, for + owing to their kindness all has gone well with me, and, please God, will + continue to do so. I am just going to dress, but must not omit the chief + thing of all, and the principal object of my letter,—to wish you, my + very dearest and kindest father, every possible good on this your + name-day. I also entreat the continuance of your fatherly love, and assure + you of my entire obedience to your wishes. Countess la Rose sends her + compliments to you and my sister, so do all the Cannabichs and both + Wendling families, Ramm, Eck father and son, Becke, and Herr del Prato, + who happens to be with me. Yesterday Count Seeau presented me to the + Elector, who was very gracious. If you were to speak to Count Seeau now, + you would scarcely recognize him, so completely have the Mannheimers + transformed him. + </p> + <p> + I am ex commissione to write a formal answer in his name to the Abbate + Varesco, but I have no time, and was not born to be a secretary. In the + first act (eighth scene) Herr Quaglio made the same objection that we did + originally,—namely, that it is not fitting the king should be quite + alone in the ship. If the Abbe thinks that he can be reasonably + represented in the terrible storm forsaken by every one, WITHOUT A SHIP, + exposed to the greatest peril, all may remain as it is; but, N. B., no + ship—for he cannot be alone in one; so, if the other mode be + adopted, some generals or confidants (mates) must land from the ship with + him. Then the king might address a few words to his trusty companions, and + desire them to leave him alone, which in his melancholy situation would be + quite natural. + </p> + <p> + The second duet is to be omitted altogether, and indeed with more profit + than loss to the opera; for if you will read the scene it evidently + becomes cold and insipid by the addition of an air or a duet, and very + irksome to the other actors, who must stand, by all the time unoccupied; + besides, the noble contest between Ilia and Idamante would become too + long, and thus lose its whole interest. + </p> + <p> + Mara has not the good fortune to please me. She does too little to be + compared to a Bastardella [see No. 8], (yet this is her peculiar style,) + and too much to touch the heart like a Weber [Aloysia], or any judicious + singer. + </p> + <p> + P.S.—A propos, as they translate so badly here, Count Seeau would + like to have the opera translated in Salzburg, and the arias alone to be + in verse. I am to make a contract that the payment of the poet and the + translator should be made in one sum. Give me an answer soon about this. + Adieu! What of the family portraits? Are they good likenesses? Is my + sister's begun yet? The opera is to be given for the first time on the + 26th of January. Be so kind as to send me the two scores of the masses + that I have with me, and also the mass in B. Count Seeau is to mention + them soon to the Elector; I should like to be known here in this style + also. I have just heard a mass of Gruan's; it would be easy to compose + half a dozen such in a day. Had I known that this singer, Del Prato, was + so bad, I should certainly have recommended Cecarelli. + </p> + <p> + <br />128. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Nov. 15, 1780. + </p> + <p> + The aria is now admirable, but there is still an alteration to be made + recommended by Raaff; he is, however, right, and even were he not, some + courtesy ought to be shown to his gray hairs. He was with me yesterday, + and I played over his first aria to him, with which he was very much + pleased. The man is old, and can no longer show off in an aria like that + in the second art,—"Fuor del mar ho un mare in seno," &c. As, + moreover, in the third act he has no aria, (the one in the first act not + being so cantabile as he would like, owing to the expression of the + words,) he wishes after his last speech, "O Creta fortuinata, O me + felice," to have a pretty aria to sing instead of the quartet; in this way + a superfluous air would be got rid of, and the third act produce a far + better effect. In the last scene also of the second act, Idomeneo has an + aria, or rather a kind of cavatina, to sing between the choruses. For this + it would be better to substitute a mere recitative, well supported by the + instruments. For in this scene, (owing to the action and grouping which + have been recently settled with Le Grand,) the finest of the whole opera, + there cannot fail to be such a noise and confusion in the theatre, that an + aria, would make a very bad figure in this place, and moreover there is a + thunderstorm which is not likely to subside during Raaff's aria! The + effect, therefore, of a recitative between the choruses must be infinitely + better. Lisel Wendling has also sung through her two arias half a dozen + times, and is much pleased with them. I heard from a third person that the + two Wendlings highly praised their arias, and as for Raaff he is my best + and dearest friend. I must teach the whole opera myself to Del Prato. He + is incapable of singing even the introduction to any air of importance, + and his voice is so uneven! He is only engaged for a year, and at the end + of that time (next September) Count Seeau will get another. Cecarelli + might try his chance then serieusement. + </p> + <p> + I nearly forgot the best of all. After mass last Sunday, Count Seeau + presented me, en passant, to H.S.H. the Elector, who was very gracious. He + said, "I am happy to see you here again;" and on my replying that I would + strive to deserve the good opinion of His Serene Highness, he clapped me + on the shoulder, saying, "Oh! I have no doubt whatever that all will go + well—a piano piano si va lontano." + </p> + <p> + Deuce take it! I cannot write everything I wish. Raaff has just left me; + he sends you his compliments, and so do the Cannabichs, and Wendlings, and + Ramm. My sister must not be idle, but practise steadily, for every one is + looking forward with pleasure to her coming here. My lodging is in the + Burggasse at M. Fiat's [where the marble slab to his memory is now + erected]. + </p> + <p> + <br />129. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Nov. 22, 1780. + </p> + <p> + I SEND herewith, at last, the long-promised aria for Herr Schikaneder. + During the first week that I was here I could not entirely complete it, + owing to the business that caused me to come here. Besides, Le Grand, the + ballet-master, a terrible talker and bore, has just been with me, and by + his endless chattering caused me to miss the diligence. I hope my sister + is quite well. I have at this moment a bad cold, which in such weather is + quite the fashion here. I hope and trust, however, that it will soon take + its departure,—indeed, both phlegm and cough are gradually + disappearing. In your last letter you write repeatedly, "Oh! my poor eyes! + I du not wish to write myself blind—half-past eight at night, and no + spectacles!" But why do you write at night, and without spectacles? I + cannot understand it. I have not yet had an opportunity of speaking to + Count Seeau, but hope to do so to-day, and shall give you any information + I can gather by the next post. At present all will, no doubt, remain as it + is. Herr Raaff paid me a visit yesterday morning, and I gave him your + regards, which seemed to please him much. He is, indeed, a worthy and + thoroughly respectable man. The day before yesterday Del Frato sang in the + most disgraceful way at the concert. I would almost lay a wager that the + man never manages to get through the rehearsals, far less the opera; he + has some internal disease. + </p> + <p> + Come in!—Herr Panzacchi! [who was to sing Arbace]. He has already + paid me three visits, and has just asked me to dine with him on Sunday. I + hope the same thing won't happen to me that happened to us with the + coffee. He meekly asks if, instead of se la sa, he may sing se co la, or + even ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la. + </p> + <p> + I am so glad when you often write to me, only not at night, and far less + without spectacles. You must, however, forgive me if I do not say much in + return, for every minute is precious; besides, I am obliged chiefly to + write at night, for the mornings are so very dark; then I have to dress, + and the servant at the Weiser sometimes admits a troublesome visitor. When + Del Prato comes I must sing to him, for I have to teach him his whole part + like a child; his method is not worth a farthing. I will write more fully + next time. What of the family portraits? My sister, if she has nothing + better to do, might mark down the names of the best comedies that have + been performed during my absence. Has Schikaneder still good receipts? My + compliments to all my friends, and to Gilofsky's Katherl. Give a pinch of + Spanish snuff from me to Pimperl [the dog], a good wine-sop, and three + kisses. Do you not miss me at all? A thousand compliments to all—all! + Adieu! I embrace you both from my heart, and hope my sister will soon + recover. [Nannerl, partly owing to her grief in consequence of an + unfortunate love-affair, was suffering from pains in the chest, which + threatened to turn to consumption.] + </p> + <p> + <br />180. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Nov. 24, 1780. + </p> + <p> + I beg you will convey to Madlle. Katharine Gilofsky de Urazowa my + respectful homage. Wish her in my name every possible happiness on her + name-day; above all, I wish that this may be the last time I congratulate + her as Mademoiselle. What you write to me about Count Seinsheim is done + long ago; they are all links of one chain. I have already dined with, him + once, and with Baumgarten twice, and once with Lerchenfeld, father of + Madlle. Baumgarten. Not a single day passes without some of these people + being at Cannabich's. Do not be uneasy, dearest father, about my opera; I + do hope that all will go well. No doubt it will be assailed by a petty + cabal, which will in all probability be defeated with ridicule; for the + most respected and influential families among the nobility are in my + favor, and the first-class musicians are one and all for me. I cannot tell + you what a good friend Cannabich is—so busy and active! In a word, + he is always on the watch to serve a friend. I will tell you the whole + story about Mara. I did not write to you before on the subject, because I + thought that, even if you knew nothing of it, you would be sure to hear + the particulars here; but now it is high time to tell you the whole truth, + for probably additions have been made to the story,—at least, in + this town, it has been told in all sorts of different ways. No one can + know about it better than I do, as I was present, so I heard and witnessed + the whole affair. When the first symphony was over, it was Madame Mara's + turn to sing. I then saw her husband come sneaking in behind her with his + violoncello in his hand; I thought she was going to sing an aria obligato + with violoncello accompaniment. Old Danzi, the first violoncello, also + accompanies well. All at once Toeschi (who is a director, but has no + authority when Cannabich is present) said to Danzi (N. B., his + son-in-law), "Rise, and give Mara your place." When Cannabich saw and + heard this, he called out, "Danzi, stay where you are; the Elector prefers + his own people playing the accompaniments." Then the air began, Mara + standing behind his wife, looking very sheepish, and still holding his + violoncello. The instant they entered the concert-room, I took a dislike + to both, for you could not well see two more insolent-looking people, and + the sequel will convince you of this. The aria had a second part, but + Madame Mara did not think proper to inform the orchestra of the fact + previously, but after the last ritournelle came down into the room with + her usual air of effrontery to pay her respects to the nobility. In the + mean time her husband attacked Cannabich. I cannot write every detail, for + it would be too long; but, in a word, he insulted both the orchestra and + Cannabich's character, who, being naturally very much irritated, laid hold + of his arm, saying, "This is not the place to answer you." Mara wished to + reply, but Cannabich threatened that if he did not hold his tongue he + would have him removed by force. All were indignant at Mara's + impertinence. A concerto by Ramm was then given, when this amiable couple + proceeded to lay their complaint before Count Seeau; but from him, also, + as well as from every one else, they heard that they were in the wrong. At + last Madame Mara was foolish enough to speak to the Elector himself on the + subject, her husband in the mean time saying in an arrogant tone, "My wife + is at this moment complaining to the Elector—an unlucky business for + Cannabich; I am sorry for him." But people only burst out laughing in his + face. The Elector, in reply to Madame Mara's complaint, said, "Madame, you + sang like an angel, although your husband did not accompany you;" and when + she wished to press her grievance, he said, "That is Count Seeau's affair, + not mine." When they saw that nothing was to be done, they left the room, + although she had still two airs to sing. This was nothing short of an + insult to the Elector, and I know for certain that, had not the Archduke + and other strangers been present, they would have been very differently + treated; but on this account Count Seeau was annoyed, so he sent after + them immediately, and they came back. She sang her two arias, but was not + accompanied by her husband. In the last one (and I shall always believe + that Herr Mara did it on purpose) two bars were wanting—N. B., only + in the copy from which Cannabich was playing. When this occurred, Mara + seized Cannabich's arm, who quickly got right, but struck his bow on the + desk, exclaiming audibly, "This copy is all wrong." When the aria was at + an end, he said, "Herr Mara, I give you one piece of advice, and I hope + you will profit by it: never seize the arm of the director of an + orchestra, or lay your account with getting at least half a dozen sound + boxes on the ear." Mara's tone was now, however, entirely lowered; he + begged to be forgiven, and excused himself as he best could. The most + shameful part of the affair was that Mara (a miserable violoncellist, all + here declare) would never have been heard at court at all but for + Cannabich, who had taken considerable trouble about it. At the first + concert before my arrival he played a concerto, and accompanied his wife, + taking Danzi's place without saying a word either to Danzi or any one + else, which was allowed to pass. The Elector was by no means satisfied + with his mode of accompanying, and said he preferred his own people. + Cannabich, knowing this, mentioned to Count Seeau, before the concert + began, that he had no objection to Mara's playing, but that Danzi must + also play. When Mara came he was told this, and yet he was guilty of this + insolence. If you knew these people, you would at once see pride, + arrogance, and unblushing effrontery written on their faces. + </p> + <p> + My sister is now, I hope, quite recovered. Pray do not write me any more + melancholy letters, for I require at this time a cheerful spirit, a clear + head, and inclination to work, and these no one can have who is sad at + heart. I know, and, believe me, deeply feel, how much you deserve rest and + peace, but am I the obstacle to this? I would not willingly be so, and + yet, alas! I fear I am. But if I attain my object, so that I can live + respectably here, you must instantly leave Salzburg. You will say, that + may never come to pass; at all events, industry and exertion shall not be + wanting on my part. Do try to come over soon to see me. We can all live + together. I have a roomy alcove on my first room in which two beds stand. + These would do capitally for you and me. As for my sister, all we can do + is to put a stove into the next room, which will only be an affair of four + or five florins; for in mine we might heat the stove till it is red-hot, + and leave the stove-door open into the bargain, yet it would not make the + room endurable—it is so frightfully cold in it. Ask the Abbate + Varesco if we could not break off at the chorus in the second act, + "Placido e il mare" after Elettra's first verse, when the chorus is + repeated,—at all events after the second, for it is really far too + long. I have been confined to the house two days from my cold, and, + luckily for me, I have very little appetite, for in the long run it would + be inconvenient to pay for my board. I have, however, written a note to + the Count on the subject, and received a message from him that he would + speak to me about it shortly. By heavens! he ought to be thoroughly + ashamed of himself. I won't pay a single kreutzer. + </p> + <p> + <br />131. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Dec. 1, 1780. + </p> + <p> + THE rehearsal went off with extraordinary success; there were only six + violins in all, but the requisite wind-instruments. No one was admitted + but Count Seeau's sister and young Count Seinsheim. This day week we are + to have another rehearsal, with twelve violins for the first act, and then + the second act will be rehearsed (like the first on the previous + occasion). I cannot tell you how delighted and surprised all were; but I + never expected anything else, for I declare I went to this rehearsal with + as quiet a heart as if I had been going to a banquet. Count Seinsheim said + to me, "I do assure you that though I expected a great deal from you, I + can truly say this I did not expect." + </p> + <p> + The Cannabichs and all who frequent their house are true friends of mine. + After the rehearsal, (for we had a great deal to discuss with the Count,) + when I went home with Cannabich, Madame Cannabich came to meet me, and + hugged me from joy at the rehearsal having passed off so admirably; then + came Ramm and Lang, quite out of their wits with delight. My true friend + the excellent lady, who was alone in the house with her invalid daughter + Rose, had been full of solicitude on my account. When you know him, you + will find Ramm a true German, saying exactly what he thinks to your face. + He said to me, "I must honestly confess that no music ever made such an + impression on me, and I assure you I thought of your father fifty times at + least, and of the joy he will feel when he hears this opera." But enough + of this subject. My cold is rather worse owing to this rehearsal, for it + is impossible not to feel excited when honor and fame are at stake, + however cool you may be at first. I did everything you prescribed for my + cold, but it goes on very slowly, which is particularly inconvenient to me + at present; but all my writing about it will not put an end to my cough, + and yet write I must. To-day I have begun to take violet syrup and a + little almond oil, and already I feel relieved, and have again stayed two + days in the house. Yesterday morning Herr Raaff came to me again to hear + the aria in the second act. The man is as much enamored of his aria as a + young passionate lover ever was of his fair one. He sings it the last + thing before he goes to sleep, and the first thing in the morning when he + awakes. I knew already, from a sure source, but now from himself, that he + said to Herr von Viereck (Oberststallmeister) and to Herr von Kastel, "I + am accustomed constantly to change my parts, to suit me better, in + recitative as well as in arias, but this I have left just as it was, for + every single note is in accordance with my voice." In short, he is as + happy as a king. He wishes the interpolated aria to be a little altered, + and so do I. The part commencing with the word era he does not like, for + what we want here is a calm tranquil aria; and if consisting of only one + part, so much the better, for a second subject would have to be brought in + about the middle, which leads me out of my way. In "Achill in Sciro" there + is an air of this kind, "or che mio figlio sei." I thank my sister very + much for the list of comedies she sent me. It is singular enough about the + comedy "Rache fur Rache"; it was frequently given here with much applause, + and quite lately too, though I was not there myself. I beg you will + present my devoted homage to Madlle. Therese von Barisani; if I had a + brother, I would request him to kiss her hand in all humility, but having + a sister only is still better, for I beg she will embrace her in the most + affectionate manner in my name. A propos, do write a letter to Cannabich; + he deserves it, and it will please him exceedingly. What does it matter if + he does not answer you? You must not judge him from his manner; he is the + same to every one, and means nothing. You must first know him well. + </p> + <p> + <br />132. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Dec. 5, 1780. + </p> + <p> + The death of the Empress [Maria Theresa] does not at all affect my opera, + for the theatrical performances are not suspended, and the plays go on as + usual. The entire mourning is not to last more than six weeks, and my + opera will not be given before the 20th of January. I wish you to get my + black suit thoroughly brushed to make it as wearable as possible, and + forward it to me by the first diligence; for next week every one must be + in mourning, and I, though constantly on the move, must cry with the + others. + </p> + <p> + With regard to Raaff's last aria, I already mentioned that we both wish to + have more touching and pleasing words. The word era is constrained; the + beginning good, but gelida massa is again hard. In short, far-fetched or + pedantic expressions are always inappropriate in a pleasing aria. I should + also like the air to express only peace and contentment; and one part + would be quite as good—in fact, better, in my opinion. I also wrote + about Panzacchi; we must do what we can to oblige the good old man. He + wishes to have his recitative in the third act lengthened a couple of + lines, which, owing to the chiaro oscuro and his being a good actor, will + have a capital effect. For example, after the strophe, "Sei la citta del + pianto, e questa reggia quella del duol," comes a slight glimmering of + hope, and then, "Madman that I am! whither does my grief lead me?" "Ah! + Creta tutta io vedo." The Abbato Varesco is not obliged to rewrite the act + on account of these things, for they can easily be interpolated. I have + also written that both I and others think the oracle's subterranean speech + too long to make a good effect. Reflect on this. I must now conclude, + having such a mass of writing to do. I have not seen Baron Lehrbach, and + don't know whether he is here or not; and I have no time to run about. I + may easily not know whether he is here, but he cannot fail to know + positively that I am. Had I been a girl, no doubt he would have come to + see me long ago. Now adieu! + </p> + <p> + I have this moment received your letter of the 4th December. You must + begin to accustom yourself a little to the kissing system. You can + meanwhile practise with Maresquelli, for each time that you come to + Dorothea Wendling's (where everything is rather in the French style) you + will have to embrace both mother and daughter, but—N. B., on the + chin, so that the paint may not be rubbed off. More of this next time. + Adieu! + </p> + <p> + P.S.—Don't forget about my black suit; I must have it, or I shall be + laughed at, which is never agreeable. + </p> + <p> + <br />133. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Dec. 13, 1780. + </p> + <p> + Your last letters seemed to me far too short, so I searched all the + pockets in my black suit to see if I could not find something more. In + Vienna and all the Imperial dominions, the gayeties are to be resumed six + weeks hence,—a very sensible measure, for mourning too long is not + productive of half as much good to the deceased as of injury to the + living. Is Herr Schikaneder to remain in Salzburg? If so, he might still + see and hear my opera. Here people, very properly, cannot comprehend why + the mourning should last for three months, while that for our late Elector + was only six weeks. The theatre, however, goes on as usual. You do not + write to me how Herr Esser accompanied my sonatas—ill, or well? The + comedy, "Wie man sich die Sache deutet," is charming, for I saw it—no, + not saw it, but read it, for it has not yet been performed; besides, I + have been only once in the theatre, having no leisure to go, the evening + being the time I like best to work. If her Grace, the most sensible + gracious Frau von Robinig, does not on this occasion change the period of + her gracious journey to Munich, her Grace will be unable to hear one note + of my opera. My opinion, however, is, that her Grace in her supreme + wisdom, in order to oblige your excellent son, will graciously condescend + to stay a little longer. I suppose your portrait is now begun, and my + sister's also, no doubt. How is it likely to turn out? Have you any answer + yet from our plenipotentiary at Wetzlar? I forget his name—Fuchs, I + think. I mean, about the duets for two pianos. It is always satisfactory + to explain a thing distinctly, and the arias of Esopus are, I suppose, + still lying on the table? Send them to me by the diligence, that I may + give them myself to Herr von Dummhoff, who will then remit them post-free. + To whom? Why, to Heckmann—a charming man, is he not? and a + passionate lover of music. My chief object comes to-day at the close of my + letter, but this is always the case with me. One day lately, after dining + with Lisel Wendling, I drove with Le Grand to Cannabich's (as it was + snowing heavily). Through the window they thought it was you, and that we + had come together. I could not understand why both Karl and the children + ran down the steps to meet us, and when they saw Le Grand, did not say a + word, but looked quite discomposed, till they explained it when we went + up-stairs. I shall write nothing more, because you write so seldom to me—nothing, + except that Herr Eck, who has just crept into the room to fetch his sword + which he forgot the last time he was here, sends his best wishes to + Thresel, Pimperl, Jungfer Mitzerl, Gilofsky, Katherl, my sister, and, last + of all, to yourself. Kiss Thresel for me; a thousand kisses to Pimperl. + </p> + <p> + <br />134. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Dec. 16, 1780. + </p> + <p> + HERR ESSER came to call on me yesterday for the first time. Did he go + about on foot in Salzburg, or always drive in a carriage, as he does here? + I believe his small portion of Salzburg money will not remain long in his + purse. On Sunday we are to dine together at Cannabich's, and there he is + to let us hear his solos, clever and stupid. He says he will give no + concert here, nor does he care to appear at court; he does not intend to + seek it, but if the Elector wishes to hear him,—"Eh, bien! here am + I; it would be a favor, but I shall not announce myself." But, after all, + he may be a worthy fool—deuce take it! cavalier, I meant to say. He + asked me why I did not wear my Order of the Spur. I said I had one in my + head quite hard enough to carry. He was so obliging as to dust my coat a + little for me, saying, "One cavalier may wait upon another." In spite of + which, the same afternoon—from forgetfulness, I suppose—he + left his spur at home, (I mean the outward and visible one,) or at all + events contrived to hide it so effectually that not a vestige of it was to + be seen. In case I forget it again, I must tell you that Madame and + Madlle. Cannabich both complain that their throats are daily becoming + larger owing to the air and water here, which might at last become regular + goitres. Heaven forbid! They are indeed taking a certain powder—how + do I know what? Not that this is its name; at all events, it seems to do + them no good. For their sakes, therefore, I took the liberty to recommend + what we call goitre pills, pretending (in order to enhance their value) + that my sister had three goitres, each larger than the other, and yet at + last, by means of these admirable pills, had got entirely rid of them! If + they can be made up here, pray send me the prescription; but if only to be + had at Salzburg, I beg you will pay ready money for them, and send a few + cwt. of them by the next diligence. You know my address. + </p> + <p> + There is to be another rehearsal this afternoon of the first and second + acts in the Count's apartments; then we shall only have a chamber + rehearsal of the third, and afterwards go straight to the theatre. The + rehearsal has been put off owing to the copyist, which enraged Count + Seinsheim to the uttermost. As for what is called the popular taste, do + not be uneasy, for in my opera there is music for every class, except for + the long-eared. A propos, how goes on the Archbishop? Next Monday I shall + have been six weeks away from Salzburg. You know, dear father, that I only + stay there to oblige you, for, by heavens! if I followed my own + inclinations, before coming here I would have torn up my last diploma; for + I give you my honor that not Salzburg itself, but the Prince and his proud + nobility, become every day more intolerable to me. I should rejoice were I + to be told that my services were no longer required, for with the great + patronage that I have here, both my present and future circumstances would + be secure, death excepted, which no one can guard against, though no great + misfortune to a single man. But anything in the world to please you. It + would be less trying to me if I could only occasionally escape from time + to time, just to draw my breath. You know how difficult it was to get away + on this occasion; and without some very urgent cause, there would not be + the faintest hope of such a thing. It is enough to make one weep to think + of it, so I say no more. Adieu! Come soon to see me at Munich and to hear + my opera, and then tell me whether I have not a right to feel sad when I + think of Salzburg. Adieu! + </p> + <p> + <br />135. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Dec. 19, 1780. + </p> + <p> + THIS last rehearsal has been as successful as the first, and + satisfactorily proved to the orchestra and all those who heard it, their + mistake in thinking that the second act could not possibly excel the first + in expression and novelty. Next Saturday both acts are again to be + rehearsed, but in a spacious apartment in the palace, which I have long + wished, as the room at Count Seeau's is far too small. The Elector is to + be in an adjoining room (incognito) to hear the music. "It must be a + life-and-death rehearsal," said Cannabich to me. At the last one he was + bathed in perspiration. + </p> + <p> + Cannabich, whose name-day this is, has just left me, reproaching me for + discontinuing this letter in his presence. As to Madame Duschek, the thing + is impossible at present, but I will do what I can with pleasure after my + opera is given. I beg you will write to her and say, with my compliments, + that next time she comes to Salzburg we can square accounts. It would + delight me if I could get a couple of cavaliers like old Czernin,—this + would be a little yearly help; but certainly not for less than 100 florins + a year, in which case it might be any style of music they pleased. I trust + that you are now quite recovered; indeed, after the friction performed by + a Barisani Theres, you cannot be otherwise. You have no doubt seen by my + letters that I am well and happy. Who would not feel happy to have + completed such a great and laborious work—and completed it, too, + with honor and renown? Three arias alone are wanting—the last chorus + in the third act, and the overture and ballet; and then—Adieu + partie! + </p> + <p> + One more indispensable remark, and I have done. The scene between father + and son in the first act, and the first scene in the second act between + Idomenco and Arbace, are both too long, and sure to weary the audience, + particularly as in the first the actors are both bad, and in the second + one of them is also very inferior; besides, the whole details are only a + narrative of what the spectators have already seen with their own eyes. + The scenes will be printed just as they are. I only wish the Abbate would + point out to me how not only to curtail them, but very considerably to + curtail them; otherwise I must do it myself, for the scenes cannot remain + as they are—I mean, so far as the music is concerned. I have just + got your letter, which, being begun by my sister, is without a date. A + thousand compliments to Thresel—my future upper and under + nursery-maid to be. I can easily believe that Katherl would gladly come to + Munich, if (independent of the journey) you would allow her to take my + place at meals. Eh! bien. I can contrive it, for she can occupy the same + room with my sister. + </p> + <p> + <br />136. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Dec 27, 1780. + </p> + <p> + I HAVE received the entire opera, Schachtner's letter, your note, and the + pills. As for the two scenes to be curtailed, it was not my own + suggestion, but one to which I consented—my reason being that Raaff + and Del Prato spoil the recitative by singing it quite devoid of all + spirit and fire, and so monotonously. They are the most miserable actors + that ever trod the stage. I had a desperate battle royal with Seeau as to + the inexpediency, unfitness, and almost impossibility of the omissions in + question. However, all is to be printed as it is, which at first he + positively refused to agree to, but at last, on rating him soundly, he + gave way. The last rehearsal was splendid. It took place in a spacious + apartment in the palace. The Elector was also within hearing. On this + occasion it was rehearsed with the whole orchestra, (of course I mean + those who belong to the opera.) After the first act the Elector called out + Bravo! rather too audibly, and when I went into the next room to kiss his + hand he said, "Your opera is quite charming, and cannot fail to do you + honor." As he was not sure whether he could remain for the whole + performance, we played the concerted aria and the thunderstorm at the + beginning of the second act, by his desire, when he again testified his + approbation in the kindest manner, and said, laughing, "Who could believe + that such great things could be hidden in so small a head?" Next day, too, + at his reception, he extolled my opera much. The ensuing rehearsal will + probably take place in the theatre. A propos, Becke told me, a day or two + ago, that he had written to you about the last rehearsal but one, and + among other things had said that Raaff's aria in the second act is not + composed in accordance with the sense of the words, adding, "So I am told, + for I understand Italian too little to be able to judge." I replied, "If + you had only asked me first and written afterwards! I must tell you that + whoever said such a thing can understand very little Italian. The aria is + quite adapted to the words. You hear the mare, and the mare funesto; and + the passages dwell on the minacciar, and entirely express minacciar + (threatening). Moreover, it is the most superb aria in the opera, and has + met with universal approbation." + </p> + <p> + Is it true that the Emperor is ill? Is it true that the Archbishop intends + to come to Munich? Raaff is the best and most upright man alive, but—so + addicted to old-fashioned routine that flesh and blood cannot stand it; so + that it is very difficult to write for him, but very easy if you choose to + compose commonplace arias, as for instance the first one, "Vedromi + intorno." When you hear it, you will say that it is good and pretty, but + had I written it for Zonca it would have suited the words better. Raaff + likes everything according to rule, and does not regard expression. I have + had a piece of work with him about the quartet. The more I think of the + quartet as it will be on the stage, the more effective I consider it, and + it has pleased all those who have heard it on the piano. Raaff alone + maintains that it will not be successful. He said to me confidentially, + "There is no opportunity to expand the voice; it is too confined." As if + in a quartet the words should not far rather be spoken, as it were, than + sung! He does not at all understand such things. I only replied, "My dear + friend, if I were aware of one single note in this quartet which ought to + be altered, I would change it at once; but there is no single thing in my + opera with which I am so pleased as with this quartet, and when you have + once heard it sung in concert you will speak very differently. I took + every possible pains to conform to your taste in your two arias, and + intend to do the same with the third, so I hope to be successful; but with + regard to trios and quartets, they should be left to the composer's own + discretion." On which he said that he was quite satisfied. The other day + he was much annoyed by some words in his last aria—rinvigorir and + ringiovenir, and especially vienmi a rinvigorir—five i's! It is + true, this is very disagreeable at the close of an air. + </p> + <p> + <br />137. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Dec. 30. 1780. + </p> + <p> + A HAPPY New-Year! Excuse my writing much, for I am over head and ears in + my work. I have not quite finished the third act; and as there is no extra + ballet, but only an appropriate divertissement in the opera, I have the + honor to write that music also, but I am glad of it, for now the music + will be all by the same master. The third act will prove at least as good + as the two others,—in fact, I believe, infinitely better, and that + it might fairly be said, finis coronat opus. The Elector was so pleased at + the rehearsal that, as I already wrote to you, he praised it immensely + next morning at his reception, and also in the evening at court. I + likewise know from good authority that, on the same evening after the + final rehearsal, he spoke of my music to every one he conversed with, + saying, "I was quite surprised; no music ever had such an effect on me; it + is magnificent music." The day before yesterday we had a recitative + rehearsal at Wendling's, and tried over the quartet all together. We + repeated it six times, and now it goes well. The stumbling-block was Del + Prato; the wretch can literally do nothing. His voice is not so bad, if he + did not sing from the back of the throat; besides, he has no intonation, + no method, no feeling. He is only one of the best of the youths who sing + in the hope of getting a place in the choir of the chapel. Raaff was glad + to find himself mistaken about the quartet, and no longer doubts its + effect. Now I am in a difficulty with regard to Raaff's last air, and you + must help me out of it. He cannot digest the rinvigorir and ringiovenir, + and these two words make the whole air hateful to him. It is true that + mostrami and vienmi are also not good, but the worst of all are the two + final words; to avoid the shake on the i in the first word rinvigorir, I + was forced to transfer it to the o. Raaff has now found, in the "Natal di + Giove," which is in truth very little known, an aria quite appropriate to + this situation. I think it is the ad libitum aria, "Bell' alme al ciel + diletto" and he wishes me to write music for these words. He says, "No one + knows it, and we need say nothing." He is quite aware that he cannot + expect the Abbate to alter this aria a third time, and he will not sing it + as it is written. I beg you will send me an immediate reply. I shall + conclude, for I must now write with all speed; the composing is finished, + but not the writing out. + </p> + <p> + My compliments to dear Thresel: the maid who waits on me here is also + named Thresel, but, heavens! how inferior to the Linz Thresel in beauty, + virtue, charms—and a thousand other merits! You probably know that + the worthy musico Marquesi, the Marquessius di Milano, has been poisoned + in Naples, but how? He was enamored of a Duchess, whose rightful lover + became jealous, and sent three or four fellows to give him his choice + between drinking poison out of a cup and being assassinated. He chose the + former, but being an Italian poltroon he died ALONE, and allowed his + murderers to live on in peace and quiet. I would at least (in my own room) + have taken a couple with me into the next world, if absolutely obliged to + die myself. Such an admirable singer is a great loss. Adieu! + </p> + <p> + <br />138. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Jan. 3, 1780. + </p> + <p> + MY head and my hands are so fully occupied with my third act, that it + would not be wonderful if I turned into a third act myself, for it alone + has cost me more trouble than the entire opera; there is scarcely a scene + in it which is not interesting to the greatest degree. The accompaniment + of the underground music consists merely of five instruments, namely, + three trombones and two French horns, which are placed on the spot whence + the voice proceeds. The whole orchestra is silent at this part. + </p> + <p> + The grand rehearsal positively takes place on the 20th, and the first + performance on the 22d. All you will both require is to bring one black + dress, and another for every-day wear, when you are only visiting intimate + friends where there is no ceremony, and thus save your black dress a + little; and if my sister likes, one pretty dress also, that she may go to + the ball and the Academie Masquee. + </p> + <p> + Herr von Robinig is already here, and sends his regards to you. I hear + that the two Barisanis are also coming to Munich; is this true? Heaven be + praised that the cut on the finger of the Archbishop was of no + consequence! Good heavens! how dreadfully I was alarmed at first! + Cannabich thanks you for your charming letter, and all his family beg + their remembrances. He told me you had written very humorously. You must + have been in a happy mood. + </p> + <p> + No doubt we shall have a good many corrections to make in the third act + when on the stage; as for instance scene sixth, after Arbace's aria, the + personages are marked, "Idomeneo, Arbace, &c., &c." How can the + latter so instantly reappear on the spot? Fortunately he might stay away + altogether. In order to make the matter practicable, I have written a + somewhat longer introduction to the High Priest's recitative. After the + mourning chorus the King and his people all go away, and in the following + scene the directions are, "Idomeneo kneels down in the Temple." This is + impossible; he must come accompanied by his whole suite. A march must + necessarily be introduced here, so I have composed a very simple one for + two violins, tenor, bass, and two hautboys, to be played a mezza voce, and + during this time the King appears, and the Priests prepare the offerings + for the sacrifice. The King then kneels down and begins the prayer. + </p> + <p> + In Elettra's recitative, after the underground voice has spoken, there + ought to be marked exeunt. I forgot to look at the copy written for the + press to see whether it is there, and whereabouts it comes. It seems to me + very silly that they should hurry away so quickly merely to allow Madlle. + Elettra to be alone. + </p> + <p> + I have this moment received your few lines of January 1st. When I opened + the letter I chanced to hold it in such a manner that nothing but a blank + sheet met my eyes. At last I found the writing. I am heartily glad that I + have got an aria for Raaff, as he was quite resolved to introduce the air + he had discovered, and I could not possibly (N. B., with a Raaff) have + arranged in any other way than by having Varesco's air printed, but + Raaff's sung. I must stop, or I shall waste too much time. Thank my sister + very much for her New-Year's wishes, which I heartily return. I hope we + shall soon be right merry together. Adieu! Remembrances to friends, not + forgetting Ruscherle. Young Eck sends her a kiss, a sugar one of course. + </p> + <p> + <br />139. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Jan. 10, 1780. + </p> + <p> + My greatest piece of news is that the opera is put off for a week. The + grand rehearsal is not to take place till the 27th—N. B., my + birthday—and the opera itself on the 29th. Why? Probably to save + Count Seeau two hundred gulden. I, indeed, am very glad, because we can + now rehearse frequently and more carefully. You should have seen the faces + of the Robinigs when I told them this news. Louisa and Sigmund are + delighted to stay; but Lise, that SNEAKING MISERY, has such a spiteful + Salzburg tongue that it really drives me distracted. Perhaps they may + still remain, and I hope so on Louisa's account. In addition to many other + little altercations with Count Seeau, I have had a sharp contention with + him about the trombones. I call it so, because I was obliged to be + downright rude, or I never should have carried my point. Next Saturday the + three acts are to be rehearsed in private. I got your letter of the 8th, + and read it with great pleasure; the burlesque, too, I like very much. + Excuse my writing more at this time; for, in the first place, as you see, + my pen and ink are bad, and, in the second, I have still a couple of airs + to write for the last ballet. I hope you will send no more such letters as + the last, of only three or four lines. + </p> + <p> + <br />140. + </p> + <p> + Munich, Jan. 18, 1780. + </p> + <p> + PRAY forgive a short letter, for I must go this very moment, ten o'clock + (in the forenoon of course), to the rehearsal. There is to be a recitative + rehearsal for the first time to-day in the theatre. I could not write + before, having been so incessantly occupied with those confounded dances. + Laus Deo, I have got rid of them at last, but only of what was most + pressing. The rehearsal of the third act went off admirably. It was + considered very superior to the second act. The poetry is, however, + thought far too long, and of course the music likewise, (which I always + said it was.) On this account the aria of Idamante, "No la morte io non + pavento" is to be omitted, which was, indeed, always out of place there; + those who have heard it with the music deplore this. Raaff's last air, + too, is still more regretted, but we must make a virtue of necessity. The + prediction of the oracle is still far too long, so I have shortened it; + but Varesco need know nothing of this, because it will all be printed just + as he wrote it. Madame von Robinig will bring with her the payment both + for him and Schachtner. Herr Geschwender declined taking any money with + him. In the meantime say to Varesco in my name, that he will not get a + farthing from Count Seeau beyond the contract, for all the alterations + were made FOR ME and not for the Count, and he ought to be obliged to me + into the bargain, as they were indispensable for his own reputation. There + is a good deal that might still be altered; and I can tell him that he + would not have come off so well with any other composer as with me. I have + spared no trouble in defending him. + </p> + <p> + The stove is out of the question, for it costs too much. I will have + another bed put up in the room that adjoins the alcove, and we must manage + the best way we can. Do not forget to bring my little watch with you. We + shall probably make an excursion to Augsburg, where we could have the + little silly thing regulated. I wish you also to bring Schachtner's + operetta. There are people who frequent Cannabich's house, who might as + well hear a thing of the kind. I must be off to the rehearsal. Adieu! + </p> + <p> + The father and sister arrived on the 25th of January, and the first + performance of the opera took place a few days afterwards; then the family + amused themselves for some little time with the gayeties of the Carnival. + The Archbishop had gone to Vienna; and, desiring to appear in the Imperial + city in the full splendor of a spiritual prince, he had taken with him, in + addition to fine furniture and a large household, some of his most + distinguished musicians. On this account, therefore, Mozart, in the middle + of March, also received the command to go to Vienna. He set off + immediately. + </p> + <p> + END OF VOL. I. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_CONT" id="link2H_CONT"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. [LETTERS LISTED BY DATE] + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + FIRST PART + ITALY VIENNA MUNICH + 1770-1776 +</pre> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + LETTER + + 1. Salzburg, 1769 + 2. Verona, Jan 7, 1770 + 3. Milan, Jan 26, 1770 + 4. Milan, Feb. 10, 1770 + 5. Milan, Feb 17, 1770 + 6. Milan, Carnival, Erchtag, 1770 + 7. Milan, Mar 3, 1770 + 8. Bologna, Mar 24, 1770 + 9. Rome, April 14, 1770 + 10. Rome, April 21, 1770 + 11. Rome, April 25, 1770 + 12. Naples, May 19, 1770 + 13. Naples, May 29, 1770 + 14. Naples, June 5, 1770 + 15. Naples, June 16, 1770 + 16. Rome, July 17, 1770 + 17. Bologna, July 21, 1770 + 18. Bologna, July, 1770 + 19. Bologna, August 4, 1770 + 20. Bologna, August 21, 1770 + 21. Bologna, Sept 8, 1770 + 22. Bologna, Sept 22, 1770 + 23. Bologna, Sept 29, 1770 + 24. Bologna, Oct 6, 1770 + 25. Milan, Oct. 20, 1770 + 26. Milan, Oct. 27, 1770 + 27. Milan, Nov 3, 1770 + 28. Milan, Dec 1, 1770 + 29. Milan, Jan, 1771 + 30. Venice, Feb 15, 1771 + 31. Venice, Feb 20, 1771 + 32. Verona, Aug 18, 1771 + 33. Milan, Aug 23, 1771 + 34. Milan, Aug 31, 1771 + 35. Milan, Sept 13, 1771 + 36. Milan, Sept 21, 1771 + 37. Milan, Oct 5, 1771 + 38. Milan, Oct 26, 1771 + 39. Milan, Nov 2, 1771 + 40. Milan, Nov. 24, 1771 + 41. Milan, Nov 30, 1771 + 42. Bologna, Oct 28, 1772 + 43. Milan, Nov 7, 1772 + 44. Milan, Nov, 1772 + 45. Milan, Nov 21, 1772 + 46. Milan, Nov 28, 1772 + 47. Milan, Dec 5, 1772 + 48. Milan, Dec 18, 1772 + 49. Milan, Jan 23, 1773 + 50. Vienna, Aug 14, 1773 + 51. Vienna, Aug 21, 1773 + 52. Vienna, Sept. 15, 1773 + 53. Munich, Dec. 28, 1774 + 54. Munich, Dec. 30, 1774 + 55. Munich, Jan. 11, 1775 + 56. Munich, Jan. 14, 1775 + 57. Munich, Jan., 1775 + 58. Salzburg, Sept. 4, 1776 +</pre> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + SECOND PART. + MUNICH AUGSBURG MANNHEIM + SEPTEMBER 1777 to MARCH 1778 +</pre> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 59. Wasserburg, Sept. 23, 1777 + 60. Munich, Sept. 26, 1777 + 61. Munich, Sept. 29, 1777 + 62. Munich, Oct. 2, 1777 + 63. Munich, Oct. 6, 1777 + 64. Munich, Oct. 11, 1777 + 65. Augsburg, Oct. 14, 1777 + 66. Augsburg, Oct. 17, 1777 + 67. Augsburg, Oct. 17, 1777 + 68. Augsburg, Oct. 23, 1777 + 69. Augsburg, Oct. 25, 1777 + 70. Mannheim, Oct. 30, 1777 + 71. Mannheim, Nov. 4, 1777 + 72. Mannheim, Nov. 5 1777 + 73. Mannheim, Nov. 8, 1777 + 74. Mannheim, Nov. 13, 1777 + 75. Mannheim, Nov. 13, 1777 + 76. Mannheim, Nov. 14-16, 1777 + 77. Mannheim, Nov. 20, 1777 + 78. Mannheim, Nov. 22, 1777 + 79. Mannheim, Nov. 26, 1777 + 80. Mannheim, Nov. 29, 1777 + 81. Mannheim, Dec. 3, 1777 + 82. Mannheim, Dec. 6, 1777 + 83. Mannheim, Dec. 10, 1777 + 84. Mannheim, Dec. 14, 1777 + 85. Mannheim, Dec. 18, 1777 + 86. Mannheim, Dec. 20, 1777 + 87. Mannheim, Dec. 27, 1777 + 88. Mannheim, Jan. 7, 1778 + 89. Mannheim, Jan. 10, 1778 + 90. Mannheim, Jan. 17, 1778 + 91. Mannheim, Feb. 2-4, 1778 + 92. Mannheim, Feb. 7, 1778 + 93. Mannheim, Feb. 14, 1778 + 94. Mannheim, Feb. 19, 1778 + 95. Mannheim, Feb. 22, 1778 + 96. Mannheim, Feb. 28, 1778 + 97. Mannheim, end of Feb, 1778 + 98. Mannheim, Mar. 7, 1778 + 99. Mannheim, Mar. 11, 1778 +</pre> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + THIRD PART. + PARIS. + MARCH 1778 to JANUARY 1779 +</pre> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 100. Paris, Mar. 24, 1778 + 101. Paris, April 5, 1778 + 102. Paris, May 1, 1778 + 103. Paris, May 14, 1778 + 104. Paris, May 29, 1778 + 105. Paris, June 12 1778 + 106. Paris, July 3, 1778 + 107. Paris, July 3, 1778 + 108. Paris, July 9, 1778 + 109. Paris, July 18, 1778 + 110. Paris, July 31, 1778 + 111. Paris, Aug 7, 1778 + 112. St Germains, Aug 27, 1778 + 113. Paris, Sept 11, 1778 + 114. Nancy, Oct 3, 1778 + 115. Strassburg, Oct 15, 1778 + 116. Strassburg, Oct 26, 1778 + 117. Mannheim, Nov 12, 1778 + 118. Mannheim, Nov 24, 1778 + 119. Mannheim, Dec 3, 1778 + 120. Kaisersheim, Dec 18, 1778 + 121. Kaisersheim, Dec 23, 1778 + 122. Munich, Dec 29, 1778 + 123. Munich, Dec 31, 1778 + 124. Munich, Jan 8, 1779 + 125. Salzburg, May 10, 1779 +</pre> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + FOURTH PART + MUNICH IDOMENEO + NOVEMBER 1780 to JANUARY 1781 +</pre> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 126. Munich, Nov 8, 1780 + 127. Munich, Nov 13, 1780 + 128. Munich, Nov 15, 1780 + 129. Munich, Nov 22, 1780 + 130. Munich, Nov 24, 1780 + 131. Munich, Dec 1, 1780 + 132. Munich, Dec 5, 1780 + 133. Munich, Dec 13, 1780 + 134. Munich, Dec 16, 1780 + 135. Munich, Dec 19, 1780 + 136. Munich, Dec 27, 1780 + 137. Munich, Dec 30, 1780 + 138. Munich, Jan 3, 1781 + 139. Munich, Jan 10, 1781 + 140. Munich, Jan 18, 1781 +</pre> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus +Mozart, Vol. 1, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LETTERS OF WOLFGANG *** + +***** This file should be named 5307-h.htm or 5307-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/0/5307/ + + +Text file produced by John Mamoun, Charles Franks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + +HTML file produced by David Widger + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Vol. 1 + +Author: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart + +Translator: Lady Wallace + + +Release Date: March, 2004 [EBook #5307] +This file was first posted on June 27, 2002 +Last Updated: June 24, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LETTERS OF WOLFGANG *** + + + + +Produced by John Mamoun, Charles Franks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + + +THE LETTERS OF WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART. (1769-1791.) + +In Two Volumes. Vol. I. + +By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart + +Translated, From The Collection Of Ludwig Nohl, By Lady Wallace + +With A Portrait And Facsimile + +New York and Philadelphia: 1866. + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS + + PREFACE + THE LETTERS OF W.A. MOZART, VOLUME I + + FIRST PART: ITALY/VIENNA/MUNICH 1770-1776 + SECOND PART: MUNICH/AUGSBURG/MANNHEIM SEPT. 1777-MARCH 1778 + THIRD PART: PARIS MARCH 1778-JANUARY 1779 + FOURTH PART: MUNICH/IDOMENEO NOVEMBER 1780-JANUARY 1781 + + CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. [LETTERS LISTED BY DATE] + + + +PREFACE + + +A full and authentic edition of Mozart's Letters ought to require no +special apology; for, though their essential substance has already been +made known by quotations from biographies by Nissen, Jahn, and myself, +taken from the originals, still in these three works the letters are +necessarily not only very imperfectly given, but in some parts so +fragmentary, that the peculiar charm of this correspondence--namely, the +familiar and confidential mood in which it was written at the time--is +entirely destroyed. It was only possible to restore, and to enable +others to enjoy this charm--a charm so novel, even to those already +conversant with Mozart's life, that the most familiar incidents acquire +fresh zest from it--by an ungarbled edition of these letters. This is +what I now offer, feeling convinced that it will be welcome not only to +the mass of Mozart's admirers, but also to professional musicians; for +in them alone is strikingly set forth how Mozart lived and labored, +enjoyed and suffered, and this with a degree of vivid and graphic +reality which no biography, however complete, could ever succeed in +giving. Who does not know the varied riches of Mozart's life? All that +agitated the minds of men in that day--nay, all that now moves, and ever +will move, the heart of man--vibrated with fresh pulsation, and under +the most manifold forms, in his sensitive soul, and mirrored itself in +a series of letters, which indeed rather resemble a journal than a +correspondence. + +This artist, Nature had gifted in all respects with the most clear and +vigorous intellect that ever man possessed. Even in a language which +he had not so fully mastered as to acquire the facility of giving +expression to his ideas, he contrived to relate to others all that he +saw and heard, and felt and thought, with surprising clearness and the +most charming sprightliness, combined with talent and good feeling. +Above all, in his letters to his father when travelling, we meet with +the most minute delineations of countries and people, of the progress of +the fine arts, especially in the theatres and in music; we also see +the impulses of his own heart and a hundred other things which, in +fascination, and universal as well as artistic interest, have scarcely +a parallel in our literature. The style may fail to a certain degree in +polish, that is, in definite purpose in expressing what he wished to say +in an attractive or congenial form,--an art, however, which Mozart so +thoroughly understood in his music. His mode of writing, especially in +the later letters from Vienna, is often very slovenly, evidencing how +averse the Maestro was to the task. Still these letters are manifestly +the unconstrained, natural, and simple outpourings of his heart, +delightfully recalling to our minds all the sweetness and pathos, the +spirit and grace, which have a thousand times enchanted us in the music +of Mozart. The accounts of his visit to Paris may, indeed, lay claim to +a certain aesthetic value, for they are written throughout with +visible zest in his own descriptions, and also with wit, and charm, and +characteristic energy. As these combined merits can only become apparent +by an ungarbled series of the letters, I have resolved, after many +long years of zealous research in collecting them, to undertake the +work,--that is, to publish the letters entire that have come to my +knowledge. + +It now only remains for me to give some words of explanation as to the +method I have pursued in editing them. + +In the first place, this edition, (being transcribed closely from the +originals,) if compared with the letters already published, will prove +that the latter are open to many corrections, both in trivial and more +important respects. I have forborne, however, attracting attention to +the deviations from the original text, either in Nissen or Jahn. I have +no wish to be punctilious about trifles, where, as in the case of Jahn, +the principal points are correct. Further, by this faithful production +of the letters, (nothing being omitted but the constant repetition of +forms of greeting and subscription,) we find many an additional feature +in the Maestro's life, and chiefly various facts with regard to the +creation and publication of his works, which may serve to complete +and to amend various statements in Dr. Ludwig Ritter von Kochel's +"Chronological Thematic Catalogue of the Musical Compositions of W. A. +Mozart," (Leipzig, Breitkopf and Hartel). This will be effected not only +by the hitherto unpublished letters, though comparatively few in number, +but also by passages being given in full, which have been hitherto +suppressed as of no consequence. I have referred to Nissen and Jahn only +when, in spite of all my inquiries, I could not discover the proprietor +of the original, or procure a correct copy. + +I must also remark that all letters without a special address are +written to his father. I have only adhered to Mozart's defective +orthography in his few letters of early date, and in the rest adopted +the more modern fashion. I did so for this simple reason, that these +defects form a charm in his juvenile letters, from being in accordance +with their boyish contents, while, with regard to the others, they +only tend to distract the attention from the substance of the letters, +instead of imparting additional interest to them. Biographers can, +and ought always to render faithfully the original writing, because +quotations alternate with the text of the biographer; but in a regular +and uninterrupted series of letters this attraction must be very +sparingly used, or it will have a pernicious effect. + +The explanatory remarks, and also the supplementary Lexicon, in which +I have availed myself of Jahn's catalogue, will make the letters more +intelligible to the world at large. The Index, too, has been most +carefully prepared to facilitate references. + +Lastly, I return my best thanks to the keeper of the Archives of the +Mozarteum in Salzburg, to Herr Jellinck, and to all the librarians and +collectors of autographs who have assisted me in my task, either by +furnishing me with copies of their Mozart letters, or by letting me know +where I could procure them. I would also earnestly request all who may +possess any Mozart letters to send me an exact transcript of them in +the interest of Art; for those here given allude to many still unknown, +which are no doubt scattered about here and there, waiting to be brought +to light. + +With respect to myself, the best reward I aspire to in return for the +many sacrifices this collection has cost me, is, that my readers may +do justice to the purpose which chiefly guided me throughout this +publication,--my desire being not merely to benefit science, and to give +a graphic description of the amiability and purity of heart which so +distinguished this attractive man, (for such was my aim in my "Life of +Mozart,") but above all to draw attention afresh to the unremitting zeal +with which Mozart did homage to every advance in Art, striving to make +music more and more the interpreter of man's innermost being. I also +wished to show how much his course was impeded by the sluggishness and +stupidity of the multitude, though partly sustained by the sympathy +of kindred souls, till the glorious victory was won over routine and +imbecility. Amidst all the fatiguing process of copying and collating +letters already so familiar to me, these considerations moved me more +vividly than ever; and no work on the Maestro can ever bring them with +such force before the intelligent reader as this connected succession of +letters, containing his own details of his unwearied artistic struggles +and productions. May these letters, then, kindle fresh zeal in +our artists of the present day, both in youthful genius and in +laurel-crowned Maestri!--especially may they have the happiest influence +on those who devote themselves to that phase of Art in which Mozart +attained the highest renown!--may they impart that energetic courage +which is derived from the experience that incessant efforts for +the progress of Art and its appliances enlarge the limits of human +intellect, and can alone insure an immortal crown! + +LUDWIG NOHL. + +MUNICH, October 1, 1864. + + + + +FIRST PART--ITALY, VIENNA, MUNICH.--1770 TO 1776. + + +Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg on the 17th January, 1756. +His father, Leopold Mozart, belonged to a respectable tradesman's family +in the free city of Augsburg. Conscious of being gifted with no small +portion of intellectual endowments, he followed the impulse that led +him to aim at a higher position in life, and went to the then celebrated +University of Salzburg in order to study jurisprudence. As he did not, +however, at once succeed in procuring employment in this profession, +he was forced, from his straitened means, to enter the service of +Canon Count Thun as valet. Subsequently, however, his talents, and that +thorough knowledge of music by which he had already (according to the +custom of many students) gained some part of his livelihood, obtained +for him a better position. In the year 1743 he was received into the +band (Kapelle) of the Salzburg cathedral by Archbishop Sigismund; and +as his capabilities and fame as a violinist increased, the same Prince +shortly afterwards promoted him to the situation of Hof-Componist (Court +Composer) and leader of the orchestra, and in 1762 he was appointed +Hof-Kapellmeister (conductor of the Court music). + +In 1747 Leopold Mozart married Anna Maria Pertlin, a foster-child of the +Convent of St. Gilgen. The fruits of this marriage were seven children, +two of whom alone survived,--Maria Anna, (the fourth), called Nannerl, +born in 1751; and the youngest, Wolfgang Amadeus Johannes Chrysostomus. +The daughter at a very early age displayed a most remarkable talent +for music, and when her father began to give her instructions in it, an +inborn and passionate love of this art was soon evident in her little +brother of three years old, who at once gave tokens of a degree of +genius far surpassing all experience, and really bordering on the +marvellous. In his fourth year he could play all sorts of little pieces +on the piano. He only required half an hour to learn a minuet, and one +hour for a longer movement; and in his fifth year he actually composed +some pretty short pieces, several of which are still extant. + +[Footnote: The Grand Duchess Helene Paulowna, a few weeks ago, made a +present to the Mozarteum of the music-book from which Mozart learned +music, and in which he wrote down his first compositions.] + +The wonderful acquirements of both these children, to which Wolfgang +soon added skilful playing on the violin and organ, induced their father +to travel with them. In January, 1702, when the boy was just six +years old, they went first to Munich, and in the autumn to Vienna, the +children everywhere on their journey exciting the greatest sensation, +and being handsomely remunerated. Leopold Mozart, therefore, soon +afterwards resolved to undertake a longer journey, accompanied by his +whole family. This lasted more than three years, extending from the +smaller towns in West Germany to Paris and London, while they visited, +on their way back, Holland, France, and Switzerland. The careful musical +instruction which the father perseveringly bestowed on his son, went +hand in hand with the most admirable education, and the boy was soon as +universally beloved for his amiable disposition and natural simplicity +and candor, as admired for his rare gifts and acquirements. + +After nearly a year passed at home in unremitting musical instruction, +and practice of various instruments as well as composition, the father +once more set off with all his family to Vienna,--on this occasion with +a view to Wolfgang paving the way to Italy by the composition of an +opera, (Italy, at that time, being the Eldorado of music.) He succeeded +in procuring the scrittura of an opera buffa, "La Finta semplice;" +but, when finished, although the Emperor himself had intrusted the +composition to the boy, the cabals of envious singers effectually +prevented its being performed. But a German operetta which the lad of +twelve also wrote at that time, "Bastien und Bastienne," was given in +private, at the summer residence of the Mesmer family, in the suburb +called Landstrasse. The father, too, had some compensation by the +Emperor commissioning his son to compose a solemn mass for the +consecration of the new Waisenhaus church, which Wolfgang himself +directed with the conductor's baton, in presence of the Imperial Family, +on the 7th December, 1768. + +Immediately on their return home, the young virtuoso was appointed +archiepiscopal Concertmeister. He passed almost the whole of the year +1769 in Salzburg, chiefly engaged in the composition of masses. We also +see him at that time eagerly occupied in improving his knowledge of +Latin, although two years previously he had composed a comedy in that +language,--"Apollo et Hyacinthus." From this study proceeds the first +letter which is still extant from his hand:-- + + + +1. + +Salzburg, 1769. + +MY DEAR YOUNG LADY,-- + +I beg you will pardon the liberty I take in plaguing you with these few +lines, but as you said yesterday that there was nothing you could not +understand in Latin, and I might write what I chose in that language, I +could not resist the bold impulse to write you a few Latin lines. When +you have deciphered these, be so good as to send me the answer by one of +Hagenauer's servants, for my messenger cannot wait; remember, you must +answer this by a letter. + +[Footnote: By a messenger of the Hagenauer family, in whose house, +opposite the inn of "Den drei Allurten," Mozart was born, and with whom +his family were on the most intimate terms.] + +"Cuperem scire, de qua causa, a quam plurimis adolescentibus ottium +usque adeo oestimetur, ut ipsi se nec verbis, nec verberibus ad hoc +sinant abduci." + +[Footnote: "I should like to know the reason why indolence is so highly +prized by very many young men, that neither by words nor blows will they +suffer themselves to be roused from it."] + +WOLFGANG MOZART. + + + +The father's plan to go to Italy, there to lay the foundation of a +European reputation for his son, was realized in the beginning of +December, 1769, and during the journey, the boy, who was at that time +just entering his fifteenth year, subjoined to his father's reports +scraps of his own writing, in which, in true boyish fashion, he had +recourse to all kinds of languages and witticisms, but always exhibiting +in his opinions on music the closest observation, the gravest thought, +and the most acute judgment. + + + +2. + +Verona, Jan. 1770. + +MY VERY DEAREST SISTER,-- + +I have at last got a letter a span long after hoping so much for an +answer that I lost patience; and I had good cause to do so before +receiving yours at last. The German blockhead having said his say, now +the Italian one begins. Lei e piu franca nella lingua italiana di quel +che mi ho immaginato. Lei mi dica la cagione perche lei non fu nella +commedia che hanno giocata i Cavalieri. Adesso sentiamo sempre una opera +titolata Il Ruggiero. Oronte, il padre di Bradamante, e un principe (il +Signor Afferi) bravo cantante, un baritono, [Footnote: "You are more +versed in the Italian language than I believed. Tell me why you were not +one of the actors in the comedy performed by the Cavaliers. We are now +hearing an opera called 'Il Ruggiero.' Oronte, the father of Bradamante, +is a Prince (acted by Afferi, a good singer, a baritone)."] but very +affected when he speaks out a falsetto, but not quite so much so as +Tibaldi in Vienna. Bradamante innamorata di Ruggiero (ma [Footnote: +"Bradamante is enamored of Ruggiero, but"]--she is to marry Leone, but +will not) fa una povera Baronessa, che ha avuto una gran disgrazia, ma +non so la quale; recita [Footnote: "Pretends to be a poor Baroness who +has met with some great misfortune, but what it is I don't know, she +performs"] under an assumed name, but the name I forget; ha una voce +passabile, e la statura non sarebbe male, ma distuona come il diavolo. +Ruggiero, un ricco principe innamorato di Bradamante, e un musico; canta +un poco Manzuolisch [Footnote: Manzuoli was a celebrated soprano, from +whom Mozart had lessons in singing when in London.] ed ha una bellissima +voce forte ed e gia vecchio; ha 55 anni, ed ha una [Footnote: "She has +a tolerable voice, and her appearance is in her favor, but she sings out +of tune like a devil Ruggiero, a rich Prince enamored of Bradamante, is +a musico, and sings rather in Manzuoli's style, and has a fine powerful +voice, though quite old; he is fifty-five, and has a"] flexible voice. +Leone is to marry Bradamante--richississimo e, [Footnote: "Immensely +rich."] but whether he is rich off the stage I can't say. La moglie di +Afferi, che ha una bellissima voce, ma e tanto susurro nel teatro che +non si sente niente. Irene fa una sorella di Lolli, del gran violinista +che habbiamo sentito a Vienna, a una [Footnote: "Afferi's wife has a +most beautiful voice, but sings so softly on the stage that you really +hear nothing at all. A sister of Lolli, the great violinist whom we +heard at Vienna, acts Irene; she has a"] very harsh voce, e canta sempre +[Footnote: "Voice, and always sings"] a quaver too tardi o troppo a +buon' ora. Granno fa un signore, che non so come si chiame; e la prima +volta che lui recita. [Footnote: "Slow or too fast. Ganno is acted by +a gentleman whose name I never heard. It is his first appearance on the +stage."] There is a ballet between each act. We have a good dancer here +called Roessler. He is a German, and dances right well. The very last +time we were at the opera (but not, I hope, the very last time we ever +shall be there) we got M. Roessler to come up to our palco, (for M. +Carlotti gives us his box, of which we have the key,) and conversed with +him. Apropos, every one is now in maschera, and one great convenience +is, that if you fasten your mask on your hat you have the privilege +of not taking off your hat when any one speaks to you; and you never +address them by name, but always as "Servitore umilissimo, Signora +Maschera." Cospetto di Bacco! that is fun! The most strange of all is +that we go to bed at half-past seven! Se lei indovinasse questo, io diro +certamente che lei sia la madre di tutti gli indovini. [Footnote: "If +you guess this, I shall say that you are the mother of all guessers."] +Kiss mamma's hand for me, and to yourself I send a thousand kisses, and +assure you that I shall always be your affectionate brother. + +Portez-vous bien, et aimez-moi toujours. + + + +3. + +Milan, Jan. 26, 1770. + +I REJOICE in my heart that you were so well amused at the sledging +party you write to me about, and I wish you a thousand opportunities of +pleasure, so that you may pass your life merrily. But one thing vexes +me, which is, that you allowed Herr von Molk [an admirer of this pretty +young girl of eighteen] to sigh and sentimentalize, and that you did not +go with him in his sledge, that he might have upset you. What a lot of +pocket-handkerchiefs he must have used that day to dry the tears he shed +for you! He no doubt, too, swallowed at least three ounces of cream of +tartar to drive away the horrid evil humors in his body. I know nothing +new except that Herr Gellert, the Leipzig poet, [Footnote: Old Mozart +prized Gellert's poems so highly, that on one occasion he wrote to him +expressing his admiration.] is dead, and has written no more poetry +since his death. Just before beginning this letter I composed an air +from the "Demetrio" of Metastasio, which begins thus, "Misero tu non +sei." + +The opera at Mantua was very good. They gave "Demetrio." The prima donna +sings well, but is inanimate, and if you did not see her acting, but +only singing, you might suppose she was not singing at all, for she +can't open her mouth, and whines out everything; but this is nothing new +to us. The seconda donna looks like a grenadier, and has a very powerful +voice; she really does not sing badly, considering that this is her +first appearance. Il primo uomo, il musico, sings beautifully, but his +voice is uneven; his name is Caselli. Il secondo uomo is quite old, and +does not at all please me. The tenor's name is Ottini; he does not sing +unpleasingly, but with effort, like all Italian tenors. We know him +very well. The name of the second I don't know; he is still young, but +nothing at all remarkable. Primo ballerino good; prima ballerina good, +and people say pretty, but I have not seen her near. There is a grotesco +who jumps cleverly, but cannot write as I do--just as pigs grunt. +The orchestra is tolerable. In Cremona, the orchestra is good, and +Spagnoletta is the name of the first violinist there. Prima donna very +passable--rather ancient, I fancy, and as ugly as sin. She does not sing +as well as she acts, and is the wife of a violin-player at the opera. +Her name is Masci. The opera was the "Clemenza di Tito." Seconda donna +not ugly on the stage, young, but nothing superior. Primo uomo, un +musico, Cicognani, a fine voice, and a beautiful cantabile. The other +two musici young and passable. The tenor's name is non lo so [I don't +know what]. He has a pleasing exterior, and resembles Le Roi at Vienna. +Ballerino primo good, but an ugly dog. There was a ballerina who danced +far from badly, and, what is a capo d'opera, she is anything but plain, +either on the stage or off it. The rest were the usual average. I cannot +write much about the Milan opera, for we did not go there, but we heard +that it was not successful. Primo uomo, Aprile, who sings well, and +has a fine even voice; we heard him at a grand church festival. Madame +Piccinelli, from Paris, who sang at one of our concerts, acts at the +opera. Herr Pick, who danced at Vienna, is now dancing here. The opera +is "Didone abbandonata," but it is not to be given much longer. Signor +Piccini, who is writing the next opera, is here. I am told that the +title is to be "Cesare in Egitto." + +WOLFGANG DE MOZART, + +Noble of Hohenthal and attached to the Exchequer. + + + +4. + +Milan, Feb. 10, 1770. + +SPEAK of the wolf, and you see his ears! I am quite well, and +impatiently expecting an answer from you. I kiss mamma's hand, and +send you a little note and a little kiss; and remain, as before, +your----What? Your aforesaid merry-andrew brother, Wolfgang in Germany, +Amadeo in Italy. + +DE MORZANTINI. + + + +5. + +Milan, Feb. 17, 1770. + +Now I am in for it! My Mariandel! I am so glad that you were so +tremendously merry. Say to nurse Urserl that I still think I sent back +all her songs, but if, engrossed by high and mighty thoughts of Italy, +I carried one off with me, I shall not fail, if I find it, to enclose it +in one of my letters. Addio, my children, farewell! I kiss mamma's hands +a thousand times, and send you a thousand kisses and salutes on your +queer monkey face. Per fare il fine, I am yours, &c. + + + +6. + +Milan, Carnival, Erchtag. + +MANY kisses to mamma and to you. I am fairly crazed with so much +business, [Footnote: Concerts and compositions of every kind occupied +Mozart. The principal result of his stay in Milan was, that the young +maestro got the scrittura of an opera for the ensuing season. As the +libretto was to be sent to them, they could first make a journey through +Italy with easy minds. The opera was "Mitridate, Re di Ponto."] so I +can't possibly write any more. + + + +7. + +Milan, March 3, 1770. + +CARA SORELLA MIA,-- + +I am heartily glad that you have had so much amusement. Perhaps you may +think that I have not been as merry as you; but, indeed, I cannot sum +up all we have done. I think we have been at least six or seven times at +the opera and the feste di ballo, which, as in Vienna, begin after the +opera, but with this difference, that at Vienna the dancing is more +orderly. We also saw the facchinata and chiccherata. The first is +a masquerade, an amusing sight, because the men go as facchini, or +porters; there was also a barca filled with people, and a great number +on foot besides; and five or six sets of trumpets and kettledrums, +besides several bands of violins and other instruments. The chiccherata +is also a masquerade. What the people of Milan call chicchere, we call +petits maitres, or fops. They were all on horseback, which was a pretty +sight. I am as happy now to hear that Herr von Aman [Footnote: The +father had written in a previous letter, "Herr von Aman's accident, +of which you wrote to us, not only distressed us very much, but cost +Wolfgang many tears. You know how sensitive he is"] is better, as I was +grieved when you mentioned that he had met with an accident. What +kind of mask did Madame Rosa wear, and Herr von Molk, and Herr von +Schiedenhofen? Pray write this to me, if you know it; your doing so will +oblige me very much. Kiss mamma's hands for me a thousand million times, +and a thousand to yourself from "Catch him who can!" Why, here he is! + + + +8. + +Bologna, March 24, 1770. + +Oh, you busy creature! + +Having been so long idle, I thought it would do me no harm to set to +work again for a short time. On the post-days, when the German letters +come, all that I eat and drink tastes better than usual. I beg you will +let me know who are to sing in the oratorio, and also its title. Let me +hear how you like the Haydn minuets, and whether they are better than +the first. From my heart I rejoice to hear that Herr von Aman is now +quite recovered; pray say to him that he must take great care of himself +and beware of any unusual exertion. Be sure you tell him this. I intend +shortly to send you a minuet that Herr Pick danced on the stage, and +which every one in Milan was dancing at the feste di ballo, only +that you may see by it how slowly people dance. The minuet itself is +beautiful. Of course it comes from Vienna, so no doubt it is either +Teller's or Starzer's. It has a great many notes. Why? Because it is a +theatrical minuet, which is in slow time. The Milan and Italian minuets, +however, have a vast number of notes, and are slow and with a quantity +of bars; for instance, the first part has sixteen, the second twenty, +and even twenty-four. + +We made the acquaintance of a singer in Parma, and also heard her to +great advantage in her own house--I mean the far-famed Bastardella. She +has, first, a fine voice; second, a flexible organ; third, an incredibly +high compass. She sang the following notes and passages in my presence. + +[Here, Mozart illustrates with about 20 measures of music] + + + +9. + +Rome, April 14, 1770. + +I AM thankful to say that my stupid pen and I are all right, so we send +a thousand kisses to you both. I wish that my sister were in Rome, +for this city would assuredly delight her, because St. Peter's is +symmetrical, and many other things in Rome are also symmetrical. Papa +has just told me that the loveliest flowers are being carried past at +this moment. That I am no wiseacre is pretty well known. + +Oh! I have one annoyance--there is only a single bed in our lodgings, +so mamma may easily imagine that I get no rest beside papa. I rejoice at +the thoughts of a new lodging. I have just finished sketching St. Peter +with his keys, St. Paul with his sword, and St. Luke with--my sister, +&c., &c. I had the honor of kissing St. Peter's foot at San Pietro, and +as I have the misfortune to be so short, your good old + +WOLFGANG MOZART + +was lifted up! + + + +10. + +Rome, April 21, 1770. + +CARA SORELLA MIA,-- + +Pray try to find the "Art of Ciphering" which you copied out, but I have +lost it, and know nothing about it. So pray do write it out again for +me, with some other copies of sums, and send them to me here. + +Manzuoli has entered into a contract with the Milanese to sing in my +opera [see Nos. 2-6]. For this reason he sang four or five arias to me +in Florence, and also some of my own, which I was obliged to compose in +Milan (none of my theatrical things having been heard there) to prove +that I was capable of writing an opera. Manzuoli asks 1000 ducats. It is +not yet quite certain whether Gabrielli will come. Some say Madame de' +Amicis will sing in it; we shall see her in Naples. I wish that she and +Manzuoli could act together; we should then be sure of two good friends. +The libretto is not yet chosen. I recommended one of Metastasio's to Don +Ferdinando [Count Firmiani's steward, in Milan] and to Herr von Troyer. +I am at this moment at work on the aria "Se ardore e speranza." + + + +11. + +Rome, April 25, 1770. + +CARA SORELLA MIA,-- + +Io vi accerto che io aspetto con una incredibile premura tutte le +giornate di posta qualche lettere di Salisburgo. Jeri fummo a S. Lorenzo +e sentimmo il Vespero, e oggi matina la messa cantata, e la sera poi il +secondo vespero, perche era la festa della Madonna del Buonconsiglio. +Questi giorni fummi nel Campidoglio e viddemmo varie belle cose. Se io +volessi scrivere tutto quel che viddi, non bastarebbe questo foglietto. +In due Accademie suonai, e domani suonero anche in una.--Subito dopo +pranzo giuochiamo a Potsch [Boccia]. Questo e un giuoco che imparai qui, +quando verro a casa, ve l'imparero. Finita questa lettera finiro una +sinfonia mia, che comminciai. L'aria e finita, una sinfonia e dal +copista (il quale e il mio padre) perche noi non la vogliamo dar via per +copiarla; altrimente ella sarebbe rubata. + +WOLFGANGO in Germania. AMADEO MOZART in Italia. + +Roma caput mundi il 25 Aprile anno 1770 nell' anno venture 1771. + +[Footnote: + +"DEAREST SISTER,-- + +"I assure you that I always expect with intense eagerness my letters +from Salzburg on post-days. Yesterday we were at S. Lorenzo and heard +vespers, and to-day at the chanted mass, and in the evening at the +second vespers, because it was the Feast of the Madonna del +Buonconsiglio. A few days ago we were at the Campidoglio, where we saw a +great many fine things. If I tried to write you an account of all I saw, +this sheet would not suffice. I played at two concerts, and to-morrow I +am to play at another. After dinner we played at Potsch [Boccia]. This +is a game I have learnt, and when I come home, I will teach it to you. +When I have finished this letter, I am going to complete a symphony that +I have begun. The aria is finished. The copyist (who is my father) has +the symphony, because we do not choose it to be copied by any one else, +or it might be stolen. + +"WOLFGANGO in Germany. + +"AMADEO MOZART in Italy. + +"Rome, mistress of the world: April 25, 1770."] + + + +12. + +Naples, May 19, 1770. + +CARA SORELLA MIA,-- + +Vi prego di scrivermi presto e tutti i giorni di posta. Io vi ringrazio +di avermi mandata questi "Art of Ciphering," [FOOTNOTE: "I beg you will +write to me soon, indeed every post-day. I thank you for having sent me +the 'Art of Ciphering.'"] e vi prego, se mai volete avere mal di testa, +di mandarmi ancora un poco di questi "books." [FOOTNOTE: "And I beg if +you ever want to have a headache, that you will send me some more."] +Perdonate mi che scrivo si malamente, ma la razione e perche anche +io ebbi un poco mal di testa. [FOOTNOTE: "of the same kind. Excuse my +writing so badly, but the reason is that I have a bit of a headache +myself."] + +Haydn's twelfth minuet, which you sent me, pleases me very much; you +have composed an inimitable bass for it, and without the slightest +fault. I do beg that you will often exercise yourself in such things. +Mamma must not forget to see that the guns are both polished up. Tell me +how Master Canary is? Does he still sing? and still whistle? Do you know +why I am thinking about the canary? Because we have one in our ante-room +that chirps out a G sharp just like ours. [Footnote: Mozart was +extremely fond of animals, and later in life had always birds in his +room.] A propos, Herr Johannes [Hagenauer], no doubt, received the +letter of congratulation which we intended to write to him? But if he +has not got it, I will tell him myself, when we meet in Salzburg, what +ought to have been in it. Yesterday we wore our new clothes; we were as +handsome as angels. My kind regards to Nandl; she must not fail to pray +diligently for me. + +Jomelli's opera is to be given on the 30th. We saw the king and queen at +mass in the court chapel at Portici, and we also saw Vesuvius. Naples is +beautiful, but as crowded with people as Vienna or Paris. As for London +and Naples, I think that in point of insolence on the part of the people +Naples almost surpasses London; because here the lazzaroni have their +regular head or leader, who receives twenty-five ducati d'argento +monthly from the king for keeping the lazzaroni in order. + +Madame de' Amicis sings in the opera--we were there. Caffaro is to +compose the second opera, Ciccio di Majo the third, but who is to +compose the fourth is not yet known. Be sure you go regularly to +Mirabell, to hear the Litanies, and listen to the "Regina Coeli" or the +"Salve Regina," and sleep sound, and take care to have no evil dreams. +My most transcendent regards to Herr von Schiedenhofen--tralaliera! +tralaliera! Tell him to learn the repetition minuet on the piano, to be +sure to DO so, and DO not let him forget it. He must DO this in order +to DO me the favor to let me accompany him some day or other. DO give my +best compliments to all my friends, and DO continue to live happily, and +DO not die, but DO live on, that you may be able to DO another letter +for me, and I DO one for you, and thus we shall go on DOING till we can +DO something worth DOING; but I am one of those who will go on DOING +till all DOINGS are at an end. In the mean time I DO subscribe myself + +Your W. M. + + + +13. + +Naples, May 29, 1770. + +Jeri l'altro fummo nella prova dell' opera del Sign. Jomelli, la quale +e una opera che e ben scritta e che me piace veramente. Il Sign. Jomelli +ci ha parlato ed era molto civile. E fummo anche in una chiesa a sentir +una Musica la quale fu del Sign. Ciccio di Majo, ed era una bellissima +Musica. Anche lui ci parlci ed era molto compito. La Signora de' +Amicis canto a meraviglia. Stiamo Dio grazia assai bene di salute, +particolarmente io, quando viene una lettera di Salisburgo. Vi prego +di scrivermi tutti giorni di posta, e se anche non avete niente da +scrivermi, solamente vorrei averlo per aver qualche lettera tutti giorni +di posta. Egli non sarebbe mal fatto, se voi mi scriveste qualche volta +una letterina italiana. + +[FOOTNOTE: "The other day we attended the rehearsal of Signor Jomelli's +opera, which is well written and pleases me exceedingly. Signor Jomelli +spoke to us and was very civil. We also went to a church to hear a mass +by Signor Ciccio di Majo, and it was most beautiful music. Signora +de' Amicus sang incomparably. We are, thank God, very well, and I feel +particularly so when a letter from Salzburg arrives. I beg you will +write to me every post-day, even if you have nothing to write about, for +I should like to have a letter by every post. It would not be a bad idea +to write me a little letter in Italian."] + + + +14. + +Naples, June 5, 1770. + +Vesuvius is smoking fiercely! Thunder and lightning and blazes! Haid +homa gfresa beim Herr Doll. Das is a deutscha Compositor, und a browa +Mo. [Footnote: "Today we dined with Herr Doll, he is a good composer +and a worthy man" [Vienna Patois]] Now I begin to describe my course +of life.--Alle 9 ore, qualche volta anche alle dieci mi svelgio, e poi +andiamo fuor di casa, e poi pranziamo da un trattore, e dopo pranzo +scriviamo, e poi sortiamo, e indi ceniamo, ma che cosa? Al giorno di +grasso, un mezzo pollo ovvero un piccolo boccone d'arrosto; al giorno di +magro un piccolo pesce; e di poi andiamo a dormire. Est-ce que vous +avez compris?--Redma dafir Soisburgarisch, don as is gschaida. Wir sand +Gottlob gesund da Voda und i. [Footnote: "I rise generally every morning +at 9 o'clock, but sometimes not till 10, when we go out. We dine at +a restaurateur's, after dinner I write, and then we go out again, and +afterwards sup, but on what? on jours gras, half a fowl, or a small +slice of roast meat, on jours maigres a little fish, and then we go to +sleep. Do you understand? Let us talk Salzburgisch, for that is more +sensible. Thank God, my father and I are well" [Patois]] I hope you +and mamma are so also. Naples and Rome are two drowsy cities. A scheni +Schrift! net wor? [Footnote: "Fine writing, is it not?" [Patois.]] Write +to me, and do not be so lazy. Altrimente avrete qualche bastonate di +me. Quel plaisir! Je te casserai la tete. [Footnote: "Otherwise I +will cudgel you soundly. What a pleasure--to break your head!"] I am +delighted with the thoughts of the portraits [of his mother and sister, +who had promised to have their likenesses taken], und i bi korios wias +da gleich sieht; wons ma gfoin, so los i mi und den Vodan a so macho. +Maidli, lass Da saga, wo list dan gwesa he? [Footnote: "And I am anxious +to see what they are like, and then I will have my father and myself +also taken. Fair maiden, say, where have you been, eh?" [Patois.]] The +opera here is Jomelli's; it is fine, but too grave and old-fashioned for +this stage. Madame de' Amicis sings incomparably, and so does Aprile, +who used to sing at Milan. The dancing is miserably pretentious. The +theatre beautiful. The King has been brought up in the rough Neapolitan +fashion, and at the opera always stands on a stool, so that he may look +a little taller than the Queen, who is beautiful and so gracious, for +she bowed to me in the most condescending manner no less than six times +on the Molo. + + + +15. + +Naples, June 16, 1770. + +I AM well and lively and happy as ever, and as glad to travel. I made +an excursion on the Mediterranean. I kiss mamma's hand and Nannerl's a +thousand times, and am your son, Steffl, and your brother, Hansl. + + + +16. + +Rome, July 7, 1770. + +CARA SORELLA MIA,-- + +I am really surprised that you can compose so charmingly. In a word, the +song is beautiful. Often try something similar. Send me soon the +other six minuets of Haydn. Mademoiselle, j'ai l'honneur d'etre votre +tres-humble serviteur et frere, + +CHEVALIER DE MOZART. + +[He had received from the Pope the cross of the Order of the Golden +Spur.] + + + +17. + +Bologna, July 21, 1770. + +I WISH mamma joy of her name-day, and hope that she may live for many +hundred years to come and retain good health, which I always ask of +God, and pray to Him for you both every day. I cannot do honor to the +occasion except with some Loretto bells, and wax tapers, and caps, and +gauze when I return. In the mean time, good-bye, mamma. I kiss your hand +a thousand times, and remain, till death, your attached son. + + + +18. + +Io vi auguro d'Iddio, vi dia sempre salute, e vi lasci vivere ancora +cent' anni e vi faccia morire quando avrete mille anni. Spero che voi +impararete meglio conoscermi ni avvenire e che poi ne giudicherete come +ch' egli vi piace. Il tempo non mi permette di scriver motto. La penna +non vale un corno, ne pure quello che la dirigge. Il titolo dell' opera +che ho da comporre a Milano, non si sa ancora. + +[Footnote: "My prayer to God is, that He may grant you health, and allow +you to live to be a hundred, and not to die till you are a thousand +years old. I hope that you will learn to know me better in future, and +that you will then judge of me as you please. Time does not permit me +to write much. My pen is not worth a pin, nor the hand that guides it. I +don't yet know the title of the opera that I am to compose at Milan."] + +My landlady at Rome made me a present of the "Thousand and One Nights" +in Italian; it is most amusing to read. + + + +19. + +Bologna, August 4, 1770. + +I GRIEVE from my heart to hear that Jungfrau Marthe is still so ill, and +I pray every day that she may recover. Tell her from me that she must +beware of much fatigue and eat only what is strongly salted [she +was consumptive]. A propos, did you give my letter to Robinsiegerl? +[Sigismund Robinig, a friend of his]. You did not mention it when you +wrote. I beg that when you see him you will tell him he is not quite +to forget me. I can't possibly write better, for my pen is only fit to +write music and not a letter. My violin has been newly strung, and I +play every day. I only mention this because mamma wished to know whether +I still played the violin. I have had the honor to go at least six times +by myself into the churches to attend their splendid ceremonies. In the +mean time I have composed four Italian symphonies [overtures], besides +five or six arias, and also a motett. + +Does Herr Deibl often come to see you? Does he still honor you by his +amusing conversation? And the noble Herr Carl von Vogt, does he still +deign to listen to your tiresome voices? Herr von Schiedenhofen +must assist you often in writing minuets, otherwise he shall have no +sugar-plums. + +If time permitted, it would be my duty to trouble Herr von Molk and Herr +von Schiedenhofen with a few lines; but as that most indispensable of +all things is wanting, I hope they will forgive my neglect, and consider +me henceforth absolved from this honor. I have begun various cassations +[a kind of divertimento], so I have thus responded to your desire. I +don't think the piece in question can be one of mine, for who would +venture to publish as his own composition what is, in reality, written +by the son of the Capellmeister, and whose mother and sister are in +the same town? Addio--farewell! My sole recreations consist in dancing +English hornpipes and cutting capers. Italy is a land of sleep; I am +always drowsy here. Addio--good-bye! + + + +20. + +Bologna, August 21, 1770. + +I AM not only still alive, but in capital spirits. To-day I took a fancy +to ride a donkey, for such is the custom in Italy, so I thought that I +too must give it a trial. We have the honor to associate with a certain +Dominican who is considered a very pious ascetic. I somehow don't quite +think so, for he constantly takes a cup of chocolate for breakfast, and +immediately afterwards a large glass of strong Spanish wine; and I have +myself had the privilege of dining with this holy man, when he drank a +lot of wine at dinner and a full glass of very strong wine afterwards, +two large slices of melons, some peaches and pears for dessert, five +cups of coffee, a whole plateful of nuts, and two dishes of milk and +lemons. This he may perhaps do out of bravado, but I don't think so--at +all events, it is far too much; and he eats a great deal also at his +afternoon collation. + + + +21. + +Bologna, Sept. 8, 1770. + +NOT to fail in my duty, I must write a few words. I wish you would tell +me in your next letter to what brotherhoods I belong, and also let +me know the prayers I am bound to offer up for them. I am now reading +"Telemachus," and am already in the second volume. Good-bye for the +present! Love to mamma. + + + +22. + +I HOPE that mamma and you are both well, but I wish you would answer +my letters more punctually in time to come; indeed, it is far easier to +answer than to originate. I like these six minuets far better than the +first twelve; we often played them to the Countess [Pallivicini, at +whose country-seat, near Bologna, father and son spent some months]. +We only wish we could succeed in introducing a taste for German minuets +into Italy, as their minuets last nearly as long as entire symphonies. +Forgive my bad writing; I could write better, but I am in such a hurry. + + + +23. + +Bologna, Sept. 29, 1770. + +IN order to fill up papa's letter, I intend to add a few words. I grieve +deeply to hear of Jungfrau Marthe's long-continued illness, which the +poor girl bears, too, with such patience. I hope, please God, she may +still recover. If not, we must not grieve too much, for the will of God +is always best, and God certainly knows better than we do whether it is +most for our good to be in this world or in the next. But it will cheer +her to enjoy this fine weather once more after all the rain. + + + +24. + +Bologna, Oct. 6, 1770. + +I AM heartily glad that you have been so gay; I only wish I had been +with you. I hope Jungfrau Marthe is better. To-day I played the organ at +the Dominicans. Congratulate the .... from me, and say that I sincerely +wish they may live to see the fiftieth anniversary of Father Dominikus's +saying mass, and that we may all once more have a happy meeting. + +[Footnote: Jahn observes that he probably alludes to their intimate +friends, the merchant Hagenauer's family, with whom old Mozart had many +pecuniary transactions for the purpose of his travels, and whose son +entered the church in 1764.] + +My best wishes to all Thereserls, and compliments to all my friends in +the house and out of the house. I wish I were likely soon to hear the +Berchtesgadner symphonies, and perhaps blow a trumpet or play a fife +in one myself. I saw and heard the great festival of St. Petronius in +Bologna. It was fine, but long. The trumpeters came from Lucca to make +the proper flourish of honor, but their trumpeting was detestable. + + + +25. + +Milan, Oct. 20, 1770. + +MY DEAR MAMMA,-- + +I cannot write much, for my fingers ache from writing out such a +quantity of recitative. I hope you will pray for me that my opera +["Mitridate Re di Ponto"] may go off well, and that we soon may have +a joyful meeting. I kiss your hands a thousand times, and have a great +deal to say to my sister; but what? That is known only to God and +myself. Please God, I hope soon to be able to confide it to her +verbally; in the mean time, I send her a thousand kisses. My compliments +to all kind friends. We have lost our good Martherl, but we hope that by +the mercy of God she is now in a state of blessedness. + + + +26. + +Milan, Oct. 27, 1770. + +MY VERY DEAREST SISTER,-- + +You know that I am a great talker, and was so when I left you. At +present I replace this very much by signs, for the son of this family +is deaf and dumb. I must now set to work at my opera. I regret very much +that I cannot send you the minuet you wish to have, but, God willing, +perhaps about Easter you may see both it and me. I can write no +more.--Farewell! and pray for me. + + + +27. + +Milan, Nov. 3, 1770. + +MY VERY DEARLY LOVED SISTER,-- + +I thank you and mamma for your sincere good wishes; my most ardent +desire is to see you both soon in Salzburg. In reference to your +congratulations, I may say that I believe Herr Martinelli suggested +your Italian project. My dear sister, you are always so very clever, +and contrived it all so charmingly that, just underneath your +congratulations in Italian, followed M. Martini's compliments in the +same style of penmanship, so that I could not possibly find you out; nor +did I do so, and I immediately said to papa, "Oh! how I do wish I were +as clever and witty as she is!" Then papa answered, "Indeed, that is +true enough." On which I rejoined, "Oh! I am so sleepy;" so he merely +replied, "Then stop writing." Addio! Pray to God that my opera may be +successful. I am your brother, + +W. M., + +whose fingers are weary from writing. + + + +28. + +Milan, Dec. 1, 1770. + +DEAREST SISTER,-- + +As it is so long since I wrote to you, I thought that I might perhaps +pacify your just wrath and indignation by these lines. I have now a +great deal to work at, and to write for my opera. I trust all will go +well, with the help of God. Addio! As ever, your faithful brother, + +WOLFGANG MOZART. + + + +29. + +MY DARLING SISTER,-- + +It is long since I have written to you, having been so much occupied +with my opera. As I have now more time, I shall attend better to my +duty. My opera, thank God, is popular, as the theatre is full every +evening, which causes great surprise, for many say that during all the +time they have lived in Milan they never saw any first opera so crowded +as on this occasion. I am thankful to say that both papa and I are quite +well, and I hope at Easter to have an opportunity of relating everything +to mamma and you. Addio! A propos, the copyist was with us yesterday, +and said that he was at that moment engaged in transcribing my opera for +the Lisbon court. Good-bye, my dear Madlle. sister, + +Always and ever your attached brother. + + + +30. + +Venice, Feb 15, 1771 + +MY VERY DEAR SISTER,-- + +You have, no doubt, heard from papa that I am well. I have nothing to +write about, except my love and kisses to mamma. Give the enclosed--Al +sig. Giovanni. La signora perla ricono la riverisce tanto come anche +tutte le altre perle, e li assicuro che tutte sono inamorata di lei, +e che sperano che lei prendera per moglie tutte, come i Turchi per +contenar tutte sei. Questo scrivo in casa di Sign. Wider, il quale e un +galant' uomo come lei melo scrisse, ed jeri abbiamo finito il carnavale +da lui, cenardo da lui e poi ballammo ed andammo colle perle in +compagnie nel ridotto nuovo, che mi piacque assai. Quando sto dal Sign. +Wider e guardando fuori della finestra vedo la casa dove lei abito +quando lei fu in Venezia. Il nuovo non so niente. Venezia mi piace +assai. Il mio complimento al Sign., suo padre e madre, sorelle, +fratelli, e a tutti i miei amici ed amiche. Addio! + +[Footnote: "To Herr Johannes [Hagenauer] The fair 'pearl' has the same +high opinion of you that all the other 'pearls' here have. I assure +you that they are all in love with you, and their hope is that you will +marry them all (like the Turks), and so please them every one. I write +this in the house of Signor Wider, who is an excellent man and exactly +what you wrote to me, yesterday we finished the Carnival in his house. +We supped there and then danced, and went afterwards, in company with +the 'pearls,' to the new masquerade, which amused me immensely. When +I look out of the window at Signor Wider's, I see the house that +you inhabited in Venice. I have no news. I like Venice very well. My +compliments to your father and mother, brothers and sisters, and all my +friends. Adieu!"] + + + +31. + +Venice, Feb. 20, 1771. + +I AM still well, and, thank God, in the land of the living. Madame de' +Amicis has been singing at S. Benedetto. Say to Herr Johannes that the +Widerischen Berlein family are constantly speaking of him (particularly +Madlle. Catherine), so he must soon return to Vienna to encounter the +attacca--that is, in order to become a true Venetian, you must allow +yourself to be bumped down on the ground. They wished to do this to me +also, but though seven women tried it, the whole seven together did not +succeed in throwing me down. Addio! + +The travellers arrived again at home towards the end of March, 1771. The +marriage of the Archduke Ferdinand with the Princess of Modena, +which took place in the October of that year, was attended with great +festivities, and recalled the father and son to Italy in the course of +a few months, Wolfgang having received a command from the Empress Maria +Theresa to compose a dramatic serenata in honor of these nuptials. + + + +32. + +Verona, August 18, 1771. + +DEAREST SISTER,-- + +I have not slept more than half an hour, for I don't like to sleep +after eating. You may hope, believe, think, be of opinion, cherish the +expectation, desire, imagine, conceive, and confidently suppose, that we +are in good health; but I can tell you so to a certainty. Wish Herr von +Heffner a happy journey from me, and ask him if he has seen Annamindl? + +[Wolfgang, who was then fifteen, had taken advantage of his leisure +during their short stay in Salzburg to fall in love for the first time. +We shall find frequent allusions to this subject. See also No. 25.] + + + +33. + +Milan, August 23, 1771. + +MY VERY DEAR SISTER,-- + +We suffered much from heat in the course of our journey, and the dust +constantly dried us up so impertinently that we should have been choked, +or died of thirst, if we had not been too sensible for that. For a whole +month past (say the Milanese) there has been no rain here; to-day a +slight drizzle began, but the sun has now come out again, and it is once +more very warm. What you promised me (you well know my meaning, you +kind creature!) don't fail to perform, I entreat. I shall be indeed very +grateful to you. I am at this moment actually panting from the heat--I +tear open my waistcoat! Addio--good-bye! + +WOLFGANG. + +Above us we have a violinist, below us is another, next to us a +singing-master, who gives lessons, and, in the room opposite, a +hautboy-player. This is famous for a composer--it inspires so many fine +thoughts. + + + +34. + +Milan, August 31, 1771. + +MY DEAREST SISTER,-- + +We are quite well, thank God! I have been eating quantities of fine +pears, peaches, and melons in your place. My greatest amusement is to +talk by signs to the dumb, which I can do to perfection. Herr Hasse [the +celebrated opera composer] arrived here yesterday, and to-day we are +going to pay him a visit. We only received the book of the Serenata +last Thursday. [Footnote: It was "Ascanio in Alba" that Wolfgang got to +compose for Milan; and it was this music which made Hasse exclaim, "This +boy will cause us all to be forgotten."] I have very little to write +about. Do not, I entreat, forget about THE ONE OTHER, where no other can +ever be. You understand me, I know. + + + +35. + +Milan, Sept. 13, 1771. + +DEAR SISTER,-- + +I write only for writing's sake. It is indeed very inconvenient, because +I have a severe cold. Say to Fraulein W. von Molk that I rejoice at the +thoughts of Salzburg, in the hope that I may again receive the same +kind of present for the minuets which was bestowed on me at a similar +concert. She knows all about it. + + + +36. + +Milan, Sept. 21, 1771. + +I AM well, God be praised! I can't write much. 1st, I have nothing to +say. 2d, my fingers ache from writing. I often whistle an air, but no +one responds. Only two arias of the Serenata are still wanting, and +then it will be finished. I have no longer any fancy for Salzburg; I am +afraid I might go mad too. [He had heard that several persons there had +lost their reason.] + + + +37. + +Milan, Oct. 5, 1771. + +I AM in good health, but always sleepy. Papa has snatched from my pen +all that I had to write about, which is, that he has already written +everything. Signora Gabrielli is here, and we are soon going to see her, +as we wish to become acquainted with all distinguished singers. + + + +38. + +Milan, Oct. 26, 1771. + +MY work being now completed, I have more time to write, but have nothing +to say, as papa has written you all I could have said. I am well, thank +God! but have no news, except that in the lottery the numbers 35, 59, +60, 61, and 62 have turned up prizes, so if we had selected these we +should have won; but as we did not put in at all we neither won nor +lost, but only laughed at those who did the latter. The two arias +encored in the Serenata were those of Manzuoli, and Girelli, the prima +donna, I hope you may be well amused in Triebenbach with shooting, and +(weather permitting) with walking. + + + +39. + +Milan, Nov. 2, 1771. + +Papa says that Herr Kerschbaumer travels with profit and observation, +and we can testify that he conducts himself very judiciously; at all +events he can give a more satisfactory account of his journey than some +of his friends, one of whom said that he could not see Paris properly +because the houses there were too high. To-day Hasse's opera is to be +given; as papa, however, is not going, I can't go either. [FOOTNOTE: +Hasse had also a festal opera to compose, but Leopold Mozart writes, "I +am sorry to say that Wolfgang's Serenata has totally eclipsed Hasse's +opera."] Fortunately I know all the airs thoroughly by heart, so I can +see and hear them in my own thoughts at home. + + + +40. + +Milan, Nov. 24, 1771. + +DEAREST SISTER,-- + +Herr Manzuoli, the musico, who has always been considered and esteemed +as the best of his class, has in his old age given a proof of his folly +and arrogance. He was engaged at the opera for the sum of 500 gigliati +(ducats), but as no mention was made in the contract of the Serenata, he +demanded 500 ducats more for singing in it, making 1000. The court only +sent him 700 and a gold box, (and enough too, I think,) but he returned +the 700 ducats and the box, and went away without anything. I don't know +what the result of this history will be--a bad one, I fear! + + + +41. + +Milan, Nov. 30, 1771. + +That you may not suppose I am ill, I write you a few lines. I saw four +fellows hanged in the Dom Platz. They hang here just as they do in +Lyons. + +We now find the father and son once more in Salzburg, in the middle of +December, 1771. Archbishop Sigismund died, and on the 14th of March, +1772, Archbishop Hieronymus was elected, who was destined to cause much +sorrow to Mozart. Soon after, in honor of the procession and homage of +the new prince, he composed the allegorical azione teatrale "Il sogno +di Scipione." In October he resumed his travels, having undertaken the +scrittura for the approaching Carnivals both at Milan and at Venice. + + + +42. + +Bologna, Oct. 28, 1772. + +We have got to Botzen already. Already? rather not till now. I am +hungry, thirsty, sleepy, and lazy, but I am quite well. We saw +the monastery in Hall, and I played the organ there. When you see +Nadernannerl, tell her I spoke to Herr Brindl (her lover), and he +charged me to give her his regards. I hope that you kept your promise +and went last Sunday to D----N----[in cipher]. Farewell! write me some +news. Botzen--a pig-sty! + + + +43. + +Milan, Nov. 7, 1772. + +Don't be startled at seeing my writing instead of papa's. These are the +reasons: first, we are at Herr von Oste's, and the Herr Baron Christiani +is also here, and they have so much to talk about, that papa cannot +possibly find time to write; and, secondly, he is too lazy. We arrived +here at 4 o'clock this afternoon, and are both well. All our good +friends are in the country or at Mantua, except Herr von Taste and his +wife, who send you and my sister their compliments. Herr Misliweczeck [a +young composer of operas from Paris] is still here. There is not a word +of truth either in the Italian war, which is so eagerly discussed in +Germany, or in the castles here being fortified. Forgive my bad writing. + +Address your letters direct to us, for it is not the custom here, as in +Germany, to carry the letters round; we are obliged to go ourselves to +fetch them on post-days. There is nothing new here; we expect news from +Salzburg. + +Not having a word more to say, I must conclude. Our kind regards to all +our friends. We kiss mamma 1,000,000,000 times (I have no room for more +noughts); and as for my sister, I would rather embrace her in persona +than in imagination. + + + +44. + +CARISSIMA SORELLA,-- + +Spero che voi sarete stata dalla Signora, che voi gia sapete. Vi prego, +se la videte di farla un Complimento da parte mia. Spero e non dubito +punto che voi starete bene di salute. Mi son scordato di darvi nuova, +che abbiamo qui trovato quel Sign. Belardo, ballerina, che abbiamo +conosciuto in Haye ed in Amsterdam, quello che attaco colla spada il +ballerino, il Sign. Neri, perche credeva che lui fosse cagione che non +ebbe la permission di ballar in teatro. Addio, non scordarvi di me, io +sono sempre il vostro fidele fratello. + +[FOOTNOTE: "DEAREST SISTER,--I hope you have been to see the lady--you +know who. I beg that when you see her you will give her my compliments. +I hope, and do not doubt, that you are in good health. I forgot to tell +you that we found Signor Belardo here, a dancer whom we knew at the +Hague and at Amsterdam--the same person who attacked Signor Neri with +a sword, because he thought he was the cause of his not obtaining +permission to dance in the theatre. Adieu! Do not forget me, always your +faithful brother."] + + + +45. + +Milan, Nov. 21, 1772. + +I thank you exceedingly--you know for what. I cannot possibly write to +Herr von Heffner. When you see him, make him read aloud what follows. I +hope he will be satisfied with it:-- + +"I am not to take it amiss that my unworthy friend has not answered my +letter; as soon as he has more leisure, he will certainly, beyond all +doubt, positively and punctually send me a reply." + + + +46. + +Milan, Nov. 28, 1772. + +We both send our congratulations to Herr von Aman; tell him from me +that, owing to his having all along made a mystery of the affair, I feel +much annoyed, for I fear I may have said more than I ought about his +bride. I thought he had been more straightforward. One thing more. Say +to Herr von Aman that, if he wishes to have a right merry wedding, he +must be so kind as to wait till we return, so that what he promised me +may come to pass, namely, that I was to dance at his wedding. Tell Herr +Leitgeb [a horn-player in the Archbishop's orchestra] that he must come +straight to Milan, for he is sure to succeed well here; but he must come +soon. Pray let him know this, for I am anxious about it. + + + +47. + +Milan, Dec. 5, 1772. + +I have now about fourteen pieces to write, and then I shall have +finished. [Footnote: He alludes to his Milan opera, "Lucio Silla."] +Indeed, the trio and the duet may be considered as four. I cannot +possibly write much, for I have no news, and in the next place I +scarcely know what I am writing, as all my thoughts are absorbed in my +opera, so there is some danger of my writing you a whole aria instead of +a letter. I have learned a new game here, called mercanti in fiera. As +soon as I come home we can play at it together. I have also learned +a new language from Frau von Taste, which is easy to speak, though +troublesome to write, but still useful. It is, I own, rather a little +childish, but will do capitally for Salzburg. My kind regards to +pretty Nandl and to the canary, for these two and yourself are the +most innocent creatures in our house. Fischietti [the Archbishop's +Capellmeister] will no doubt soon begin to work at his opera buffa +(translated into German, his CRAZY opera!). Addio! + +The following letter of Wolfgang's shows the sparkling state of his +spirits, caused by the completion of his opera. At each line he turns +the page, so that one line stands, as it were, on the head of the other. +The father, too, in the joy of his heart that the arduous work was +drawing to a close, and with it his long journey, writes four lines, +one above another, round the edge of the page, so that the whole forms a +framework for a sketch of a burning heart and four triangles (symbols +of fidelity), and a bird on the wing from whose beak a distich is +streaming:-- + +Oh! fly to seek my child so fair Here, and there, and everywhere! + +Wolfgang adds:-- + + + +48. + +Milan, Dec. 18, 1772. + +I HOPE, dear sister, that you are well, dear sister. When this letter +reaches you, dear sister, my opera will be in scena, dear sister. Think +of me, dear sister, and try, dear sister, to imagine with all your might +that my dear sister sees and hears it also. In truth, it is hard to say, +as it is now eleven o'clock at night, but I do believe, and don't at +all doubt, that in the daytime it is brighter than at Easter. My dear +sister, to-morrow we dine with Herr von Mayer; and do you know why? +Guess! Because he invited us. The rehearsal to-morrow is to be in the +theatre. The impresario, Signor Cassiglioni, has entreated me not to say +a word of this to a soul, as all kinds of people would come crowding in, +and that we don't wish. So, my child, I beg, my child, that you won't +say one syllable to any one on the subject, or too many people would +come crowding in, my child. Approposito, do you know the history +that occurred here? Well, I will relate it to you. We were going home +straight from Count Firmiani's, and when we came into our street we +opened our door, and what do you think happened? We went in. Good-bye, +my pet. Your unworthy brother (frater), + +WOLFGANG. + + + +On the 26th of December "an incomparable performance" of "Lucio Silla" +took place; it was eminently successful, and continued to fill the house +night after night in the most surprising way. The father writes home +regularly, and Wolfgang subjoins the usual postscripts, which, however, +at this time contain nothing worth quoting. We give only part of an +Italian letter which he writes for practice:-- + + + +49. + +.... Vi prego di dire al Sig. Giovanni Hagenauer da parte mia, che non +dubiti, che andro a veder sicuramente in quella bottega delle armi, se +ci sono quei nomi [?] che lui desidera, e che senza dubbio doppo averlo +trovato le portero meco a Salisburgo. Mi dispiace che il Sig. Leitgeb +e partito tanto tardi da Salisburgo [see No. 46] che non trovera piu in +scena la mia opera e forte non ci trovera nemeno, se non in viaggio. + +Hieri sera era la prima prova coi stromenti della seconda opera, ma ho +sentito solamente il primo atto, perche a secondo mene andiedi essendo +gia tardi. In quest' opera saranno sopra il balco 24 cavalli e . . . +mondo di gente, che saro miracolo se non succede qualche disgrazia. La +musica mi piace; se piace al replico non so, perche alle prime prove non +e lecito l' andarci che alle personne che sono del Teatro. Io spero che +domani il mio padre potra uscir di casa. Sta sera fa cativissimo tempo. +La Signora Teyber e adesso a Bologna e il carnevale venturo recitera a +Turino e l'anno sussiquente poi va a cantare a Napoli. + +[Footnote: "Pray say from me to Johannes Hagenauer, that he may entirely +rely on my going to the armorer's shop, to see if I can procure what +he desires, and after getting it I will not fail to bring it with me to +Salzburg. I regret that Herr Leitgeb delayed so long leaving Salzburg +[see No. 46], for he will no longer find my opera in scena, nor will he +find us either unless we meet on our travels. Yesterday evening was our +first rehearsal of the second opera with instruments, but I only heard +the first act, for I went away at the second, because it was so very +late. In this opera there are to be twenty-four horses and a crowd of +people on the stage at the same time, so it will be surprising if no +accident happens. The music pleases me; whether it will please others +I cannot tell, for no persons but those belonging to the theatre are +permitted to attend the first rehearsals. I hope that papa will be able +to leave the house to-morrow. The weather is detestable this evening. +Madame Teyber is now at Bologna; she is to act at Turin in the ensuing +Carnival, and the year following she is to sing at Naples."] + +After enjoying some more of the amusements of the Carnival, they arrived +again in Salzburg about the middle of March. This place, or rather their +position at court there, was in the highest degree repugnant to both; so +the father, in the course of his travels, applied to the Grand-Duke of +Tuscany for an appointment for his son. As, however, nothing was to +be got in that quarter, he directed his views to the Imperial capital +itself; and thus, at the end of three months, we find him again with +his son in Vienna. From thence Wolfgang often wrote to his loved ones at +home. + + + +50. + +Vienna, August 14, 1773. + +I HOPE that your Majesty [Footnote 1: O. Jahn remarks that this epithet +is a reminiscence of a fantastic game that often amused the boy on his +journeys. He imagined a kingdom, the inhabitants of which were endowed +with every gift that could make them good and happy.] enjoys the best +state of health; and yet that now and then--or rather sometimes--or, +better still, from time to time--or, still better, qualche volta, as +the Italians say--your Majesty will impart to me some of your grave +and important thoughts (emanating from that most admirable and solid +judgment which, in addition to beauty, your Majesty so eminently +possesses; and thus, although in such tender years, my Queen casts into +the shade not only the generality of men but even the gray-haired). + +P. S. This is a most sensible production. + + + +51. + +Vienna, August 21, 1773. + +When we contemplate the benefit of time, and yet are not entirely +oblivious of the estimation in which we ought to hold the sun, then it +is quite certain, Heaven be praised! that I am quite well. My second +proposition is of a very different character. Instead of sun, let us +put moon, and instead of benefit, science; then any one, gifted with +a certain amount of reasoning powers, will at once draw the conclusion +that--I am a fool because you are my sister. How is Miss Bimbles? [the +dog.] I beg you will convey all sorts of amiable messages from me to +her. I also send my kind remembrances to M. Kreibich [conductor of the +Imperial chamber-music], whom we knew at Presburg and also at Vienna; +and very best regards from Her Majesty the Empress, Frau Fischerin, and +Prince Kaunitz. Oidda! + +GNAGFLOW TRAZOM. + + + +52. + +Vienna, Sept. 15, 1773. + +WE are quite well, thank God; on this occasion we have contrived to make +time to write to you, although we have so much business to do. We hope +you also are well. Dr. Niderl's death grieved us very much. I assure you +we cried a good deal, and moaned and groaned. Our kind regards to "Alle +gute Geister loben Gott den Herrn" [to all good spirits who praise the +Lord], and to all our friends. We graciously remain + +Yours, WOLFGANG. + +Given from our capital of Vienna. + + + +The travellers returned home the end of September, for no situation was +to be found in Vienna either; indeed, they did not even give a public +concert there. Wolfgang remained in his native town during the whole of +the ensuing year, writing instrumental and church music. At length he +received a commission from the Elector of Bavaria, Maximilian III., to +write an opera buffa for the Carnival of 1775,--"La finta Giardiniera." + + + +53. + +Munich, Dec. 28, 1774. + +My Dearest Sister, + +I entreat you not to forget, before your journey, [FOOTNOTE: Nannerl had +also the most eager desire to see the new opera, and the father at last +succeeded in getting a lodging for her in the large market place, in the +house of a widow, "a black-eyed brunette," Frau von Durst.] to perform +your promise, that is, to make a certain visit. I have my reasons for +this. Pray present my kind regards in that quarter, but in the most +impressive and tender manner--the most tender; and, oh!----but I need +not be in such anxiety on the subject, for I know my sister and her +peculiarly loving nature, and I feel quite convinced that she will do +all she can to give me pleasure--and from self-interest, too--rather +a spiteful hit that! [Nannerl was considered a little selfish by her +family.] + + + +54. + +Munich, Dec. 30, 1774. + +I BEG my compliments to Roxalana, who is to drink tea this evening with +the Sultan, All sorts of pretty speeches to Madlle. Mizerl; she must not +doubt my love. I have her constantly before my eyes in her fascinating +neglige. I have seen many pretty girls here, but not one whose beauty +can be compared with hers. Do not forget to bring the variations on +Ekart's menuet d'exaude, and also those on Fischer's minuet. I was at +the theatre last night. The play was "Der Mode nach der Haushaltung," +which was admirably acted. My kind regards to all my friends. I trust +that you will not fail to--Farewell! I hope to see you soon in Munich. +Frau von Durst sends you her remembrances. Is it true that Hagenauer is +become a professor of sculpture in Vienna? Kiss mamma's hand for me, +and now I stop for to-day. Wrap yourself up warmly on your journey, I +entreat, or else you may chance to pass the fourteen days of your visit +in the house, stifling beside a stove, unable once to move. I see the +vivid lightning flash, and fear there soon will be a crash! + +Your brother. + + + +55. + +To HIS MOTHER. + +Munich, Jan. 11, 1775. + +WE are all three well, Heaven be praised! I cannot possibly write much, +for I must go forthwith to the rehearsal. Tomorrow the grand rehearsal +takes place, and on the 13th my opera is to be in scena. I am much vexed +that you should cast any slight on Count Seeau [Intendant of the Munich +Theatre], for no one can be more kind or courteous, and he has more good +breeding than many of his degree in Munich. Herr von Molk was in such a +state of wonder and admiration at the opera seria when he heard it, that +we felt quite ashamed of him, for it clearly showed every one that he +had never in his life seen anything but Salzburg and Innspruck. Addio! + + + +56. + +To HIS MOTHER. + +Munich, Jan. 14, 1775. + +GOD be praised! My opera was given yesterday, the 13th, and proved so +successful that I cannot possibly describe all the tumult. In the first +place, the whole theatre was so crammed that many people were obliged +to go away. After each aria there was invariably a tremendous uproar and +clapping of hands, and cries of Viva Maestro! Her Serene Highness the +Electress and the Dowager (who were opposite me) also called out Bravo! +When the opera was over, during the interval when all is usually quiet +till the ballet begins, the applause and shouts of Bravo! were renewed; +sometimes there was a lull, but only to recommence afresh, and so forth. +I afterwards went with papa to a room through which the Elector and +the whole court were to pass. I kissed the hands of the Elector and the +Electress and the other royalties, who were all very gracious. At an +early hour this morning the Prince Bishop of Chiemsee [who had most +probably procured the scrittura for his young friend Wolfgang] sent to +congratulate me that the opera had proved such a brilliant success in +every respect. As to our return home, it is not likely to be soon, nor +should mamma wish it, for she must know well what a good thing it is to +have a little breathing time. We shall come quite soon enough to----. +One most just and undeniable reason is, that my opera is to be given +again on Friday next, and I am very necessary at the performance, or it +might be difficult to recognize it again. There are very odd ways here. +1000 kisses to Miss Bimberl [the dog]. + +The Archbishop of Salzburg, who was very reluctant to admit the merits +of his Concertmeister, was an involuntary witness of the universal +approbation bestowed on Wolfgang's opera, although he would not go +to hear it himself. On the 18th of January, 1775, Wolfgang added the +following lines to his father's letter:-- + + + +57. + +MY DEAR SISTER, + +[FOOTNOTE: Nannerl had not yet gone home, but was enjoying the Carnival +in various masks.] + +How can I help the clock choosing at this moment to strike a quarter +after seven o'clock? It is not papa's fault either. Mamma will hear all +the rest from you. At present there is no fair sailing for me, as +the Archbishop is staying here, though not for long. It is currently +reported that he is to remain till he sets off again! I only regret that +he is not to see the first masked ball. + +Your faithful FRANZ v. NASENBLUT. + +Milan, May 5, 1756. + + +Immediately after Ash Wednesday the trio returned to Salzburg, where +Mozart remained uninterruptedly for another year and a half, actively +engaged in the duties of his situation. He wrote the following letter +on the 4th of September, 1776, to the celebrated Pater Martini in +Bologna:-- + + + +58. + +MOLTO REVDO PADE MAESTRO, PADRONE MIO STIMATISSIMO,--La venerazione, +la stima e il rispetto, che porto verso la di lei degnissima persona mi +spinse di incommodarla colle presente e di mandargli un debole pezzo +di mia musica, rimmettendola alla di lei maestrale giudicatura. Scrissi +l'anno scorso il Carnevale una opera buffa ("La finta Giardiniera") a +Monaco in Baviera. Pochi giorni avanti la mia partenza di la desiderava +S. A. Elletorale di sentire qualche mia musica in contrapunto: era +adunque obligato di scriver questo Motetto in fretta per dar tempo +a copiar il spartito per Sua Altezza ed a cavar le parti per poter +produrlo la prossima domenica sotto la Messa grande in tempo +del Offertorio. Carissimo e stimatissimo Sigr. P. Maestro! Lei e +ardentemente pregato di dirmi francamente e senza riserva il di lei +parere. Viviamo in questo mondo per imparare sempre industriosamente, e +per mezzo dei raggionamenti di illuminarsi l'un l'altro e d'affatigarsi +di portar via sempre avanti le scienze e le belle arti. Oh quante e +quante volte desidero d'esser piu vicino per poter parlar e raggionar +con Vostra Paternita molto Revda. Vivo in una paese dove la musica fa +pocchissimo fortuna, benche oltre di quelli che ci hanno abandonati, ne +abbiamo ancora bravissimi professori e particolarmente compositori di +gran fondo, sapere e gusto. Per il teatro stiamo male per mancanza dei +recitanti. Non abbiamo Musici e non gli averemo si facilmente, giache +vogliono esser ben pagati: e la generosita, non e il nostro difetto. Io +mi diverto intanto a scrivere per la camera e per la chiesa: e ne +son quivi altri due bravissimi contrapuntisti, cioe il Sgr. Haydn e +Adlgasser. Il mio padre e maestro della chiesa Metropolitana, che mi da +l'occasione di scrivere per la chiesa, quanto che ne voglio. Per altro +il mio padre gia 36 anni in servizio di questa Corte e sapendo, che +questo Arcivescovo non puo e non vuol vedere gente avanzata in eta, non +lo se ne prende a core, si e messo alla letteratura per altro gia suo +studio favorito. La nostra musica di chiesa e assai differente di quella +d'Italia e sempre piu, che una Messa con tutto il Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, +la Sonata all' Epistola, l'Offertorio osia Motetto, Sanctus ed Agnus +Dei, ed anche la piu solenne, quando dice la Messa il Principe stesso, +non ha da durare che al piu longo 3 quarti d'ora. Ci vuole un studio +particolare per queste sorte di compositione, e che deve pero essere una +Messa con tutti stromenti--Trombe di guerra, Tympani ecc. Ah! che +siamo si lontani Carissmo Sgr. P. Maestro, quante cose che avrai a +dirgli!--Reverisco devotamente tutti i Sgri. Filarmonici: mi raccommando +via sempre nelle grazie di lei e non cesso d'affligermi nel vedermi +lontano dalla persona del mondo che maggiormente amo, venero e stimo, e +di cui inviolabilmente mi protesto di V. Pta molto Rda + +umilissmo e devotssmo servitore, + +WOLFGANGO AMADEO MOZART. + +Salisburgo, 4 Settembre, 1776. + +[FOOTNOTE: + +To Father Martini. + +"Salzburg, Sept. 4, 1776. + +"MOST REVEREND AND ESTEEMED FATHER AND MAESTRO,-- + +"The veneration, the esteem, and the respect I feel for your illustrious +person, induce me to intrude on you with this letter, and also to send +you a small portion of my music, which I venture to submit to your +masterly judgment. Last year, at Monaco, in Bavaria, I wrote an opera +buffa ("La finta Giardiniera") for the Carnival. A few days previous to +my departure from thence, his Electoral Highness wished to hear some of +my contrapuntal music; I was therefore obliged to write this motett in +haste, to allow time for the score to be copied for his Highness, and to +arrange the parts so that it might be produced on the following Sunday +at grand mass at the offertory. Most dear and highly esteemed Maestro, +I do entreat you to give me unreservedly your candid opinion of the +motett. We live in this world in order always to learn industriously, +and to enlighten each other by means of discussion, and to strive +vigorously to promote the progress of science and the fine arts. Oh, +how many and many a time have I desired to be nearer you, that I might +converse and discuss with your Reverence! I live in a country where +music has very little success, though, exclusive of those who have +forsaken us, we have still admirable professors, and more particularly +composers of great solidity, knowledge, and taste. We are rather badly +off at the theatre from the want of actors. We have no MUSICI, nor shall +we find it very easy to get any, because they insist upon being well +paid, and generosity is not a failing of ours. I amuse myself in the +mean time by writing church and chamber music, and we have two excellent +contrapuntists here, Haydn and Adlgasser. My father is maestro at the +Metropolitan church, which gives me an opportunity to write for the +church as much as I please. Moreover, my father has been thirty-six +years in the service of this court, and knowing that our present +Archbishop neither can nor will endure the sight of elderly people, he +does not take it to heart, but devotes himself to literature, which was +always his favorite pursuit Our church music is rather different from +that of Italy, and the more so, as a mass including the Kyne, Gloria, +Credo, the Sonata all Epistola, the Offertory or Motett, Sanctus, and +Agnus Dei, and even a solemn mass, when the Prince himself officiates, +must never last more than three-quarters of an hour. A particular course +of study is required for this class of composition. And what must such +a mass be, scored with all the instruments, war-drums, cymbals, &c, &c! +Oh! why are we so far apart, dearest Signor Maestro? for how many things +I have to say to you! I devoutly revere all the Signori Filarmonici. I +venture to recommend myself to your good opinion, I shall never cease +regretting being so distant from the person in the world whom I most +love, venerate, and esteem. I beg to subscribe myself, reverend Father, +always your most humble and devoted servant, + +"WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART"] + + + + +SECOND PART.--MUNICH, AUGSBURG, MANNHEIM.--SEPTEMBER 1771 TO MARCH 1778. + + +On the 22d of December, 1777, Mozart's father wrote as follows to Padre +Martini in Bologna:--"My son has been now five years in the service of +our Prince, at a mere nominal salary, hoping that by degrees his earnest +endeavors and any talents he may possess, combined with the utmost +industry and most unremitting study, would be rewarded; but in this hope +we find ourselves deceived. I forbear all allusion to our Prince's mode +of thinking and acting; but he was not ashamed to declare that my son +knew nothing, and that he ought to go to the musical training school in +Naples to learn music. And why did he say all this? In order to intimate +that a young man should not be so absurd as to believe that he deserved +a rather higher salary after such a decisive verdict had issued from the +lips of a prince. This has induced me to sanction my son giving up his +present situation. He therefore left Salzburg on the 23d of September" +[with his mother]. + + + +59. + +Wasserburg, Sept. 23, 1777. + +Mon Tres-Cher Pere,-- + +God be praised! we reached Waging, Stain, Ferbertshaim, and Wasserburg +safely. Now for a brief report of our journey. When we arrived at the +city gates, we were kept waiting for nearly a quarter of an hour till +they could be thrown open for us, as they were under repair. Near Schinn +we met a drove of cows, and one of these very remarkable, for each side +was a different color, which we never before saw. When at last we got to +Schinn, we met a carriage, which stopped, and ecce, our postilion called +out we must change. "I don't care," said I. Mamma and I were parleying, +when a portly gentleman came up, whose physiognomy I at once recognized; +he was a Memmingen merchant. He stared at me for some time, and at last +said, "You surely are Herr Mozart?" "At your service," said I; "I +know you, too, by sight, but not your name. I saw you, a year ago, at +Mirabell's [the palace garden in Salzburg] at a concert." He then told +me his name, which, thank God! I have forgotten; but I retained one of +probably more importance to me. When I saw this gentleman in Salzburg, +he was accompanied by a young man whose brother was now with him, and +who lives in Memmingen. His name is Herr Unhold, and he pressed me very +much to come to Memmingen if possible. We sent a hundred thousand loves +to papa by them, and to my sister, the madcap, which they promised to +deliver without fail. This change of carriages was a great bore to me, +for I wished to send a letter back from Waging by the postilion. We then +(after a slight meal) had the honor of being conveyed as far as Stain, +by the aforesaid post-horses, in an hour and a half. At Waging I was +alone for a few minutes with the clergyman, who looked quite amazed, +knowing nothing of our history. From Stain we were driven by a most +tiresome phlegmatic postilion--N. B., in driving I mean; we thought we +never were to arrive at the next stage. At last we did arrive, as +you may see from my writing this letter. (Mamma is half asleep.) From +Ferbertshaim to Wasserburg all went on well. Viviamo come i principi; +we want nothing except you, dear papa. Well, this is the will of God; no +doubt all will go on right. I hope to hear that papa is as well as I am +and as happy. Nothing comes amiss to me; I am quite a second papa, and +look after everything.[Footnote: The father had been very uneasy at the +idea of allowing the inexperienced youth, whose unsuspicious good-nature +exposed him still more to danger, to travel alone; for the mother also +was not very expert in travelling.] I settled from the first to pay the +postilions, for I can talk to such fellows better than mamma. At the +Stern, in Wasserburg, we are capitally served; I am treated here like +a prince. About half an hour ago (mamma being engaged at the time) the +Boots knocked at the door to take my orders about various things, and +I gave them to him with the same grave air that I have in my portrait. +Mamma is just going to bed. We both beg that papa will be careful of +his health, not go out too early, nor fret, [Footnote: The Father was +strongly disposed to hypochondria.] but laugh and be merry and in good +spirits. We think the Mufti H. C. [the Archbishop Hieronymus Colloredo] +a MUFF, but we know God to be compassionate, merciful, and loving. I +kiss papa's hands a thousand times, and embrace my SISTER MADCAP as +often as I have to-day taken snuff. I think I have left my diplomas at +home? [his appointment at court.] I beg you will send them to me soon. +My pen is rude, and I am not refined. + + + +60. + +Munich, Sept. 26, 1777. + +WE arrived safely in Munich on the afternoon of the 24th, at half-past +four o'clock. A complete novelty to me was being obliged to drive to the +Custom House, escorted by a grenadier with a fixed bayonet. The +first person we knew, who met us when driving, was Signor Consoli; he +recognized me at once, and showed the utmost joy at seeing me again. +Next day he called on us. I cannot attempt to describe the delight of +Herr Albert [the "learned landlord" of the Black Eagle, on the Kaufinger +Gasse, now Hotel Detzer]; he is indeed a truly honest man, and a very +good friend of ours. On my arrival I went to the piano, and did not +leave it till dinner-time. Herr Albert was not at home, but he soon +came in, and we went down to dinner together. There I met M. Sfeer and +a certain secretary, an intimate friend of his; both send their +compliments to you. Though tired by our journey, we did not go to bed +till late; we, however, rose next morning at seven o'clock. My hair was +in such disorder that I could not go to Count Seeau's till half-past +ten o'clock. When I got there I was told that he had driven out to the +chasse. Patience! In the mean time I wished to call on Chorus-master +Bernard, but he had gone to the country with Baron Schmid. I found +Herr von Belvall deeply engaged in business; he sent you a thousand +compliments. Rossi came to dinner, and at two o'clock Consoli, and +at three arrived Becke [a friend of Mozart's and an admirable +flute-player], and also Herr von Belvall. I paid a visit to Frau +von Durst [with whom Nannerl had lived], who now lodges with the +Franciscans. At six o'clock I took a short walk with Herr Becke. There +is a Professor Huber here, whom you may perhaps remember better than I +do; he says that the last time he either saw or heard me was at Vienna, +at Herr von Mesmer's, junior. He is neither tall nor short, pale, +with silvery-gray hair, and his physiognomy rather like that of Herr +Unterbereiter. This gentleman is vice-intendant of the theatre; his +occupation is to read through all the comedies to be acted, to improve +or to spoil, to add to or to put them aside. He comes every evening to +Albert's, and often talks to me. To-day, Friday, the 26th, I called on +Count Seeau at half-past eight o'clock. This was what passed. As I was +going into the house I met Madame Niesser, the actress, just coming out, +who said, "I suppose you wish to see the Count?" "Yes!" "He is still in +his garden, and Heaven knows when he may come!" I asked her where the +garden was. "As I must see him also," said she, "let us go together." +We had scarcely left the house when we saw the Count coming towards us +about twelve paces off; he recognized and instantly named me. He was +very polite, and seemed already to know all that had taken place about +me. We went up the steps together slowly and alone; I told him briefly +the whole affair. He said that I ought at once to request an audience of +his Highness the Elector, but that, if I failed in obtaining it, I +must make a written statement. I entreated him to keep this all quite +private, and he agreed to do so. When I remarked to him that there +really was room for a genuine composer here, he said, "I know that +well." I afterwards went to the Bishop of Chiemsee, and was with him for +half an hour. I told him everything, and he promised to do all he +could for me in the matter. At one o'clock he drove to Nymphenburg, and +declared positively he would speak to the Electress. On Sunday the Count +comes here. Herr Joannes Kronner has been appointed Vice-Concertmeister, +which he owes to a blunt speech of his. He has produced two +symphonies--Deo mene liberi [God preserve me from such]--of his own +composition. The Elector asked him, "Did you really compose these?" +"Yes, your Royal Highness!" "From whom did you learn?" "From a +schoolmaster in Switzerland, where so much importance is attached to +the study of composition. This schoolmaster taught me more than all your +composers here, put together, could teach me." Count Schonborn and his +Countess, a sister of the Archbishop [of Salzburg], passed through here +to-day. I chanced to be at the play at the time. Herr Albert, in the +course of conversation, told them that I was here, and that I had given +up my situation. They were all astonishment, and positively refused to +believe him when he said that my salary, of blessed memory, was only +twelve florins thirty kreuzers! They merely changed horses, and would +gladly have spoken with me, but I was too late to meet them. Now I must +inquire what you are doing, and how you are. Mamma and I hope that you +are quite well. I am still in my very happiest humor; my head feels as +light as a feather since I got away from that chicanery. I have grown +fatter already. + + + +61. + +Munich, Sept. 29, 1777. + +TRUE enough, a great many kind friends, but unluckily most of them have +little or nothing in their power. I was with Count Seeau yesterday, at +half-past ten o'clock, and found him graver and less natural than the +first time; but it was only in appearance, for to-day I was at Prince +Zeill's [Bishop of Chiemsee--No. 56], who, with all courtesy, said +to me, "I don't think we shall effect much here. During dinner, at +Nymphenburg, I spoke privately to the Elector, who replied: 'It is +too soon at this moment; he must leave this and go to Italy and become +famous. I do not actually reject him, but these are too early days +as yet.'" There it is! Most of these grandees have such paroxysms of +enthusiasm for Italy. Still, he advised me to go to the Elector, and +to place my case before him as I had previously intended. I spoke +confidentially at dinner to-day with Herr Woschitka [violoncellist in +the Munich court orchestra, and a member of the Elector's private band], +and he appointed me to come to-morrow at nine o'clock, when he will +certainly procure me an audience. We are very good friends now. He +insisted on knowing the name of my informant; but I said to him, "Rest +assured that I am your friend and shall continue to be so; I am in turn +equally convinced of your friendship, so you must be satisfied with +this." But to return to my narrative. The Bishop of Chiemsee also spoke +to the Electress when tete-a-tete with her. She shrugged her shoulders, +and said she would do her best, but was very doubtful as to her success. +I now return to Count Seeau, who asked Prince Zeill (after he had told +him everything). "Do you know whether Mozart has not enough from his +family to enable him to remain here with a little assistance? I should +really like to keep him." Prince Zeill answered: "I don't know, but +I doubt it much; all you have to do is to speak to himself on the +subject." This, then, was the cause of Count Seeau being so thoughtful +on the following day. I like being here, and I am of the same opinion +with many of my friends, that if I could only remain here for a year +or two, I might acquire both money and fame by my works, and then more +probably be sought by the court than be obliged to seek it myself. Since +my return here Herr Albert has a project in his head, the fulfilment of +which does not seem to me impossible. It is this: He wishes to form an +association of ten kind friends, each of these to subscribe 1 ducat (50 +gulden) monthly, 600 florins a year. If in addition to this I had even +200 florins per annum from Count Seeau, this would make 800 florins +altogether. How does papa like this idea? Is it not friendly? Ought not +I to accept it if they are in earnest? I am perfectly satisfied with +it; for I should be near Salzburg, and if you, dearest papa, were seized +with a fancy to leave Salzburg (which from my heart I wish you were) and +to pass your life in Munich, how easy and pleasant would it be! For if +we are obliged to live in Salzburg with 504 florins, surely we might +live in Munich with 800. + +To-day, the 30th, after a conversation with Herr Woschitka, I went to +court by appointment. Every one was in hunting-costume. Baron Kern was +the chamberlain on service. I might have gone there last night, but +I could not offend M. Woschitka, who himself offered to find me an +opportunity of speaking to the Elector. At 10 o'clock he took me into a +narrow little room, through which his Royal Highness was to pass on his +way to hear mass, before going to hunt. Count Seeau went by, and greeted +me very kindly: "How are you, dear Mozart?" When the Elector came up to +me, I said, "Will your Royal Highness permit me to pay my homage and +to offer your Royal Highness my services?" "So you have finally left +Salzburg?" "I have left it forever, your Royal Highness. I only asked +leave to make a journey, and being refused, I was obliged to take this +step, although I have long intended to leave Salzburg, which is no place +for me, I feel sure." "Good heavens! you are quite a young man. But your +father is still in Salzburg?" "Yes, your Royal Highness; he humbly lays +his homage at your feet, &c., &c. I have already been three times in +Italy. I have written three operas, and am a member of the Bologna +Academy; I underwent a trial where several maestri toiled and labored +for four or five hours, whereas I finished my work in one. This is +a sufficient testimony that I have abilities to serve any court. My +greatest wish is to be appointed by your Royal Highness, who is himself +such a great &c., &c." "But, my good young friend, I regret that there +is not a single vacancy. If there were only a vacancy!" "I can assure +your Royal Highness that I would do credit to Munich." "Yes, but what +does that avail when there is no vacancy?" This he said as he was moving +on; so I bowed and took leave of his Royal Highness. Herr Woschitka +advises me to place myself often in the way of the Elector. This +afternoon I went to Count Salern's. His daughter is a maid of honor, and +was one of the hunting-party. Ravani and I were in the street when the +whole procession passed. The Elector and the Electress noticed me very +kindly. Young Countess Salern recognized me at once, and waved her +hand to me repeatedly. Baron Rumling, whom I had previously seen in the +antechamber, never was so courteous to me as on this occasion. I will +soon write to you what passed with Salern. He was very kind, polite, and +straightforward.--P. S. Ma tres-chere soeur, next time I mean to write +you a letter all for yourself. My remembrances to B. C. M. R. and +various other letters of the alphabet. Adieu! A man built a house here +and inscribed on it: "Building is beyond all doubt an immense pleasure, +but I little thought that it would cost so much treasure." During the +night some one wrote underneath, "You ought first to have counted the +cost." + + + +62. + +Munich, Oct. 2, 1777. + +YESTERDAY, October 1st, I was again at Count Salern's, and to-day I even +dined with him. I have played a great deal during the last three days, +and with right good will too. Papa must not, however, imagine that I +like to be at Count Salern's on account of the young lady; by no means, +for she is unhappily in waiting, and therefore never at home, but I am +to see her at court to-morrow morning, at ten o'clock, in company with +Madame Hepp, formerly Madlle. Tosson. On Saturday the court leaves this, +and does not return till the 20th. To-morrow I am to dine with Madame +and Madlle. de Branca, the latter being a kind of half pupil of mine, +for Sigl seldom comes, and Becke, who usually accompanies her on the +flute, is not here. On the three days that I was at Count Salern's I +played a great many things extempore--two Cassations [Divertimentos] +for the Countess, and the finale and Rondo, and the latter by heart. +You cannot imagine the delight this causes Count Salern. He understands +music, for he was constantly saying Bravo! while other gentlemen were +taking snuff, humming and hawing, and clearing their throats, or holding +forth. I said to him, "How I do wish the Elector were only here, that he +might hear me play! He knows nothing of me--he does not know what I can +do. How sad it is that these great gentlemen should believe what any one +tells them, and do not choose to judge for themselves! BUT IT IS ALWAYS +SO. Let him put me to the test. He may assemble all the composers in +Munich, and also send in quest of some from Italy and France, Germany, +and England and Spain, and I will undertake to write against them all." +I related to him all that had occurred to me in Italy, and begged him, +if the conversation turned on me, to bring in these things. He said, "I +have very little influence, but the little that is in my power I will +do with pleasure." He is also decidedly of opinion that if I could only +remain here, the affair would come right of itself. It would not be +impossible for me to contrive to live, were I alone here, for I should +get at least 300 florins from Count Seeau. My board would cost little, +for I should be often invited out; and even were it not so, Albert would +always be charmed to see me at dinner in his house. I eat little, drink +water, and for dessert take only a little fruit and a small glass +of wine. Subject to the advice of my kind friends, I would make the +following contract with Count Seeau:--I would engage to produce every +year four German operas, partly buffe and partly serie; from each of +these I should claim the profits of one performance, for such is the +custom here. This alone would bring me in 500 florins, which along with +my salary would make up 800 florins, but in all probability more; for +Reiner, an actor and singer, cleared 200 florins by his benefit, and +I am VERY MUCH BELOVED HERE, and how much more so should I be if I +contributed to the elevation of the national theatre of Germany in +music! And this would certainly be the case with me, for I was inspired +with the most eager desire to write when I heard the German operettas. +The name of the first singer here is Keiserin; her father is cook to a +count here; she is a very pleasing girl, and pretty on the stage; I have +not yet seen her near. She is a native of this place. When I heard her +it was only her third appearance on the stage. She has a fine voice, not +powerful, though by no means weak, very pure, and a good intonation. +Her instructor is Valesi; and her style of singing shows that her master +knows how to sing as well as how to teach. When she sustains her +voice for a couple of bars, I am quite surprised at the beauty of her +crescendo and decrescendo. She as yet takes her shakes slowly, and this +I highly approve of, for it will be all the more pure and clear if she +ever wishes to take it quicker; besides, it is easier when quick. She is +a great favorite with the people here, and with me. + +Mamma was in the pit; she went as early as half-past four o'clock to get +a place. I, however, did not go till half-past six o'clock, for I can go +to any box I please, being pretty well known. I was in the Brancas' box; +I looked at Keiserin with my opera-glass, and at times she drew tears +from my eyes. I often called out bravo, bravissimo, for I always +remembered that it was only her third appearance. The piece was Das +Fischermadchen, a very good translation of Piccini's opera, with his +music. As yet they have no original pieces, but are now anxious soon +to give a German opera seria, and a strong wish prevails that I should +compose it. The aforesaid Professor Huber is one of those who wish +this. I shall now go to bed, for I can sit up no longer. It is just ten +o'clock. Baron Rumling lately paid me the following compliment: "The +theatre is my delight--good actors and actresses, good singers, and a +clever composer, such as yourself." This is indeed only talk, and words +are not of much value, but he never before spoke to me in this way. + +I write this on the 3d of October. To-morrow the court departs, and does +not return till the 20th. If it had remained here, I would have taken +the step I intended, and stayed on here for a time; but as it is, I hope +to resume my journey with mamma next Tuesday. But meanwhile the project +of the associated friends, which I lately wrote to you about, may be +realized, so that when we no longer care to travel we shall have a +resource to fall back upon. Herr von Krimmel was to-day with the Bishop +of Chiemsee, with whom he has a good deal to do on the subject of salt. +He is a strange man; here he is called "your Grace,"--that is, THE +LACKEYS do so. Having a great desire that I should remain here, he spoke +very zealously to the Prince in my favor. He said to me, "Only let me +alone; I will speak to the Prince, and I have a right to do so, for I +have done many things to oblige him." The Prince promised him that I +should POSITIVELY be appointed, but the affair cannot be so quickly +settled. On the return of the court he is to speak to the Elector with +all possible earnestness and zeal. At eight o'clock this morning I +called on Count Seeau. I was very brief, and merely said, "I have only +come, your Excellency, to explain my case clearly. I have been told that +I ought to go to Italy, which is casting a reproach on me. I was sixteen +months in Italy, I have written three operas, and all this is notorious +enough. What further occurred, your Excellency will see from these +papers." And after showing him the diplomata, I added, "I only show +these and say this to your Excellency that, in the event of my being +spoken of, and any injustice done me, your Excellency may with good +grounds take my part." He asked me if I was now going to France. I said +I intended to remain in Germany; by this, however, he supposed I meant +Munich, and said, with a merry laugh, "So you are to stay here after +all?" I replied, "No! to tell you the truth, I should like to have +stayed, if the Elector had favored me with a small sum, so that I might +then have offered my compositions to your Excellency devoid of all +interested motives. It would have been a pleasure to me to do this." At +these words he half lifted his skull-cap. + +At ten o'clock I went to court to call on Countess Salern. I dined +afterwards with the Brancas. Herr Geheimrath von Branca, having been +invited by the French Ambassador, was not at home. He is called "your +Excellency." Countess Salern is a Frenchwoman, and scarcely knows a word +of German; so I have always been in the habit of talking French to her. +I do so quite boldly, and she says that I don't speak at all badly, +and that I have the good habit of speaking slowly, which makes me more +easily understood. She is a most excellent person, and very well-bred. +The daughter plays nicely, but fails in time. I thought this arose from +want of ear on her part, but I find I can blame no one but her teacher, +who is too indulgent and too easily satisfied. I practised with her +to-day, and I could pledge myself that if she were to learn from me for +a couple of months, she would play both well and accurately. + +At four o'clock I went to Frau von Tosson's, where I found mamma and +also Frau von Hepp. I played there till eight o'clock, and after that +we went home; and at half-past nine a small band of music arrived, +consisting of five persons--two clarionet-players, two horns, and one +bassoon. Herr Albert (whose name-day is to-morrow) arranged this music +in honor of me and himself. They played rather well together, and were +the same people whom we hear during dinner at Albert's, but it is well +known that they are trained by Fiala. They played some of his pieces, +and I must say they are very pretty: he has some excellent ideas. +To-morrow we are to have a small musical party together, where I am +to play. (Nota bene, on that miserable piano! oh, dear! oh, dear! oh, +dear!) I beg you will excuse my horrid writing, but ink, haste, sleep, +and dreams are all against me. I am now and forever amen, your dutiful +son, + +A. W. MOZART. + + + +63. + +Munich, Oct. 6, 1777. + +Mamma cannot write; in the first place, she is not inclined, and, +secondly, she has a headache. So I must hold the pen for her and keep +faith with her. I am just going with the Professor to call on Madlle. +Keiserin. Yesterday we had in our house a clerical wedding, or altum +tempus ecclesiasticum. There was dancing, but I only danced four +minuets, and was in my own room again by eleven o'clock, for, out of +fifty young ladies, there was only one who danced in time--Madlle. +Kaser, a sister of Count Perusa's secretary. The Professor thought fit +to leave me in the lurch, so I did not go to Madlle. Keiserin, because +I don't know where she lives. Last Saturday, the 4th, on the stately +and solemn occasion of the name-day of his Royal Highness the Archduke +Albert, we had a select music-party at home, which commenced at +half-past three o'clock and finished at eight. M. Dubreil, whom papa no +doubt remembers, was also present; he is a pupil of Tartini's. In the +forenoon he gave a lesson on the violin to the youngest son, Carl, and I +chanced to come in at the time, I never gave him credit for much talent, +but I saw that he took great pains in giving his lesson; and when we +entered into conversation about violin, concert, and orchestral playing, +he reasoned very well, and was always of my opinion, so I retracted my +former sentiments with regard to him, and was persuaded that I should +find him play well in time, and a correct violinist in the orchestra. +I, therefore, invited him to be so kind as to attend our little music +rehearsal that afternoon. We played, first of all, the two quintets of +Haydn, but to my dismay I could scarcely hear Dubreil, who could not +play four continuous bars without a mistake. He could never find the +positions, and he was no good friend to the sospirs [short pauses]. The +only good thing was that he spoke politely and praised the quintets; +otherwise--As it was, I said nothing to him, but he kept constantly +saying himself, "I beg your pardon, but really I am out again! the thing +is puzzling, but fine!" I invariably replied, "It does not in the least +signify; we are only among ourselves." I then played the concertos in +C, in B, and in E flat, and after that a trio of mine. This was finely +accompanied, truly! In the adagio I was obliged to play six bars of his +part. As a finale, I played my last divertimento in B; they all pricked +up their ears. I played as if I had been the greatest violin-player in +all Europe. + +The Sunday after, at three o'clock, we were at a certain Herr von +Hamm's. The Bishop of Chiemsee set off to-day for Salzburg. N. B.--I +send my sister, by him, "6 duetti a clavicembalo e violino," by +Schuster. I have often played them here; they are by no means bad. If +I remain long enough, I intend to compose six in this style, for it is +much liked here. + + + +64. + +Munich, Oct. 11, 1777. + +WHY have I not as yet written anything about Misliweczeck? [See No. 43.] +Because I was only too glad not to think of him; for when he is spoken +of I invariably hear how highly he praises me, and what a kind and +true friend he is of mine; but then follow pity and lamentation. He +was described to me, and deeply was I distressed. How could I bear that +Misliweczeck, my intimate friend, should be in the same town, nay, even +in the same corner of the world with me, and neither see him nor speak +to him? Impossible! so I resolved to go to visit him. On the previous +day, I called on the manager of the Duke's Hospital to ask if I might +see my friend in the garden, which I thought best, though the doctors +assured me there was no longer any risk of infection. The manager agreed +to my proposal, and said I should find him in the garden between eleven +and twelve o'clock, and, if he was not there when I came, to send for +him. Next day I went with Herr von Hamm, secretary in the Crown Office, +(of whom I shall speak presently,) and mamma to the Duke's Hospital. +Mamma went into the Hospital church, and we into the garden. +Misliweczeck was not there, so we sent him a message. I saw him coming +across, and knew him at once from his manner of walking. I must tell +you that he had already sent me his remembrances by Herr Heller, a +violoncello-player, and begged me to visit him before I left Munich. +When he came up to me, we shook hands cordially. "You see," said he, +"how unfortunate I am." These words and his appearance, which papa is +already aware of from description, so went to my heart that I could only +say, with tears in my eyes, "I pity you from my heart, my dear friend." +He saw how deeply I was affected, so rejoined quite cheerfully, "Now +tell me what you are doing; when I heard that you were in Munich, I +could scarcely believe it; how could Mozart be here and not long ago +have come to see me?" "I hope you will forgive me, but I had such a +number of visits to make, and I have so many kind friends here." "I feel +quite sure that you have indeed many kind friends, but a truer friend +than myself you cannot have." He asked me whether papa had told me +anything of a letter he had received. I said, "Yes, he did write to me," +(I was quite confused, and trembled so much in every limb that I could +scarcely speak,) "but he gave me no details." He then told me that +Signor Gaetano Santoro, the Neapolitan impresario, was obliged, owing +to impegni and protezione, to give the composition of the opera for this +Carnival to a certain Maestro Valentini; but he added, "Next year he +has three at liberty, one of which is to be at my service. But as I +have already composed six times for Naples, I don't in the least mind +undertaking the less promising one, and making over to you the best +libretto, viz. the one for the Carnival. God knows whether I shall +be able to travel by that time, but if not, I shall send back the +scrittura. The company for next year is good, being all people whom I +have recommended. You must know that I have such influence in Naples +that, when I say engage such a one, they do so at once." Marquesi is +the primo uomo, whom he, and indeed all Munich too, praises very highly; +Marchiani is a good prima donna; and there is a tenor, whose name I +cannot recall, but Misliweczeck says he is the best in all Italy. He +also said, "I do beg of you to go to Italy; there one is esteemed and +highly prized." And in truth he is right. When I come to reflect on the +subject, in no country have I received such honors, or been so esteemed, +as in Italy, and nothing contributes more to a man's fame than to have +written Italian operas, and especially for Naples. He said he would +write a letter for me to Santoro, which I was to copy out when I went +to see him next day; but finding it impossible to return, he sent me +a sketch of the letter to-day. I was told that when Misliweczeck heard +people here speaking of Becke, or other performers on the piano, he +invariably said, "Let no one deceive himself; none can play like Mozart; +in Italy, where the greatest masters are, they speak of no one but +Mozart; when his name is mentioned, not a word is said of others." I can +now write the letter to Naples when I please; but, indeed, the sooner +the better. I should, however, first like to have the opinion of that +highly discreet Hofcapellmeister, Herr von Mozart. I have the most +ardent desire to write another opera. The distance is certainly great, +but the period is still a long way off when I am to write this opera, +and there may be many changes before then. I think I might at all events +undertake it. If, in the mean time, I get no situation, eh, bien! I +shall then have a resource in Italy. I am at all events certain to +receive 100 ducats in the Carnival; and when I have once written for +Naples I shall be sought for everywhere. As papa well knows, there is an +opera buffa in Naples in spring, summer, and autumn, for which I might +write for the sake of practice, not to be quite idle. It is true that +there is not much to be got by this, but still there is something, +and it would be the means of gaining more honor and reputation than by +giving a hundred concerts in Germany, and I am far happier when I have +something to compose, which is my chief delight and passion; and if I +get a situation anywhere, or have hopes of one, the scrittura would be +a great recommendation to me, and excite a sensation, and cause me to be +more thought of. This is mere talk, but still I say what is in my heart. +If papa gives me any good grounds to show that I am wrong, then I +will give it up, though, I own, reluctantly. Even when I hear an opera +discussed, or am in a theatre myself and hear voices, oh! I really am +beside myself! + +To-morrow, mamma and I are to meet Misliweczeck in the Hospital garden +to take leave of him; for he wished me last time to fetch mamma out +of church, as he said he should like to see the mother of so great a +virtuoso. My dear papa, do write to him as often as you have time to do +so; you cannot confer a greater pleasure on him, for the man is quite +forsaken. Sometimes he sees no one for a whole week, and he said to me, +"I do assure you it does seem so strange to me to see so few people; in +Italy I had company every day." He looks thin, of course, but is still +full of fire and life and genius, and the same kind, animated person +he always was. People talk much of his oratorio of "Abraham and Isaac," +which he produced here. He has just completed (with the exception of +a few arias) a Cantata, or Serenata, for Lent; and when he was at the +worst he wrote an opera for Padua. Herr Heller is just come from him. +When I wrote to him yesterday I sent him the Serenata that I wrote in +Salzburg: for the Archduke Maximilian ["Il Re Pastore"]. + +Now to turn to something else. Yesterday I went with mamma immediately +after dinner to take coffee with the two Fraulein von Freysinger. Mamma, +however, took none, but drank two bottles of Tyrolese wine. At three +o'clock she went home again to make preparations for our journey. I, +however, went with the two ladies to Herr von Hamm's, whose three young +ladies each played a concerto, and I one of Aichner's prima vista, and +then went on extemporizing. The teacher of these little simpletons, +the Demoiselles Hamm, is a certain clerical gentleman of the name of +Schreier. He is a good organ-player, but no pianist. He kept staring +at me with an eye-glass. He is a reserved kind of man who does not talk +much; he patted me on the shoulder, sighed, and said, "Yes--you are--you +understand--yes--it is true--you are an out-and-outer!" By the by, can +you recall the name of Freysingen--the papa of the two pretty girls I +mentioned? He says he knows you well, and that he studied with you. He +particularly remembers Messenbrunn, where papa (this was quite new +to me) played most incomparably on the organ. He said, "It was quite +startling to see the pace at which both hands and feet went, but quite +inimitable; a thorough master indeed; my father thought a great deal of +him; and how he humbugged the priests about entering the Church! You are +just what he was then, as like as possible; only he was a degree shorter +when I knew him." A propos, a certain Hofrath Effeln sends you his kind +regards; he is one of the best Hofraths here, and would long ago have +been made chancellor but for one defect--TIPPLING. When we saw him +for the first time at Albert's, both mamma and I thought, "What an +odd-looking fish!" Just imagine a very tall man, stout and corpulent, +and a ridiculous face. When he crosses the room to another table, he +folds both hands on his stomach, stoops very low, and then draws himself +up again, and makes little nods; and when this is over he draws back his +right foot, and does this to each individual separately. He says that +he knows papa intimately. I am now going for a little to the play. Next +time I will write more fully, but I can't possibly go on to-day, for my +fingers do ache uncommonly. + +Munich, October 11th, at 1/4 to 12 at night, I write as follows:--I +have been at the Drittl comedy, but only went in time for the ballet, or +rather the pantomime, which I had not before seen. It is called "Das von +der fur Girigaricanarimanarischaribari verfertigte Ei." It was very good +and funny. We are going to-morrow to Augsburg on account of Prince Taxis +not being at Ratisbon but at Teschingen. He is, in fact, at present at +his country-seat, which is, however, only an hour from Teschingen. I +send my sister, with this, four preludes; she will see and hear for +herself the different keys into which they lead. My compliments to all +my kind friends, particularly to young Count Arco, to Madlle. Sallerl, +and to my best of all friends, Herr Bullinger; I do beg that next Sunday +at the usual eleven-o'clock music he will be so good as to make an +authoritative oration in my name, and present my regards to all the +members of the orchestra and exhort them to industry, that I may not one +day be accused of being a humbug, for I have everywhere extolled their +orchestra, and I intend always to do so. + + + +65. + +Augsburg, Oct. 14, 1777. + +I HAVE made no mistake in my date, for I write before dinner, and I +think that next Friday, the day after to-morrow, we shall be off again. +Pray hear how generous the gentlemen of Augsburg are. In no place was +I ever so overwhelmed with marks of distinction as here. My first visit +was to the Stadtpfleger Longo Tabarro [Burgomaster Langenmantl]. +My cousin, [Footnote: Leopold Mozart had a brother in Augsburg, a +bookbinder, whose daughter, "das Basle" (the cousin), was two years +younger than Mozart.] a good, kind, honest man and worthy citizen, went +with me, and had the honor to wait in the hall like a footman till my +interview with the high and mighty Stadtpfleger was over. I did not +fail first of all to present papa's respectful compliments. He deigned +graciously to remember you, and said, "And pray how have things gone +with him?" "Vastly well, God be praised!" I instantly rejoined, "and I +hope things have also gone well with you?" He then became more civil, +and addressed me in the third person, so I called him "Sir"; though, +indeed, I had done so from the first. He gave me no peace till I went +up with him to see his son-in-law (on the second floor), my cousin +meanwhile having the pleasure of waiting in the staircase-hall. I was +obliged to control myself with all my might, or I must have given some +polite hint about this. On going upstairs I had the satisfaction of +playing for nearly three-quarters of an hour on a good clavichord +of Stein's, in the presence of the stuck-up young son, and his prim +condescending wife, and the simple old lady. I first extemporized, and +then played all the music he had, prima, vista, and among others some +very pretty pieces of Edlmann's. Nothing could be more polite than they +all were, and I was equally so, for my rule is to behave to people just +as they behave to me; I find this to be the best plan. I said that I +meant to go to Stein's after dinner, so the young man offered to take me +there himself. I thanked him for his kindness, and promised to return +at two o'clock. I did so, and we went together in company with his +brother-in-law, who looks a genuine student. Although I had begged that +my name should not be mentioned, Herr von Langenmantl was so incautious +as to say, with a simper, to Herr Stein, "I have the honor to present to +you a virtuoso on the piano." I instantly protested against this, saying +that I was only an indifferent pupil of Herr Sigl in Munich, who had +charged me with a thousand compliments to him. Stein shook his head +dubiously, and at length said, "Surely I have the honor of seeing M. +Mozart?" "Oh, no," said I; "my name is Trazom, and I have a letter for +you." He took the letter and was about to break the seal instantly, but +I gave him no time for that, saying, "What is the use of reading the +letter just now? Pray open the door of your saloon at once, for I am +so very anxious to see your pianofortes." "With all my heart," said he, +"just as you please; but for all that I believe I am not mistaken." He +opened the door, and I ran straight up to one of the three pianos that +stood in the room. I began to play, and he scarcely gave himself time +to glance at the letter, so anxious was he to ascertain the truth; so +he only read the signature. "Oh!" cried he, embracing me, and crossing +himself and making all sorts of grimaces from intense delight. I +will write to you another day about his pianos. He then took me to a +coffee-house, but when we went in I really thought I must bolt, there +was such a stench of tobacco-smoke, but for all that I was obliged to +bear it for a good hour. I submitted to it all with a good grace, though +I could have fancied that I was in Turkey. He made a great fuss to me +about a certain Graf, a composer (of flute concertos only); and +said, "He is something quite extraordinary," and every other possible +exaggeration. I became first hot and then cold from nervousness. This +Graf is a brother of the two who are in Harz and Zurich. He would +not give up his intention, but took me straight to him--a dignified +gentleman indeed; he wore a dressing-gown that I would not be ashamed to +wear in the street. All his words are on stilts, and he has a habit of +opening his mouth before knowing what he is going to say; so he often +shuts it again without having said anything. After a great deal of +ceremony he produced a concerto for two flutes; I was to play first +violin. The concerto is confused, not natural, too abrupt in its +modulations, and devoid of all genius. When it was over I praised it +highly, for, indeed, he deserves this. The poor man must have had labor +and study enough to write it. At last they brought a clavichord of +Stein's out of the next room, a very good one, but inch-thick with dust. +Herr Graf, who is director here, stood there looking like a man who had +hitherto believed his own modulations to be something very clever, but +all at once discovers that others may be still more so, and without +grating on the ear. In a word, they all seemed lost in astonishment. + + + +66. + +Augsburg, Oct. 17, 1777. + +WITH regard to the daughter of Hamm, the Secretary of War, I can only +say that there can be no doubt she has a decided talent for music, for +she has only learned three years, and can play a number of pieces very +well. I find it difficult, however, to explain distinctly the impression +she makes on me while she is playing; she seems to me so curiously +constrained, and she has such an odd way of stalking over the keys with +her long bony fingers! To be sure, she has had no really good master, +and if she remains in Munich she will never become what her father +wishes and hopes, for he is eager beyond measure that she should one day +be a distinguished pianiste. If she goes to papa at Salzburg, it will +be a twofold benefit to her, both as to music and common sense, of which +she certainly has no great share. She has often made me laugh very much, +and you would have amusement enough for your trouble. She is too absent +to think of eating much. You say I ought to have practised with her? I +really could not for laughing, for when I occasionally played something +with the right hand, she instantly said bravissimo, and that in the +voice of a little mouse. + +I will now relate to you as briefly as possible the Augsburg history +to which I have already alluded. Herr von Fingerle, who sent his +compliments to you, was also at Herr Graf's. The people were very civil, +and discussed the concert I proposed to give, all saying, "It will be +one of the most brilliant concerts ever given in Augsburg. You have +a great advantage in having made the acquaintance of our Stadtpfleger +Langenmantl; besides, the name of Mozart has much influence here." So +we separated mutually pleased. I must now tell you that Herr von +Langenmantl, junior, when at Herr Stein's, said that he would pledge +himself to arrange a concert in the Stube, [Footnote: The Bauernstube, +the Patrician Casino.] (as something very select, and complimentary to +me,) for the nobility alone. You can't think with what zeal he spoke, +and promised to undertake it. We agreed that I should call on him the +next morning for the answer; accordingly I went; this was on the 13th. +He was very polite, but said that as yet he could not say anything +decided. I played there again for an hour, and he invited me next day, +the 14th, to dinner. In the forenoon he sent to beg that I would come +to him at eleven o'clock, and bring some pieces with me, as he had +asked some of the professional musicians, and they intended to have some +music. I immediately sent some music, and went myself at eleven, when, +with many lame excuses, he coolly said, "By the by, I could do nothing +about the concert; oh, I was in such a rage yesterday on your account. +The patrician members of the Casino said that their cashbox was at +a very low ebb, and that you were not the kind of virtuoso who could +expect a souverain d'or." I merely smiled, and said, "I quite agree with +them." N. B.--He is Intendant of Music in the Casino, and the old father +a magistrate! but I cared very little about it. We sat down to dinner; +the old gentleman also dined up-stairs with us, and was very civil, +but did not say a word about the concert. After dinner I played two +concertos, something out of my head, and then a trio of Hafeneder's +on the violin. I would gladly have played more, but I was so badly +accompanied that it gave me the colic. He said to me, good-naturedly, +"Don't let us part company to-day; go to the play with us, and return +here to supper." We were all very merry. When we came back from the +theatre, I played again till we went to supper. Young Langenmantl had +already questioned me in the forenoon about my cross, [Footnote: Mozart, +by his father's desire, wore the "Order of the Golden Spur," conferred +on him by the Pope.] and I told him exactly how I got it, and what it +was. He and his brother-in-law said over and over again, "Let us order a +cross, too, that we may be on a par with Herr Mozart." I took no notice +of this. They also repeatedly said, "Hallo! you sir! Knight of the +Spur!" I said not a word; but during supper it became really too bad. +"What may it have cost? three ducats? must you have permission to wear +it? Do you pay extra for leave to do so? We really must get one just +like it." An officer there of the name of Bach, said, "For shame! what +would you do with the cross?" That young ass, Kurzen Mantl, winked at +him, but I saw him, and he knew that I did. A pause ensued, and then he +offered me snuff, saying, "There, show that you don't care a pinch of +snuff for it." I still said nothing. At length he began once more in +a sneering tone: "I may then send to you to-morrow, and you will be so +good as to lend me the cross for a few minutes, and I will return it +immediately after I have spoken to the goldsmith about it. I know that +when I ask him its value (for he is a queer kind of man) he will say +a Bavarian thaler; it can't be worth more, for it is not gold, only +copper, ha! ha!" I said, "By no means--it is lead, ha! ha!" I was +burning with anger and rage. "I say," rejoined he, "I suppose I may, +if need be, leave out the spur?" "Oh, yes," said I, "for you have one +already in your head; I, too, have one in mine, but of a very different +kind, and I should be sorry to exchange mine for yours; so there, take +a pinch of snuff on that!" and I offered him snuff. He became pale with +rage, but began again: "Just now that order looked so well on that grand +waistcoat of yours." I made no reply, so he called the servant and said +"Hallo! you must have greater respect for my brother-in-law and myself +when we wear the same cross as Herr Mozart; take a pinch of snuff on +that!" I started up; all did the same, and showed great embarrassment. +I took my hat and my sword, and said, "I hope to have the pleasure of +seeing you to-morrow." "To-morrow I shall not be here." "Well, then, +the next morning, when I shall still be here." "Ho, ho! you surely don't +mean to"--"I mean nothing; you are a set of boors, so good-night," and +off I went. + +Next day I told the whole story to Herr Stein, Herr Geniaulx, and +to Herr Director Graf--I don't mean about the cross, but how highly +disgusted I was at their having bragged so much about a concert, and +now it had come to nothing. "I call this making a fool of a person and +leaving him in the lurch. I am very sorry that I ever came here. I could +not possibly have believed that in Augsburg, my papa's native town, such +an insult could have been offered to his son." You cannot imagine, dear +papa, how angry and indignant these three gentlemen were, saying, "Oh, +you must positively give a concert here; we don't stand in need of +the patricians." I, however, adhered to my resolution and said, "I am +willing to give a small farewell concert at Herr Stein's, for my +few kind friends here who are connoisseurs." The Director was quite +distressed, and exclaimed, "It is abominable--shameful; who could have +believed such a thing of Langenmantl! Par Dieu! if he really wished it, +no doubt it would have been carried through." We then separated. The +Director went down-stairs with me in his dressing-gown as far as the +door, and Herr Stein and Geniaulx walked home with me. They urged us to +make up our mind to stay here for a time, but we remained firm. I must +not forget to say that, when young Langenmantl lisped out to me, in +his usual cool indifferent way, the pleasant news as to my concert, he +added, that the patricians invited me to their concert next Thursday. I +said, "I will come as one of the audience." "Oh, we hope you will give +us the pleasure of hearing you play also." "Well, perhaps I may; why +not?" But having received so grievous an insult the next evening, I +resolved not to go near him again, to steer clear of the whole set of +patricians, and to leave Augsburg. During dinner, on the 16th, I was +called out by a servant-maid of Langenmantl's, who wished to know +whether he might expect me to go with him to the concert? and he begged +I would come to him immediately after dinner. I sent my compliments in +return, that I had no intention of going to the concert; nor could I +come to him, as I was already engaged (which was quite true); but that +I would call next morning to take leave of him, as on Saturday next, at +furthest, I was to leave Augsburg. In the meantime Herr Stein had been +to see the other patricians of the Evangelical party, and spoke so +strongly to them that these gentlemen were quite excited. "What!" said +they, "shall we permit a man who does us so much honor to leave this +without even hearing him? Herr von Langenmantl, having already heard +him, thinks that is enough." + +At last they became so excited that Herr Kurzenmantl, the excellent +youth, was obliged to go to Herr Stein himself to entreat him, in the +name of the patricians, to do all in his power to persuade me to attend +the concert, but to say that I must not expect great things. At last +I went with him, though with considerable reluctance. The principal +gentlemen were very polite, particularly Baron Belling, who is a +director or some such animal; he opened my music-portfolio himself. I +brought a symphony with me, which they played, and I took a violin part. +The orchestra is enough to throw any one into fits. That young puppy +Langenmantl was all courtesy, but his face looked as impertinent as +ever; he said to me, "I was rather afraid you might have escaped us, +or been offended by our jokes the other evening." "By no means," said I +coolly; "you are still very young; but I advise you to be more cautious +in future, for I am not accustomed to such jokes. The subject on which +you were so facetious did you no credit, nor did it answer your purpose, +for you see I still wear the order; you had better have chosen some +other topic for your wit." "I assure you," said he, "it was only my +brother-in-law who"--"Let us say no more about it," said I. "We had +nearly been deprived of the pleasure of seeing you altogether," he +rejoined. "Yes; had it not been for Herr Stein, I certainly should not +have come; and, to tell you the truth, I am only here now to prevent you +Augsburg gentlemen being the laughing-stock of other countries, which +would have been the case if I had told them that I was eight days in the +city where my father was born, without any one there taking the trouble +to hear me!" I played a concerto, and all went off well except the +accompaniment; and as a finale I played a sonata. At the close, Baron +Belling thanked me in the warmest manner in the name of all the company; +and, begging me to consider only their good will, presented me with two +ducats. + +They give me no peace here till I agree to give a public concert next +Saturday. Perhaps--but I own I am heartily sick of it all. I shall be +indeed glad when I arrive at a place where there is a court. I may with +truth say that, were it not for my kind cousins, my regrets would be as +numberless as the hairs on my head for ever having come to Augsburg. I +must write you some account of my fair cousin, but you must excuse my +deferring this till to-morrow, for one ought to be quite fresh to praise +her as highly as she deserves. + +The 17th.--I now write early in the morning to say that my cousin is +pretty, intelligent, lovable, clever, and gay, probably because she +has lived so much in society; she was also some time at Munich. We do, +indeed, exactly suit each other, for she too is rather inclined to be +satirical, so we banter our friends most merrily together. [The Mozart +family were both well known and dreaded for their somewhat sharp +tongues.] + + + +67. + +Augsburg, Oct. 17, 1777. + +I must now tell you about the Stein pianos. Before seeing these, Spath's +pianos were my favorites; but I must own that I give the preference to +those of Stein, for they damp much better than those in Ratisbon. If I +strike hard, whether I let my fingers rest on the notes or lift them, +the tone dies away at the same instant that it is heard. Strike the +keys as I choose, the tone always remains even, never either jarring or +failing to sound. It is true that a piano of this kind is not to be had +for less than three hundred florins, but the pains and skill which Stein +bestows on them cannot be sufficiently repaid. His instruments have a +feature of their own; they are supplied with a peculiar escapement. +Not one in a hundred makers attends to this; but, without it, it is +impossible that a piano should not buzz and jar. His hammers fall as +soon as they touch the strings, whether the keys be held down by the +fingers or not. When he has completed an instrument of this class, +(which he told me himself,) he tries all kinds of passages and runs on +it, and works away at it, testing its powers till it is capable of doing +anything, for he labors not for his own benefit alone, (or he might be +saved much trouble,) but for that of music. He often says, "If I were +not such a passionate lover of music, playing also myself a little on +the piano, I should long ago have lost patience with my work, but I like +my instruments to respond to the player, and to be durable." His pianos +do really last well. He warrants the sounding-board neither breaking nor +cracking; when he has finished one, he exposes it in the air to rain, +snow, sun, and every kind of devilry, that it may give way, and then +inserts slips of wood which he glues in, making it quite strong and +solid. He is very glad when it does crack, for then he is pretty sure +nothing further can happen to it. He frequently makes cuts into them +himself, and then glues them up, thus making them doubly strong. He +has three of these pianos at this moment finished, and I played on them +again to-day. + +We dined to-day with young Herr Gassner, who is the handsome widower +of a lovely young wife; they were only married two years. He is an +excellent and kind young man; he gave us a capital dinner. A colleague +of the Abbe Henri Bullinger, and Wishofer also dined there, and an +ex-Jesuit, who is at present Capellmeister in the cathedral here. He +knows Herr Schachtner well [court-trumpeter at Salzburg], and was leader +of his band in Ingolstadt; he is called Father Gerbl. Herr Gassner, and +one of his wife's unmarried sisters, mamma, our cousin, and I went after +dinner to Herr Stein's. At four o'clock came the Capellmeister and +Herr Schmittbauer, the organist of St. Ulrich, a worthy good old man. +I played at sight a sonata of Becke's, which was rather difficult, but +very poor, al solito. The astonishment of the Capellmeister and the +organist was indescribable. I have played my six sonatas by heart +repeatedly, both here and in Munich. The fifth in G, I played at +the distinguished Casino concert, and the last in D, which has an +incomparable effect on Stein's pianos. The pedals, pressed by the knees, +are also better made by him than by any one else; you scarcely require +to touch them to make them act, and as soon as the pressure is removed +not the slightest vibration is perceptible. + +To-morrow perhaps I shall come to his organs, that is, write to you +about them, and I reserve for the last the subject of his little +daughter. When I said to Herr Stein that I should like to play on one of +his organs, as the organ was my passion, he seemed surprised, and +said, "What! such a man as you, so great a pianist, like to play on an +instrument devoid of sweetness and expression, with no gradations from +piano to forte, but always going on the same?" "That does not signify; +the organ always was, both in my eyes and ears, the king of all +instruments." "Well, just as you please." So we went together. I could +readily perceive from his conversation that he did not expect me to do +great things on his organ, evidently thinking that I should handle it +in the style of a piano. He told me that by Schobert's own desire he +had taken him also to the organ, "and very nervous it made me," said he, +"for Schobert had told everybody, and the church was nearly full. I did +not doubt the man's spirit, fire, and execution; still, this does not +much suit the organ. But the moment he began my opinion was entirely +changed." I only said in reply, "Do you then think, Herr Stein, that +I am likely to run wild on the organ?" "Oh! you!"--When we came to the +organ-loft, I began a prelude, when he laughed. A fugue followed. "I can +now quite understand why you like to play the organ," said he, "when you +can play in this manner." At first the pedal was a little awkward for +me, as it was without the breaks, beginning with C, then D E in one row, +whereas with us D and E are above, just where E flat and F sharp are +here; but I quickly mastered it. + +I went also to try the old organ at St. Ulrich's. The stair that leads +to it is really dreadful. I requested that some other person might play +the organ for me, that I might go down and listen to it, for above the +organ has no effect; but I profited very little by this, for the young +leader of the choir, a priest, made such reckless runs on the organ that +it was impossible to understand them, and when he attempted harmonies +they proved only discords, being always false. Afterwards they would +insist on our going to a coffee-room, for mamma and my cousin were with +us. A certain Father Emilian, a conceited jackass and a sorry witling, +was very sweet on my cousin, and wished to have his jest with her, +but she made a jest of him. At last, when rather tipsy, (which soon +occurred,) he began to talk about music, and sang a canon, saying, "I +never in my life heard anything finer." I said, "I regret that I can't +sing it with you, for nature has not given me the power of intoning." +"No matter," said he. So he began. I made the third, but I sang +different words--thus: "Pater Emilian, oh! thou numskull"--sotto voce to +my cousin; then we laughed on for at least half an hour. The Pater said +to me, "If we only could be longer together, we could discuss the art of +musical composition." "In that case," said I, "our discussion would soon +come to an end." A famous rap on the knuckles for him! TO BE CONTINUED. + + + +68. + +Augsburg, Oct. 23, 1777. + +MY concert took place yesterday. Count Wolfeck interested himself much +in it, and brought some chanoinesses with him. I went to his lodgings +the very day I arrived, but he was not here at that time. A few days +ago he returned, and on hearing that I was still in Augsburg, he did not +wait for a visit from me, but at the very moment when I was taking my +hat and sword to go to call on him he walked in. I must now give you a +description of the last few days before my concert. Last Saturday I was +at St. Ulrich's, as I already told you. Some days before my cousin +took me with him to present me to the Prelate of the Holy Cross, a kind +excellent old man. Previous to going to St. Ulrich's last Saturday, I +went with my cousin to the Monastery of the Holy Cross, as the first +time I was there neither the Deacon nor the Procurator was at home, +and my cousin told me that the Procurator was very jolly. [Here mamma +inserts a few lines--which frequently occurs in the letters. She says at +the close:] "I am quite surprised that Schuster's duets [see No. 63] are +still"--Wolfgang: "Oh, he has got them." Mamma: "No, indeed; he always +writes that he has not got them." Wolfgang: "I hate arguing; I am sure +he has got them, so there's an end of it." Mamma: "You are mistaken." +Wolfgang: "No; I am right. I will show it to mamma in his own writing." +Mamma: "Well, where is it?" Wolfgang: "Here; read it." She is reading it +at this moment. + +Last Sunday I attended service at the Holy Cross, and at ten o'clock we +went to Herr Stein's, where we tried over a couple of symphonies for the +concert. Afterwards I dined with my cousin at the Holy Cross, where a +band played during dinner. Badly as they play in the monastery, I prefer +it to the Augsburg orchestra. I played a symphony, and a concerto in +B of Vanhall's, on the violin, with unanimous applause. The Dean is +a kind, jovial man, a cousin of Eberlin [deceased Capellmeister of +Salzburg]. His name is Zeschinger. He knows papa well. At night, after +supper, I played the Strassburg concerto; it went as smooth as oil; +every one praised the fine pure tone. A small clavichord was then +brought in, on which I preluded, and played a sonata and the Fischer +variations. Some of those present whispered to the Dean that he ought to +hear me play in the organ style. I asked him to give me a theme, which +he declined, but one of the monks did so. I handled it quite leisurely, +and all at once (the fugue being in G minor) I brought in a lively +movement in the major key, but in the same tempo, and then at the end +the original subject, only reversed. At last it occurred to me to +employ the lively movement for the subject of the fugue also, I did not +hesitate long, but did so at once, and it went as accurately as if Daser +[a Salzburg tailor] had taken its measure. The Dean was in a state of +great excitement. "It is over," said he, "and it's no use talking about +it, but I could scarcely have believed what I have just heard; you are +indeed an able man. My prelate told me beforehand that in his life he +never heard any one play the organ in a more finished and solid style" +(he having heard me some days previously when the Dean was not here). At +last some one brought me a fugued sonata, and asked me to play it. But I +said, "Gentlemen, I really must say this is asking rather too much, +for it is not likely I shall be able to play such a sonata at sight." +"Indeed, I think so too; it is too much; no one could do it," said the +Dean eagerly, being all in my favor. "At all events," said I, "I can but +try." I heard the Dean muttering all the time behind me, "Oh, you rogue! +oh, you knave!" I played till 11 o'clock, bombarded and besieged, as it +were, by fugue themes. + +Lately, at Stein's, he brought me a sonata of Becke's, but I think +I already told you this. A propos, as to his little girl, [Footnote: +Nanette, at that time eight years old; afterwards the admirable wife +of Andreas Streicher, the friend of Schiller's youth, and one of +Beethoven's best friends in Vienna.] any one who can see and hear her +play without laughing must be Stein [stone] like her father. She perches +herself exactly opposite the treble, avoiding the centre, that she may +have more room to throw herself about and make grimaces. She rolls her +eyes and smirks; when a passage comes twice she always plays it slower +the second time, and if three times, slower still. She raises her arms +in playing a passage, and if it is to be played with emphasis she seems +to give it with her elbows and not her fingers, as awkwardly and heavily +as possible. The finest thing is, that if a passage occurs (which ought +to flow like oil) where the fingers must necessarily be changed, she +does not pay much heed to that, but lifts her hands, and quite coolly +goes on again. This, moreover, puts her in a fair way to get hold of a +wrong note, which often produces a curious effect. I only write this in +order to give you some idea of pianoforte-playing and teaching here, so +that you may in turn derive some benefit from it. Herr Stein is quite +infatuated about his daughter. She is eight years old, and learns +everything by heart. She may one day be clever, for she has genius, but +on this system she will never improve, nor will she ever acquire much +velocity of finger, for her present method is sure to make her hand +heavy. She will never master what is the most difficult and necessary, +and in fact the principal thing in music, namely, time; because from her +infancy she has never been in the habit of playing in correct time. +Herr Stein and I discussed this point together for at least two hours. +I have, however, in some degree converted him; he asks my advice now on +every subject. He was quite devoted to Becke, and now he sees and hears +that I can do more than Becke, that I make no grimaces, and yet play +with so much expression that he himself acknowledges none of his +acquaintances have ever handled his pianos as I do. My keeping so +accurately in time causes them all much surprise. The left hand being +quite independent in the tempo rubato of an adagio, they cannot at all +comprehend. With them the left hand always yields to the right. Count +Wolfeck and others, who have a passionate admiration for Becke, said +lately publicly in a concert that I beat Becke hollow. Count Wolfeck +went round the room saying, "In my life I never heard anything like +this." He said to me, "I must tell you that I never heard you play as +you did to-day, and I mean to say so to your father as soon as I go to +Salzburg." What do you think was the first piece after the symphony? +The concerto for three pianos. Herr Demmler took the first part, I the +second, and Herr Stein the third. I then played a solo, my last sonata +in D, for Durnitz, and afterwards my concerto in B; then again a solo +in the organ style, namely, a fugue in C minor, then all of a sudden a +splendid sonata in C major, finishing with a rondo, all extempore. What +a noise and commotion there was! Herr Stein did nothing but make faces +and grimaces of astonishment. Herr Demmler was seized with fits of +laughter, for he is a queer creature, and when anything pleases him +exceedingly, he can't help laughing heartily; indeed, on this occasion +he actually began to swear! Addio! + + + +69. + +Augsburg, Oct. 25, 1777. + +The receipts of the concert were 90 florins, without deducting the +expenses. Including, therefore, the two ducats we took in the Casino +concert, we had 100 florins. The expenses of the concert did not exceed +16 florins 30 kreutzers; the room I had gratis. I believe most of the +musicians will make no charge. We have now ALTOGETHER lost about 26 or +27 florins. This is not of much moment. I am writing this on Saturday +the 25th. This morning early I received the letter with the sad news of +Frau Oberbereiterin's death. Madlle. Tonerl can now purse up her mouth, +or perhaps open it wide, and shut it again as empty as ever. As to the +baker's daughter, I have no objection to make; I foresaw all this long +ago. This was the cause of my reluctance to leave home, and finding it +so difficult to go. I hope the affair is not by this time known all over +Salzburg? I beg you, dear papa, most urgently to keep the matter quiet +as long as possible, and in the mean time to pay her father on my +account any expenses he may have incurred by her entrance into the +convent, which I will repay gladly when I return to Salzburg. + +I thank you most truly, dear papa, for your good wishes on my name-day. +Do not be uneasy on my account, for I have always God before my eyes, +I acknowledge His omnipotence, I dread His wrath; but I also know His +love, His compassion and mercy towards His creatures, and that He will +never forsake His servants. When His will is done I am resigned; so I +never can fail to be happy and contented. I shall certainly also strive +to live as strictly as possible in accordance with your injunctions and +advice. Thank Herr Bullinger a thousand times for his congratulations. +I mean to write to him soon and thank him myself, but I may in the mean +time assure him that I neither know nor have any better, more sincere, +or truer friend than himself. I beg also humbly to thank Madlle. +Sallerl; pray tell her I mean to enclose some verses to show my +gratitude to her in my letter to Herr Bullinger. Thank my sister also; +she is to keep the Schuster duets, and give herself no further trouble +on the subject. + + +In your first letter, dear papa, you write that I lowered myself by +my conduct to that lad Langenmantl. Anything but that! I was only +straightforward, no more. I see you think he is still a boy; he is one +or two and twenty, and a married man. Can any one be considered a boy +who is married? I have never gone near him since. I left two cards +for him to-day, and excused myself for not going in, having so many +indispensable calls to make. I must now conclude, for mamma insists +absolument on going to dinner, and then to pack. To-morrow we go +straight to Wallerstein. My dear little cousin, who sends you her +regards, is anything but a prude. She dressed a la Francaise to please +me yesterday. She looked at least 5 per cent, prettier in consequence. +Now, Addio! + +On the 26th of October the mother and son set off to Mannheim. The +mother writes that Wolfgang intended to write to Augsburg, "but he will +scarcely be able to do so to-day, for he is now at the rehearsal of the +oratorio; so I must beg you to accept my humble self instead." Wolfgang +then adds:-- + + + +70. + +Mannheim, Oct. 30, 1777. + +I must beg you also to accept my insignificancy. I went to-day with Herr +Danner to M. Cannabich's [Director of the Elector's orchestra]. He was +uncommonly polite, and I played something for him on his piano, which +is a very good one. We went together to the rehearsal. I could scarcely +help laughing when I was presented to the musicians, because, though +some who knew me by renomme were very civil and courteous, the rest, +who knew nothing whatever about me, stared in such a ludicrous way, +evidently thinking that because I am little and young nothing great +or mature is to be found in me; but they shall soon find it out. +Herr Cannabich is to take me himself to-morrow to Count Savioli, the +Intendant of Music. One good thing is that the Elector's name-day is +close at hand. The oratorio they are rehearsing is Handel's, but I did +not stay to hear it, for they first rehearsed a Psalm Magnificat of the +Vice-Capellmeister here, [Abbe] Vogler, which lasted a good hour. I must +now conclude, for I have still to write to my cousin. + + + +71. + +Mannheim, Nov. 4, 1777. + +I am at Cannabich's every day, and mamma went with me there to-day. He +is a very different man from what he formerly was, [FOOTNOTE: Mozart had +been at his house, when a boy, with his father.] and the whole orchestra +say the same. He is very fond of me. He has a daughter who plays the +piano very nicely, and in order to make him still more friendly towards +me I am working just now at a sonata for her, which is finished all but +the Rondo. When I had completed the first allegro and andante, I took +it to him myself and played it over; you can't think what applause this +sonata receives. There chanced to be some of the musicians there at +the moment--young Danner, Lang, who plays the French horn, and the +hautboy-player, whose name I forget, but who plays remarkably well, and +has a pleasing delicate tone [Ramm]. I made him a present of a concerto +for the hautboy; it is being copied in Cannabich's room. The man is +wild with delight. I played him the concerto to-day at Cannabich's, and +THOUGH KNOWN TO BE MINE it pleased very much. No one said that it was +NOT WELL COMPOSED, because people here don't understand these things. +They ought to apply to the Archbishop; he would soon put them on the +right scent. [FOOTNOTE: The Archbishop never was satisfied with any of +the compositions that Mozart wrote for his concerts, but invariably had +some fault to find with them.] I played all my six sonatas to-day at +Cannabich's. Herr Kapellmeister Holzbauer went with me to-day to Count +Savioli's. Cannabich was there at the time. Herr Holzbauer said to the +Count in Italian that I wished to have the honor of playing before his +Serene Highness the Elector. "I was here fifteen years ago," said +I, "but now I am older and more advanced, and I may say in music +also"--"Oh!" said the Count, "you are"--I have no idea whom he took +me for, as Cannabich interrupted him, but I affected not to hear, and +entered into conversation with the others. Still I observed that he was +speaking of me very earnestly. The Count then said to me, "I hear that +you play the piano very tolerably?" I bowed. + +I must now tell you about the music here. On Saturday, All-Saints' day, +I attended high mass. The orchestra is very good and numerous. On each +side ten or eleven violins, four tenors, two hautboys, two flutes, and +two clarionets, two corni, four violoncellos, four bassoons, and four +double basses, besides trumpets and kettle-drums. This should give fine +music, but I would not venture to produce one of my masses here. Why? +From their being short? No, everything is liked short. From their church +style? By no means; but solely because NOW in Mannheim, under present +circumstances, it is necessary to write chiefly for the instruments, +for nothing can possibly be conceived worse than the voices here. Six +soprani, six alti, six tenori, and six bassi, to twenty violins and +twelve bassi, are in the same proportion as 0 to 1. Is it not so, +Herr Bullinger? It proceeds from this:--The Italians are miserably +represented: they have only two musici here, and they are already old. +This race is dying out. These soprano singers, too, would prefer singing +counter-tenor; for they can no longer take the high notes. The few boys +they have are wretched. The tenor and bass just like our singers +at funerals. Vogler, who lately conducted the mass, is barren and +frivolous--a man who imagines he can do a great deal, and does very +little. The whole orchestra dislike him. To-day, Sunday, I heard a mass +of Holzbauer's, which is now twenty-six years old, but excellent. He +writes very well, and has a good church style, arranges the vocal parts +as well as the instrumental, and writes good fugues. They have two +organists here; it would be worth while to come to Mannheim on purpose +to hear them--which I had a famous opportunity of doing, as it is the +custom here for the organist to play during the whole of the Benedictus. +I heard the second organist first, and then the other. In my opinion the +second is preferable to the first; for when I heard the former, I asked, +"Who is that playing on the organ?" "Our second organist." "He plays +miserably." When the other began, I said, "Who may that be?" "Our first +organist." "Why, he plays more miserably still." I believe if they were +pounded together, something even worse would be the result. It is enough +to kill one with laughing to look at these gentlemen. The second at +the organ is like a child trying to lift a millstone. You can see his +anguish in his face. The first wears spectacles. I stood beside him at +the organ and watched him with the intention of learning something from +him; at each note he lifts his hands entirely off the keys. What he +believes to be his forte is to play in six parts, but he mostly makes +fifths and octaves. He often chooses to dispense altogether with his +right hand when there is not the slightest need to do so, and plays with +the left alone; in short, he fancies that he can do as he will, and that +he is a thorough master of his organ. + +Mamma sends her love to you all; she cannot possibly write, for she has +still to say her officium. We came home very late from the grand opera +rehearsal. I must go to-morrow after high mass to the illustrious +Electress; she is resolved absolument to teach me to knit filee. I am +very eager about this, as she and the Elector wish that I should knit in +public next Thursday at the great gala concert. The young Princess here, +who is a child compared with the Electress, knits very prettily. +The Zweenbruck and his Zwobrucken (Deux Ponts) arrived here at eight +o'clock. A propos, mamma and I earnestly beg you, dear papa, to send +our charming cousin a souvenir; we both regretted so much having nothing +with us, but we promised to write to you to send her something. We wish +two things to be sent--a double neckerchief in mamma's name, like the +one she wears, and in mine some ornament; a box, or etui, or anything +you like, only it must be pretty, for she deserves it. [FOOTNOTE: The +father was still in possession of many of the ornaments and jewels +presented to these children during their artistic tours.] She and her +father took a great deal of trouble on our account, and wasted much time +on us. My cousin took the receipts for me at my concert. Addio! + + + +72. + +Mannheim, Nov. 5, 1777. + +My dear Coz--Buzz,-- + +I have safely received your precious epistle--thistle, and from it +I perceive--achieve, that my aunt--gaunt, and you--shoe, are quite +well--bell. I have to-day a letter--setter, from my papa--ah-ha, safe in +my hands--sands. I hope you also got--trot, my Mannheim letter--setter. +Now for a little sense--pence. The prelate's seizure--leisure, grieves +me much--touch, but he will, I hope, get well--sell. You write--blight, +you will keep--cheap, your promise to write to me--he-he, to Augsburg +soon--spoon. Well, I shall be very glad--mad. You further write, indeed +you declare, you pretend, you hint, you vow, you explain, you distinctly +say, you long, you wish, you desire, you choose, command, and point +out, you let me know and inform me that I must send you my portrait +soon--moon. Eh, bien! you shall have it before long--song. Now I wish +you good night--tight. + +The 5th.--Yesterday I conversed with the illustrious Electress; and +to-morrow, the 6th, I am to play in the gala concert, and afterwards, by +desire of the Princess, in their private apartments. Now for something +rational! I beg of you--why not?--I beg of you, my very dear cousin--why +not?--when you write to Madame Tavernier in Munich, to convey a message +from me to the two Demoiselles Freysinger--why not? odd enough! but why +not?--and I humbly ask pardon of Madlle. Josepha--I mean the youngest, +and pray why not? why should I not ask her pardon? strange! but I don't +know why I should not, so I do ask her pardon very humbly--for not +having yet sent the sonata I promised her, but I mean to do so as +soon as possible. Why not? I don't know why not. I can now write no +more--which makes my heart sore. To all my kind friends much love--dove. +Addio! Your old young, till death--breath, + +WOLFGANG AMADE ROSENCRANZ. + +Miennham, eht ht5 rebotoc, 7771. + + + +73. + +Mannheim, Nov. 8, 1777. + +This forenoon, at Herr Cannabich's, I wrote the Rondo of the sonata for +his daughter; so they would not let me leave them all day. The Elector +and the Electress, and the whole court, are very much pleased with me. +Both times I played at the concert, the Elector and she stood close +beside me at the piano. After the music was at an end, Cannabich managed +that I should be noticed by the court. I kissed the Elector's hand, who +said, "I think it is now fifteen years since you were here?" "Yes, +your Highness, it is fifteen years since I had that honor." "You play +inimitably." The Princess, when I kissed her hand, said, "Monsieur, je +vous assure, on ne peut pas jouer mieux." + +Yesterday I went with Cannabich to pay the visit mamma already wrote to +you about [to Duke Carl Theodor's children], and there I conversed with +the Elector as if he had been some kind friend. He is a most gracious +and good Prince. He said to me, "I hear you wrote an opera at Munich" +["La finta Giardiniera"]? "Yes, your Highness, and, with your gracious +permission, my most anxious wish is to write an opera here; I entreat +you will not quite forget me. I could also write a German one, God be +praised!" said I, smiling. "That may easily be arranged." He has one +son and three daughters, the eldest of whom and the young Count play the +piano. The Elector questioned me confidentially about his children. +I spoke quite honestly, but without detracting from their master. +Cannabich was entirely of my opinion. The Elector, on going away, took +leave of me with much courtesy. + +After dinner to-day I went, at two o'clock, with Cannabich to +Wendling's, the flute-player, where they were all complaisance. The +daughter, who was formerly the Elector's favorite, plays the piano very +prettily; afterwards I played. I cannot describe to you the happy mood I +was in. I played extempore, and then three duets with the violin, which +I had never in my life seen, nor do I now know the name of the author. +They were all so delighted that I--was desired to embrace the ladies. No +hard task with the daughter, for she is very pretty. + +We then went again to the Elector's children; I played three times, and +from my heart too,--the Elector himself each time asking me to play. He +seated himself each time close to me and never stirred. I also asked a +certain Professor there to give me a theme for a fugue, and worked it +out. + +Now for my congratulations! + +My very dearest papa,--I cannot write poetically, for I am no poet. I +cannot make fine artistic phrases that cast light and shadow, for I am +no painter; I can neither by signs nor by pantomime express my thoughts +and feelings, for I am no dancer; but I can by tones, for I am +a musician. So to-morrow, at Cannabich's, I intend to play my +congratulations both for your name-day and birthday. Mon tres-cher pere, +I can only on this day wish for you, what from my whole heart I wish for +you every day and every night--health, long life, and a cheerful spirit. +I would fain hope, too, that you have now less annoyance than when I was +in Salzburg; for I must admit that I was the chief cause of this. They +treated me badly, which I did not deserve, and you naturally took my +part, only too lovingly. I can tell you this was indeed one of the +principal and most urgent reasons for my leaving Salzburg in such haste. +I hope, therefore, that my wish is fulfilled. I must now close by a +musical congratulation. I wish that you may live as many years as must +elapse before no more new music can be composed. Farewell! I earnestly +beg you to go on loving me a little, and, in the mean time, to excuse +these very poor congratulations till I open new shelves in my small and +confined knowledge-box, where I can stow away the good sense which I +have every intention to acquire. + + + +74. + +Mannheim, Nov. 13, 1777. + +We received your last two letters, and now I must answer them in +detail. Your letter desiring me to inquire about Becke's parents [in +Wallerstein, No. 68] I did not get till I had gone to Mannheim, so too +late to comply with your wish; but it never would have occurred to me +to do so, for, in truth, I care very little about him. Would you like +to know how I was received by him? Well and civilly; that is, he asked +where I was going. I said, most probably to Paris. He then gave me a +vast deal of advice, saying he had recently been there, and adding, "You +will make a great deal by giving lessons, for the piano is highly prized +in Paris." He also arranged that I should dine at the officers' +table, and promised to put me in the way of speaking to the Prince. +He regretted very much having at that moment a sore throat, (which +was indeed quite true,) so that he could not go out with me himself to +procure me some amusement. He was also sorry that he could have no music +in honor of me, because most of the musical people had gone that very +day on some pedestrian excursion to--Heaven knows where! At his +request I tried his piano, which is very good. He often said Bravo! I +extemporized, and also played the sonatas in B and D. In short, he was +very polite, and I was also polite, but grave. We conversed on a variety +of topics--among others, about Vienna, and more particularly that the +Emperor [Joseph II.] was no great lover of music. He said, "It is true +he has some knowledge of composition, but of nothing else. I can still +recall (and he rubbed his forehead) that when I was to play before him +I had no idea what to play; so I began with some fugues and trifles of +that kind, which in my own mind I only laughed at." I could scarcely +resist saying, "I can quite fancy your laughing, but scarcely so loud +as I must have done had I heard you!" He further said (what is the fact) +that the music in the Emperor's private apartments is enough to frighten +the crows. I replied, that whenever I heard such music, if I did not +quickly leave the room it gave me a headache. "Oh! no; it has no such +effect on me; bad music does not affect my nerves, but fine music never +fails to give me a headache." I thought to myself again, such a shallow +head as yours is sure to suffer when listening to what is beyond its +comprehension. + +Now for some of our news here. I was desired to go yesterday with +Cannabich to the Intendant, Count Savioli, to receive my present. It was +just what I had anticipated--a handsome gold watch. Ten Carolins would +have pleased me better just now, though the watch and chain, with its +appendages, are valued at twenty Carolins. Money is what is most needed +on a journey; and, by your leave, I have now five watches. Indeed, I +have serious thoughts of having a second watch-pocket made, and, when +I visit a grandee, to wear two watches, (which is indeed the fashion +here,) that no one may ever again think of giving me another. I see from +your letter that you have not yet read Vogler's book. [FOOTNOTE: Ton +Wissenschaft und Ton Kunst.] I have just finished it, having borrowed it +from Cannabich. His history is very short. He came here in a miserable +condition, performed on the piano, and composed a ballet. This excited +the Elector's compassion, who sent him to Italy. When the Elector was in +Bologna, he questioned Father Valoti about Vogler. "Oh! your Highness, +he is a great man," &c., &c. He then asked Father Martini the same +question. "Your Highness, he has talent; and by degrees, when he is +older and more solid, he will no doubt improve, though he must first +change considerably." When Vogler came back he entered the Church, was +immediately appointed Court Chaplain, and composed a Miserere which +all the world declares to be detestable, being full of false harmony. +Hearing; that it was not much commended, he went to the Elector and +complained that the orchestra played badly on purpose to vex and annoy +him; in short, he knew so well how to make his game (entering into so +many petty intrigues with women) that he became Vice-Capellmeister. He +is a fool, who fancies that no one can be better or more perfect than +himself. The whole orchestra, from the first to the last, detest him. He +has been the cause of much annoyance to Holzbauer. His book is more +fit to teach arithmetic than composition. He says that he can make a +composer in three weeks, and a singer in six months; but we have not yet +seen any proof of this. He despises the greatest masters. To myself he +spoke with contempt of Bach [Johann Christian, J. Sebastian's youngest +son, called the London Bach], who wrote two operas here, the first of +which pleased more than the second, Lucio Silla. As I had composed the +same opera in Milan, I was anxious to see it, and hearing from Holzbauer +that Vogler had it, I asked him to lend it to me. "With all my heart," +said he; "I will send it to you to-morrow without fail, but you won't +find much talent in it." Some days after, when he saw me, he said with +a sneer, "Well, did you discover anything very fine--did you learn +anything from it? One air is rather good. What are the words?" asked he +of some person standing near. "What air do you mean?" "Why, that odious +air of Bach's, that vile--oh! yes, pupille amate. He must have written +it after a carouse of punch." I really thought I must have laid hold +of his pigtail; I affected, however, not to hear him, said nothing, and +went away. He has now served out his time with the Elector. + +The sonata for Madlle. Rosa Cannabich is finished. Last Sunday I played +the organ in the chapel for my amusement. I came in while the Kyrie was +going on, played the last part, and when the priest intoned the Gloria I +made a cadence, so different, however, from what is usually heard here, +that every one looked round in surprise, and above all Holzbauer. +He said to me, "If I had known you were coming, I would have put out +another mass for you." "Oh!" said I, "to puzzle me, I suppose?" Old +Toeschi and Wendling stood all the time close beside me. I gave them +enough to laugh at. Every now and then came a pizzicato, when I rattled +the keys well; I was in my best humor. Instead of the Benedictus here, +there is always a voluntary, so I took the ideas of the Sanctus and +worked them out in a fugue. There they all stood making faces. At the +close, after Ita missa est, I played a fugue. Their pedal is different +from ours, which at first rather puzzled me, but I soon got used to +it. I must now conclude. Pray write to us still at Mannheim. I know all +about Misliweczeck's sonatas [see No. 64], and played them lately at +Munich; they are very easy and agreeable to listen to. My advice is that +my sister, to whom I humbly commend myself, should play them with much +expression, taste, and fire, and learn them by heart. For these are +sonatas which cannot fail to please every one, are not difficult to +commit to memory, and produce a good effect when played with precision. + + + +75. + +Mannheim, Nov. 13, 1777. + +Potz Himmel! Croatians, demons, witches, hags, and cross batteries! Potz +Element! air, earth, fire, and water! Europe, Asia, Africa, and America! +Jesuits, Augustines, Benedictines, Capucins, Minorites, Franciscans, +Dominicans, Carthusians, and Knights of the Cross! privateers, canons +regular and irregular, sluggards, rascals, scoundrels, imps, and +villains all! donkeys, buffaloes, oxen, fools, blockheads, numskulls, +and foxes! What means this? Four soldiers and three shoulder-belts! Such +a thick packet and no portrait! [FOOTNOTE: The "Basle" (his cousin) had +promised him her portrait. She sent it subsequently to Salzburg, where +it still hangs in the Mozarteum.] I was so anxious about it--indeed, I +felt sure of getting it, having yourself written long ago to say that I +should have it soon, very soon. Perhaps you doubt my keeping my promise +[about the ornaments--see No. 71], but I cannot think this either. So +pray let me have the likeness as quickly as you can; and I trust it is +taken as I entreated--in French costume. + +How do I like Mannheim? As well as I can any place where my cousin is +not. I hope, on the other hand, that you have at all events received my +two letters--one from Hohenaltheim, and one from Mannheim--this, such as +it is, being the third from here, but making the fourth in all. I must +conclude, for we are just going to dinner, and I am not yet dressed. +Love me as I love you, and then we shall never cease loving each other. +Adieu! J'espere que vous aurez deja pris quelque lection dans la langue +francaise, et je ne doute point que--ecoutez!--que vous aurez bientot le +francais mieux que moi; car il y a certainement deux ans que je n'ai pas +ecrit un mot de cette langue. Encore adieu! Je vous baise les mains. + + + +76. + +Mannheim, Nov. 14-16, 1777. + +I, Johannes, Chrysostomus, Amadeus, Wolfgangus, Sigismundus, Mozart, +plead guilty to having both yesterday and the day before (and very often +besides) stayed away from home till twelve o'clock at night, from ten +o'clock till the aforesaid hour, I being in the presence and company of +M. Cannabich, his wife and daughter, the Herrn Schatzmeister, Ramm, and +Lang, making doggerel rhymes with the utmost facility, in thought and +word, but not in deed. I should not, however, have conducted myself +in so reckless a manner if our ringleader, namely, the so-called Lisel +(Elisabeth Cannabich), had not inveigled and instigated me to mischief, +and I am bound to admit that I took great pleasure in it myself. I +confess all these my sins and shortcomings from the depths of my heart; +and in the hope of often having similar ones to confess, I firmly +resolve to amend my present sinful life. I therefore beg for a +dispensation if it can be granted; but, if not, it is a matter of +indifference to me, for the game will go on all the same. Lusus enim +suum habet ambitum, says the pious singer Meissner, (chap. 9, p. 24,) +and also the pious Ascenditor, patron of singed coffee, musty lemonade, +milk of almonds with no almonds in it, and, above all, strawberry ice +full of lumps of ice, being himself a great connoisseur and artist in +these delicacies. + +The sonata I composed for Madlle. Cannabich I intend to write out as +soon as possible on small paper, and to send it to my sister. I began +to teach it to Madlle. Rose three days ago, and she has learned the +allegro. The andante will give us most trouble, for it is full of +expression, and must be played with accuracy and taste, and the fortes +and pianos given just as they are marked. She is very clever, and learns +with facility. Her right hand is very good, but the left is unhappily +quite ruined. I must say that I do really feel very sorry for her, when +I see her laboring away till she is actually panting for breath; and +this not from natural awkwardness on her part, but because, being so +accustomed to this method, she cannot play in any other way, never +having been shown the right one. I said, both to her mother and herself, +that if I were her regular master I would lock up all her music, cover +the keys of the piano with a handkerchief, and make her exercise her +right and left hand, at first quite slowly in nothing but passages and +shakes, &c., until her hands were thoroughly trained; and after that +I should feel confident of making her a genuine pianiste. They both +acknowledged that I was right. It is a sad pity; for she has so much +genius, reads very tolerably, has great natural aptitude, and plays with +great feeling. + +Now about the opera briefly. Holzbauer's music [for the first great +German operetta, "Gunther von Schwarzburg"] is very beautiful, but the +poetry is not worthy of such music. What surprises me most is, that so +old a man as Holzbauer should still have so much spirit, for the +opera is incredibly full of fire. The prima donna was Madame Elisabeth +Wendling, not the wife of the flute-player, but of the violinist. She +is in very delicate health; and, besides, this opera was not written for +her, but for a certain Madame Danzi, who is now in England; so it does +not suit her voice, and is too high for her. Herr Raaff, in four arias +of somewhere about 450 bars, sang in a manner which gave rise to the +remark that his want of voice was the principal cause of his singing +so badly. When he begins an air, unless at the same moment it recurs to +your mind that this is Raaff, the old but once so renowned tenor, I defy +any one not to burst out laughing. It is a fact, that in my own case I +thought, if I did not know that this is the celebrated Raaff, I +should be bent double from laughing, but as it is--I only take out my +handkerchief to hide a smile. They tell me here that he never was a good +actor; that people went to hear, but not to see him. He has by no means +a pleasing exterior. In this opera he was to die, singing in a long, +long, slow air; and he died laughing! and towards the end of the aria +his voice failed him so entirely that it was impossible to stand it! +I was in the orchestra next Wendling the flute-player, and as he had +previously criticized the song, saying it was unnatural to sing so long +before dying, adding, "I do think he will never die!" I said in return, +"Have a little patience; it will soon be all over with him, for I can +hear he is at the last gasp!" "And I too," said he, laughing. The second +singer, Madlle. Strasserin, sang very well, and is an admirable actress. + +There is a national stage here, which is permanent like that at Munich; +German operettas are sometimes given, but the singers in them are +wretched. Yesterday I dined with the Baron and Baroness von Hagen, +Oberstjagermeister here. Three days ago I called on Herr Schmalz, a +banker, to whom Herr Herzog, or rather Nocker and Schidl, had given me +a letter. I expected to have found a very civil good sort of man. When +I gave him the letter, he read it through, made me a slight bow, and said +nothing. At last, after many apologies for not having sooner waited on +him, I told him that I had played before the Elector. "Really!" Altum +silentium. I said nothing, he said nothing. At last I began again: "I +will no longer intrude on you. I have the honor to"--Here he interrupted +me. "If I can be of any service to you, I beg"--"Before I leave this I +must take the liberty to ask you"--"Not for money?" "Yes, if you will +be so good as to"--"Oh! that I can't do; there is nothing in the letter +about money. I cannot give you any money, but anything else"--"There +is nothing else in which you can serve me--nothing whatever. I have the +honor to take my leave." I wrote the whole history yesterday to Herr +Herzog in Augsburg. We must now wait here for the answer, so you may +still write to us at Mannheim. I kiss your hand, and am your young +brother and father, as in your last letter you say "I am the old man and +son." To-day is the 16th when I finish this, or else you will not know +when it was sent off. "Is the letter ready?" "Yes, mamma, here it is!" + + + +77. + +Mannheim, Nov. 20, 1777. + +The gala began again yesterday [in honor of the Elector's name-day]. +I went to hear the mass, which was a spick-and-span new composition of +Vogler's. Two days ago I was present at the rehearsal in the afternoon, +but came away immediately after the Kyrie. I never in my life heard +anything like it; there is often false harmony, and he rambles into the +different keys as if he wished to drag you into them by the hair of +your head; but it neither repays the trouble, nor does it possess any +originality, but is only quite abrupt. I shall say nothing of the way in +which he carries out his ideas. I only say that no mass of Vogler's can +possibly please any composer (who deserves the name). For example, I +suddenly hear an idea which is NOT BAD. Well, instead of remaining NOT +BAD, no doubt it soon becomes good? Not at all! it becomes not only BAD, +but VERY BAD, and this in two or three different ways: namely, scarcely +has the thought arisen when something else interferes to destroy it; or +he does not finish it naturally, so that it may remain good; or it +is not introduced in the right place; or it is finally ruined by bad +instrumentation. Such is Vogler's music. + +Cannabich composes far better than when we knew him in Paris, but what +both mamma and I remarked here at once in the symphonies is, that one +begins just like another, always slow and unisono. I must now, dear +papa, write you something about the Holy Cross in Augsburg, which I have +always forgotten to do. I met with a great many civilities there, and +the Prelate is the most good-natured man in the world--a kind, worthy +old simpleton, who may be carried off at any moment, for his breath +fails sadly. He recently--in fact, the very day we left--had an attack +of paralysis. He, and the Dean and Procurator, begged us when we came +back to Augsburg to drive straight to the Holy Cross. The Procurator +is as jolly as Father Leopold at Seeon. [FOOTNOTE: A cloister in Lower +Bavaria, that Wolfgang often visited with his father, as they had a dear +friend there, Father Johannes.] My cousin told me beforehand what kind +of man he was, so we soon became as well acquainted as if we had known +each other for twenty years. I lent him the mass in F, and the first of +the short masses in C, and the offertorium in counterpoint in D minor. +My fair cousin has undertaken to be custodian of these. I got back the +offertorium punctually, having desired that it should be returned first. +They all, and even the Prelate, plagued me to give them a litany, De +venerabili. I said I had not got it with me. I really was by no means +sure; so I searched, but did not find it. They gave me no peace, +evidently thinking that I only wished to evade their request; so I said, +"I really have not the litany with me; it is at Salzburg. Write to my +father; it is his affair. If he chooses to give it to you, well and +good; if not, I have nothing to do with it." A letter from the Deacon +to you will therefore probably soon make its appearance. Do just as you +please, but if you do send him one, let it be the last in E flat; +they have voices enough for anything, and a great many people will +be assembled at that time; they even write for them to come from a +distance, for it is their greatest festival. Adieu! + + + +78. + +Mannheim, Nov. 22, 1777. + +THE first piece of information that I have to give you is, that my +truthful letter to Herr Herzog in Augsburg, puncto Schmalzii, has had a +capital effect. He wrote me a very polite letter in return, expressing +his annoyance that I should have been received so uncourteously by detto +Schmalz [melted butter]; so he herewith sent me a sealed letter to detto +Herr Milk, with a bill of exchange for 150 florins on detto Herr Cheese. +You must know that, though I only saw Herr Herzog once, I could not +resist asking him to send me a draft on Herr Schmalz, or to Herrn +Butter, Milk, and Cheese, or whom he would--a ca! This joke has +succeeded; it is no good making a poor mouth! + +We received this forenoon (the 21st) your letter of the 17th. I was not +at home, but at Cannabich's, where Wendling was rehearsing a concerto +for which I have written the orchestral accompaniments. To-day at six +o'clock the gala concert took place. I had the pleasure of hearing Herr +Franzl (who married a sister of Madame Cannabich's) play a concerto on +the violin; he pleased me very much. You know that I am no lover of mere +difficulties. He plays difficult music, but it does not appear to be so; +indeed, it seems as if one could easily do the same, and this is +real talent. He has a very fine round tone, not a note wanting, and +everything distinct and well accentuated. He has also a beautiful +staccato in bowing, both up and down, and I never heard such a double +shake as his. In short, though in my opinion no WIZARD, he is a very +solid violin-player.--I do wish I could conquer my confounded habit of +writing crooked. + +I am sorry I was not at Salzburg when that unhappy occurrence took place +about Madame Adlgasserin, so that I might have comforted her; and that +I would have done--particularly being so handsome a woman. [Footnote: +Adlgasser was the organist of the cathedral. His wife was thought very +stupid. See the letter of August 26, 1781.] I know already all that +you write to me about Mannheim, but I never wish to say anything +prematurely; all in good time. Perhaps in my next letter I may tell you +of something VERY GOOD in your eyes, but only GOOD in mine; or something +you will think VERY BAD, but I TOLERABLE; possibly, too, something only +TOLERABLE for you, but VERY GOOD, PRECIOUS, and DELIGHTFUL for me! This +sounds rather oracular, does it not? It is ambiguous, but still may be +divined. + +My regards to Herr Bullinger; every time that I get a letter from you, +usually containing a few lines from him, I feel ashamed, as it reminds +me that I have never once written to my best and truest friend, from +whom I have received so much kindness and civility. But I cannot try to +excuse myself. I only beg of him to do so for me as far as possible, +and to believe that, as soon as I have a little leisure, I will write to +him--as yet I have had none; for from the moment I know that it is even +possible or probable that I may leave a place, I have no longer a single +hour I can call my own, and though I have now a glimmer of hope, still +I shall not be at rest till I know how things are. One of the oracle's +sayings must come to pass. I think it will be the middle one or the +last--I care not which, for at all events it will be something settled. + +I no doubt wrote to you that Holzbauer's grand opera is in German. If +not, I write it now. The title is "Gunther von Schwarzburg," but not our +worshipful Herr Gunther, barber and councillor at Salzburg! "Rosamunde" +is to be given during the ensuing Carnival, the libretto being a recent +composition of Wieland's, and the music also a new composition of Herr +Schweitzer. Both are to come here. I have already seen some parts of the +opera and tried it over on the piano, but I say nothing about it as yet. +The target you have had painted for me, to be given in my name to the +shooting-match, is first-rate, and the verses inimitable. [Footnote: For +cross-bow practice, attended weekly by a circle of his Salzburg friends. +On the target was represented "the melancholy farewell of two persons +dissolved in tears, Wolfgang and the 'Basle.'"] I have now no more to +write, except that I wish you all a good night's rest, and that you may +all sleep soundly till this letter comes to wake you. Adieu! I embrace +from my heart--cart, my dear sister--blister, and am your dutiful and +attached son, + +WOLFGANG AMADE MOZART, + +Knight of the Golden Spur, Member of the great Verona Academy, +Bologna--oui, mon ami! + + + +79. + +Mannheim, Nov. 26, 1777. --MOREOVER, every one acquainted with Mannheim, +even the nobility, advised me to come here. The reason why we are still +in this place is that I have some thoughts of remaining the winter here, +and I am only waiting for an answer from the Elector to decide my plans. +The Intendant, Count Savioli, is a very worthy gentleman, and I told +him to inform the Elector that, this being such severe weather for +travelling, I am willing to remain here to teach the young Count [Carl +Theodor's son]. He promised me to do his best for me, but said that I +must have patience till the gala days were over. All this took place +with the consent and at the SUGGESTION of Cannabich. When I told him +that I had spoken to Savioli and what I had said, he replied he really +thought it was more likely to be brought about than not. Indeed, +Cannabich spoke to the Elector on the subject before the Count did +so; and now I must wait to hear the result. I am going to call on Herr +Schmalz to draw my 150 florins, for my landlord would no doubt prefer +the sound of gold to that of music. I little thought that I should have +the gift of a watch here, [see No. 74,] but such is again the case. I +would have been off long ago, but every one says to me, "Where do you +intend to go for the winter? Travelling is detestable in such weather; +stay here." Cannabich also wishes it very much; so now I have taken +steps to do so, and as such an affair cannot be hurried, I must wait +with patience, and I hope soon to be able to send you good news. I have +already two pupils certain, besides the ARCH ones, who certainly won't +give me less than a louis each monthly. Without these I could not indeed +manage to remain. Now let the matter rest as it is, or as it may be, +what avail useless speculations? What is to occur we do not know; still +in so far we do! what God wills! + +Now for a cheerful allegro--non siete si pegro. [Footnote: "Don't be so +desponding."] If we do leave this, we shall go straight to--where? To +Weilburg, or whatever the name of the place may be, to the Princess, +sister of the Prince of Orange, whom we knew so well at the Hague. There +we shall stay--N. B., so long as we like the officers' table, and no +doubt receive at least six louis-d'or. + +A few days ago Herr Sterkel came here from Wurzburg. The day before +yesterday, the 24th, I dined with Cannabich's, and again at Oberstjager +von Hagen's, and spent the evening al solito with Cannabich, where +Sterkel joined us, [Footnote: Abbe Sterkel, a favorite composer and +virtuoso on the piano, whom Beethoven, along with Simrock, Ries, and +the two Rombergs, visited in the autumn of 1791, in Aschaffenberg.] +and played five duets [sonatas with violin], but so quick that it was +difficult to follow the music, and neither distinctly nor in time. Every +one said the same. Madlle. Cannabich played my six sonatas, and in fact +better than Sterkel. I must now conclude, for I cannot write in bed, and +I am too sleepy to sit up any longer. + + + +80. + +Mannheim, Nov. 29, 1777. + +I RECEIVED this morning your letter of the 24th, and perceive that you +cannot reconcile yourself to the chances of good or bad fortune, if, +indeed, the latter is to befall us. Hitherto, we four have neither been +very lucky nor very unlucky, for which I thank God. You make us many +reproaches which we do not deserve. We spend nothing but what is +absolutely necessary, and as to what is required on a journey, you know +that as well or better than we do. No one BUT MYSELF has been the cause +of our remaining so long in Munich; and had I been alone I should have +stayed there altogether. Why were we fourteen days in Augsburg? Surely +you cannot have got my letters from there? I wished to give a concert. +They played me false, so I thus lost eight days. I was absolument +determined to go away, but was not allowed, so strong was the wish that +I should give a concert. I wished to be urged to do so, and I was urged. +I gave the concert; this accounts for the fourteen days. Why did we go +direct to Mannheim? This I answered in my last letter. Why are we still +here? How can you suppose that I would stay here without good cause? But +my father, at all events, should--Well! you shall hear my reasons and +the whole course of the affair; but I had quite resolved not to write to +you on the subject until I could say something decided, (which even yet +I cannot do,) on purpose to avoid causing you care and anxiety, which I +always strive to do, for I knew that uncertain intelligence would only +fret you. But when you ascribe this to my negligence, thoughtlessness, +and indolence, I can only regret your having such an opinion of me, +and from my heart grieve that you so little know your son. I am not +careless, I am only prepared for the worst; so I can wait and bear +everything patiently, so long as my honor and my good name of Mozart +remain uninjured. But if it must be so, so let it be. I only beg that +you will neither rejoice nor lament prematurely; for whatever may +happen, all will be well if we only have health; for happiness +exists--merely in the imagination. + +Last Thursday week I went in the forenoon to wait on Count Savioli, and +asked him if it were possible to induce the Elector to keep me here this +winter, as I was anxious to give lessons to his children. His answer +was, "I will suggest it to the Elector, and if it depends on me, the +thing will certainly be done." In the afternoon I went to Cannabich's, +and as I had gone to Savioli by his advice, he immediately asked me if I +had been there. I told him everything, on which he said, "I should like +you very much to spend the winter with us, but still more to see you in +some permanent situation." I replied, "I could wish nothing better than +to be settled near you, but I don't see how it is possible. You have +already two Capellmeisters, so I don't know what I could have, for I +would not be subordinate to Vogler." "That you would never be," said +he. "Here not one of the orchestra is under the Capellmeister, nor +even under the Intendant. The Elector might appoint you Chamber Court +composer; only wait a little, and I will speak to Count Savioli on the +subject." On the Thursday after there was a grand concert. When the +Count saw me, he apologized for not having yet spoken to the Elector, +these being still gala days; but as soon as they were over (next Monday) +he would certainly speak to his Royal Highness. I let three days pass, +and, still hearing nothing whatever, I went to him to make inquiries. He +said, "My good M. Mozart, (this was yesterday, Friday,) today there was +a chasse, so it was impossible for me to ask the Elector, but to-morrow +at this hour I will certainly give you an answer." I begged him not +to forget it. To tell you the truth, when I left him I felt rather +indignant, so I resolved to take with me the easiest of my six +variations of the Fischer minuet, (which I wrote here for this express +purpose,) to present to the young Count, in order to have an opportunity +to speak to the Elector myself. When I went there, you cannot conceive +the delight of the governess, by whom I was most politely received. +When I produced the variations, and said that they were intended for +the young Count, she said, "Oh! that is charming, but I hope you have +something for the Countess also." "Nothing as yet," said I, "but if I +stay here long enough to have time to write something I will do so." "A +propos," said she, "I am so glad that you stay the winter here." "I? I +have not heard a word of it." "That does surprise me; how very odd! +for the Elector told me so himself lately; he said, 'By the by, Mozart +remains here all winter.'" "Well, when he said so, he was the only man +who could say so, for without the Elector I of course cannot remain +here;" and then I told her the whole story. We agreed that I should come +the next day (that is, to-day) at four o'clock, and bring some piece of +music for the Countess. She was to speak to the Elector before I came; +and I should be certain to meet him. I went today, but he had not been +there at all; but I shall go again to-morrow. I have written a Rondo for +the Countess. Have I not then sufficient cause to stay here and await +the result? As this important step is finally taken, ought I at this +moment to set off? I have now an opportunity of speaking to the Elector +myself. I shall most probably spend the winter here, for I am a favorite +with his Royal Highness, who thinks highly of me, and knows what I can +do. I hope to be able to give you good news in my next letter. I entreat +you once more neither to rejoice nor to be uneasy too soon, and not to +confide the affair to any one except Herr Bullinger and my sister. I +send my sister the allegro and the andante of the sonata I wrote for +Madlle. Cannabich. The Rondo will follow shortly; the packet would have +been too heavy had I sent it with the others. You must be satisfied with +the original, for you can more easily get it copied for six kreutzers a +sheet than I for twenty-four. Is not that dear? Adieu! Possibly you +have heard some stray bits of this sonata; for at Cannabich's it is +sung three times a day at least, played on the piano and violin, or +whistled--only sotto voce, to be sure. + + + +81. + +Mannheim, Dec. 3, 1777. + +I CAN still write nothing certain about my fate here. Last Monday, after +going three days in succession to my ARCH pupils, morning and afternoon, +I had the good fortune at last to meet the Elector. We all, indeed, +thought that I had again come in vain, as it was so late in the day, +but at length we saw him coming. The governess made the Countess seat +herself at the piano, and I placed myself beside her to give her a +lesson, and it was thus the Elector found us on entering. We rose, but +he desired us to continue the lesson. When she had finished playing, the +governess addressed him, saying that I had written a beautiful Rondo. +I played it, and it pleased him exceedingly. At last he said, "Do you +think that she will be able to learn it?" "Oh! yes," said I; "I only +wish I had the good fortune to teach it to her myself." He smiled, and +said, "I should also like it; but would it not be prejudicial to her to +have two masters?" "Oh, no! your Highness," said I; "it all depends on +whether she has a good or a bad one. I hope your Highness will place +trust and confidence in me." "Oh, assuredly," said he. The governess +then said, "M. Mozart has also written these variations on the Fischer +minuet for the young Count." I played them, and he seemed to like them +much. He now began to jest with the Countess. I thanked him for his +present of a watch. He said, "I must reflect on your wish; how long do +you intend to remain here?" My answer was, "As long as your Highness +commands me to do so;" and then the interview was at an end. I went +there again this morning, and was told that the Elector had repeated +yesterday, "Mozart stays here this winter." Now I am fairly in for it; +so you see I must wait. + +I dined to-day (for the fourth time) with Wendling. Before dinner, Count +Savioli came in with Capellmeister Schweitzer, who arrived yesterday +evening. Savioli said to me, "I spoke again yesterday to the Elector, +but he has not yet made up his mind." I answered, "I wish to say a few +words to you privately;" so we went to the window. I told him the doubt +the Elector had expressed, and complained of the affair dragging on +so long, and said how much I had already spent here, entreating him to +persuade the Elector to engage me permanently; for I fear that he will +give me so little during the winter that it will be impossible for me +to remain. "Let him give me work; for I like work." He said he would +certainly suggest it to him, but this evening it was out of the +question, as he was not to go to court; to-morrow, however, he promised +me a decided answer. Now, let what will happen. If he does not engage +me, I shall, at all events, apply for a sum of money for my travelling +expenses, as I have no intention to make him a present of the Rondo and +the variations. I assure you I am very easy on the subject, because I +feel quite certain that, come what may, all will go right. I am entirely +submissive to the will of God. + +Your letter of the 27th arrived yesterday, and I hope you received the +allegro and andante of the sonata. I now enclose the Rondo. Schweitzer +is a good, worthy, upright man, dry and candid like our Haydn; only his +mode of speaking is more polished. There are some very beautiful things +in his new opera, and I don't doubt that it will prove a great success. +"Alceste" is much liked, and yet it is not half so fine as "Rosamunde." +Being the first German operetta no doubt contributed very much to its +popularity; but now--N. B., on minds chiefly attracted by novelty--it +scarcely makes the same impression. Herr Wieland, whose poetry it is, +is also to come here this winter. That is a man I should indeed like +to see. Who knows? Perhaps I may. When you read this, dear papa, please +God, all will be settled. + +If I do stay here, I am going to Paris during Lent with Herr Wendling, +Herr Ramm, the hautboy-player, who plays admirably, and Ballet-master +Cauchery. Wendling assures me I shall never regret it; he has been twice +in Paris, and has only just returned from there. He says, "It is, in +fact, the only place where either real fame or money is to be acquired. +You are a man of genius; I will put you on the right path. You must +write an opera seria and comique, an oratorio, and every kind of thing. +Any one who composes a couple of operas in Paris receives a certain +sum yearly. There is also the Concert Spirituel and the Academie des +Amateurs, where you get five louis-d'or for a symphony. If you teach, +the custom is three louis-d'or for twelve lessons; and then you get your +sonatas, trios, and quartets published by subscription. Cannabich and +Toeschi send a great part of their music to Paris." Wendling is a man +who understands travelling. Write me your opinion of this scheme, I beg; +it seems to me both wise and profitable. I shall travel with a man who +knows all the ins and outs of Paris (as it now is) by heart, for it is +very much changed. I should spend very little--indeed, I believe not one +half of what I do at present, for I should only have to pay for myself, +as mamma would stay here, and probably with the Wendlings. + +On the 12th of this month, Herr Ritter, who plays the bassoon +beautifully, sets off for Paris. If I had been alone, this would have +been a famous opportunity for me; indeed, he spoke to me himself +about it. Ramm (hautboy-player) is a good, jolly, worthy man, about +thirty-five, who has travelled a great deal, so has much experience. +The first and best musicians here like me very much, and respect me too. +They always call me Herr Capellmeister. I cannot say how much I regret +not having at least the copy of a mass with me, for I should certainly +have had it performed, having lately heard one of Holzbauer's, which is +also in our style. If I had only a copy of the Misericordias! But so it +is, and it can't be helped now. I would have had one transcribed here, +but copying does cost so much. Perhaps I should not have got as much for +the mass itself as I must have paid for the copy. People here are by no +means so very liberal. + + + +82. + +Mannheim, Dec. 6, 1777. + +I CAN tell you nothing certain yet. I begin to be rather tired of this +joke; I am only curious to know the result. Count Savioli has spoken +three times to the Elector, and the answer was invariably a shrug of the +shoulders, and "I will give you an answer presently, but--I have not yet +made up my mind." My kind friends here quite agree with me in thinking +that this hesitation and reserve are rather a favorable omen than the +reverse. For if the Elector was resolved not to engage me, he would +have said so at once; so I attribute the delay to Denari siamo un poco +scrocconi [we are a little stingy of our money]. Besides, I know for +certain that the Prince likes me; a buon canto, so we must wait. I may +now say that it will be very welcome to me if the affair turns out well; +if not, I shall much regret having lingered here so long and spent so +much money. At all events, whatever the issue may be, it cannot be +an evil one if it be the will of God; and my daily prayer is that the +result may be in accordance with it. You have indeed, dear papa, rightly +guessed the chief cause of Herr Cannabich's friendship for me. There is, +however, another small matter in which he can make use of me--namely, he +is obliged to publish a collection of all his ballets arranged for the +piano. Now, he cannot possibly write these out himself in such a manner +that the work may be correct and yet easy. For this purpose I am +very welcome to him; (this was the case already with one of his +contredanses.) He has been out shooting for the last week, and is not to +return till next Tuesday. Such things contribute, indeed, very much to +our good friendship; but, independent of this, he would at least never +be inimical to me, for he is very much changed. When a man comes to a +certain age, and sees his children grown up, he then no doubt thinks a +little differently. His daughter, who is fifteen, and his eldest child, +is a very pretty, pleasing girl. She has great good sense for her age, +and an engaging demeanor; she is rather grave and does not talk much, +but what she does say is always amiable and good-natured. She caused me +most indescribable pleasure yesterday, by playing my sonata in the +most admirable manner. The andante (which must not be played QUICK) she +executed with the greatest possible feeling; and she likes to play it. +You know that I finished the first allegro when I had been only two days +here, and that I had then only seen Madlle. Cannabich once. Young Danner +asked me how I intended to compose the andante. "Entirely in accordance +with Madlle. Rose's character," said I. When I played it, it seemed +to please much. Danner mentioned afterwards what I had said. And it is +really so; she is just what the andante is. To-day I dined for the +sixth time with Wendling, and for the second time in the company of +Herr Schweitzer. To-morrow, by way of a change, I dine there again; +I actually have my board there. I must now go to bed, so I wish you +good-night. + +I have this moment returned from Wendling's, and as soon as I have +posted this letter I am going back there, for the opera is to be +rehearsed in camera caritatis, as it were. I am going to Cannabich's +afterwards, at half-past six o'clock, to give my usual daily +music-lesson. A propos, I must correct a statement of mine. I said +yesterday that Madlle. Cannabich was fifteen; it seems, however, +that she is only just thirteen. Our kind regards to all our friends, +especially to Herr Bullinger. + + + +83. + +Mannheim, Dec. 10, 1777. + +ALL is at an end, for the present, with the Elector. I went to the court +concert the day before yesterday, in the hope of getting an answer. +Count Savioli evidently wished to avoid me; but I went up to him. When +he saw me he shrugged his shoulders. "What!" said I, "still no answer?" +"Pardon me!" said he, "but I grieve to say nothing can be done." "Eh, +bien!" said I, "the Elector might have told me so sooner!" "True," +said he, "but he would not even now have made up his mind, if I had not +driven him to it by saying that you had already stayed here too long, +spending your money in a hotel." "Truly, that is what vexes me most of +all," I replied; "it is very far from pleasant. But, at all events, I +am very much indebted to you, Count, (for he is not called "your +Excellency,") for having taken my part so zealously, and I beg you +will thank the Elector from me for his gracious, though somewhat tardy +information; and I can assure him that, had he accepted my services, he +never would have had cause to regret it." "Oh!" said he, "I feel more +convinced of that than perhaps you think." When I told Herr Wendling +of the final decision, he colored and said, quite indignantly, "Then we +must find the means; you must, at least, remain here for the next two +months, and after that we can go together to Paris. To-morrow Cannabich +returns from shooting, and then we can talk further on the subject." I +left the concert immediately, and went straight to Madame Cannabich. +On my way thither, Herr Schatzmeister having come away from the concert +with me, I told him all about it, as he is a good worthy man and a kind +friend of mine. You cannot conceive how angry he was. When we went into +Madame Cannabich's house, he spoke first, saying, "I bring you a man +who shares the usual happy fate of those who have to do with courts." +"What!" said Madame, "so it has all come to nothing?" I told her the +whole, and in return they related to me numbers of similar things which +had occurred here. When Madlle. Rose (who was in the third room from us, +busy with the linen) had finished, she came in and said to me, "Do you +wish me to begin now?" as it was the hour for her lesson. "I am at +your orders," said I. "Do you know," said she, "that I mean to be very +attentive to-day?" "I am sure you will," answered I, "for the lessons +will not continue much longer." "How so? What do you mean?--Why?" She +turned to her mamma, who told her. "What!" said she, "is this quite +certain? I cannot believe it." "Yes--yes; quite certain," said I. She +then played my sonata, but looked very grave. Do you know, I really +could not suppress my tears; and at last they had all tears in their +eyes--mother, daughter, and Schatzmeister, for she was playing the +sonata at the moment, which is the favorite of the whole family. +"Indeed," said Schatzmeister, "if the Herr Capellmeister (I am never +called anything else here) leaves us, it will make us all weep." I +must say that I have very kind friends here, for it is under such +circumstances that we learn to know them; for they are so, not only in +words but in deeds. Listen to this! The other day I went, as usual, to +dine with Wendling, when he said to me, "Our Indian friend (a Dutchman, +who lives on his own means, and is an amateur of all the fine arts, and +a great friend and admirer of mine) is certainly an excellent fellow. +He will give you twenty florins to write for him three little easy short +concertos, and a couple of quattros for a leading flute. Cannabich can +get you at least two pupils, who will play well; and you could write +duets for the piano and violin, and publish them by subscription. Dinner +and supper you will always have with us, and lodgings you have at the +Herr Hofkammerrath's; so all this will cost you nothing. As for your +mother, we can easily find her a cheap lodging for these two months, +till you have had time to write about the matter to your father, when +she will leave this for Salzburg and we for Paris." Mamma is quite +satisfied; so all that is yet wanting is your consent, of which I feel +so sure that, if the time for our journey were now come, I would set +off for Paris without waiting for your reply; for I could expect nothing +else from a sensible father, hitherto so anxious for the welfare of his +children. Herr Wendling, who sends you his compliments, is very intimate +with our dear friend Grimm, who, when he was here, spoke a great +deal about me to Wendling; this was when he had just come from us at +Salzburg. As soon as I receive your answer to this letter, I mean to +write to him, for a stranger whom I met at dinner to-day told me that +Grimm was now in Paris. As we don't leave this till the 8th of March, +I beg you, if possible, to try to procure for me, either through Herr +Mesmer at Vienna, or some one else, a letter to the Queen of France, if +it can be done without much difficulty; if not, it does not much matter. +It would be better if I could have one--of that there is no doubt; this +is also the advice of Herr Wendling. I suppose what I am now writing +must appear very strange to you, because you are in a city where there +are only stupid enemies, and weak and simple friends, whose dreary daily +bread at Salzburg is so essential to them, that they become flatterers, +and are not to be depended on from day to day. Indeed, this was why I +wrote you nothing but childish nonsense, and jokes, and folly; I wished +to await the event here, to save you from vexation, and my good friends +from blame; for you very unwarrantably accuse them of working against +me in an underhand way, which they certainly never did. Your letters +obliged me to relate the whole affair to you. I entreat you most +earnestly not to distress yourself on the subject; God has willed it +so. Reflect also on this most undoubted truth, that we cannot do all we +wish. We often think that such and such a thing would be very good, and +another equally bad and evil, and yet if these things came to pass, we +should sometimes learn that the very reverse was the case. + +I must now go to bed. I shall have plenty of work to do during the two +months of my stay,--three concertos, two quartets, five or six duets for +the piano, and I also have thoughts of composing a new grand mass, and +dedicating it to the Elector. Adieu! I will write to Prince Zeill next +post-day to press forward matters in Munich; if you would also write to +him, I should be very glad. But short and to the point--no cringing! for +that I cannot bear. It is quite certain that he can do it if he likes, +for all Munich told me so [see Nos. 56 and 60]. + + + +84. + +Mannheim, Dec. 14, 1777. + +I CAN only write a few words, as I did not get home till four o'clock, +when I had a lesson to give to the young lady of the house. It is now +nearly half-past five, so time to close my letter. I will ask mamma to +write a few days beforehand, so that all our news may not be of the +same date, for I can't easily do this. The little time that I have for +writing must be devoted to composition, for I have a great deal of work +before me. I entreat you to answer me very soon as to my journey to +Paris. I played over my concertone on the piano to Herr Wendling, who +said it was just the thing for Paris; if I were to play that to Baron +Bach, he would be in ecstasies. Adieu! + + + +85. + +[A P.S. TO A LETTER FROM HIS MOTHER.] + +Mannheim, Dec. 18, 1777. + +IN the greatest haste and hurry! The organ that was tried to-day in the +Lutheran church is very good, not only in certain registers, but in +its whole compass. [Footnote: The mother writes: "A Lutheran of degree +called on us to-day, and invited Wolfgang, with all due politeness, to +try their new organ."] Vogler played on it. He is only a juggler, so +to speak; as soon as he wishes to play in a majestic style, he becomes +dull. Happily this seems equally tedious to himself, so it does not +last long; but then, what follows? only an incomprehensible scramble. +I listened to him from a distance. He began a fugue, in chords of six +notes, and presto. I then went up to him, for I would far rather see +than hear him. There were a great many people present, and among the +musicians Holzbauer, Cannabich, Toeschi, &c. + +A quartet for the Indian Dutchman, that true benefactor of man, will +soon be finished. A propos, Herr told me that he had written to you by +the last post. Addio! I was lately obliged to direct the opera with some +violins at Wendling's, Schweitzer being unwell. + + + +86. + +Mannheim, Dec. 20, 1777. + +I WISH you, dearest papa, a very happy new-year, and that your health, +so precious in my eyes, may daily improve, for the benefit and happiness +of your wife and children, the satisfaction of your true friends, and +for the annoyance and vexation of your enemies. I hope also that in the +coming year you will love me with the same fatherly tenderness you have +hitherto shown me. I on my part will strive, and honestly strive, to +deserve still more the love of such an admirable father. I was cordially +delighted with your last letter of the 15th of December, for, thank God! +I could gather from it that you are very well indeed. We, too, are in +perfect health, God be praised! Mine is not likely to fail if constant +work can preserve it. I am writing this at eleven at night, because +I have no other leisure time. We cannot very well rise before eight +o'clock, for in our rooms (on the ground-floor) it is not light till +half-past eight. I then dress quickly; at ten o'clock I sit down to +compose till twelve or half-past twelve, when I go to Wendling's, where +I generally write till half-past one; we then dine. At three o'clock I +go to the Mainzer Hof (an hotel) to a Dutch officer, to give him lessons +in galanterie playing and thorough bass, for which, if I mistake not, +he gives me four ducats for twelve lessons. At four o'clock I go home to +teach the daughter of the house. We never begin till half past four, +as we wait for lights. At six o'clock I go to Cannabich's to instruct +Madlle. Rose. I stay to supper there, when we converse and sometimes +play; I then invariably take a book out of my pocket and read, as I used +to do at Salzburg. I have already written to you the pleasure your last +letter caused me, which is quite true; only one thing rather vexed me, +the inquiry whether I had not perchance forgotten to go to confession. +I shall not say anything further on this. Only allow me to make you one +request, which is, not to think so badly of me. I like to be merry, +but rest assured that I can be as serious as any one. Since I quitted +Salzburg (and even in Salzburg) I have met with people who spoke and +acted in a way that I should have felt ashamed to do, though they +were ten, twenty, and thirty years older than myself. I implore of you +therefore once more, and most earnestly, to have a better opinion of me. + + + +87. + +Mannheim, Dec. 27, 1777. + +A PRETTY sort of paper this! I only wish I could make it better; but +it is now too late to send for any other. You know, from our previous +letters, that mamma and I have a capital lodging. It never was my +intention that she should live apart from me; in fact, when the +Hofkammerrath Serrarius so kindly offered me his house, I only expressed +my thanks, which is by no means saying yes. The next day I went to see +him with Herr Wendling and M. de Jean (our worthy Dutchman), and only +waited till he should himself begin the subject. At length he renewed +his offer, and I thanked him in these words: "I feel that it is a true +proof of friendship on your part to do me the honor to invite me to live +in your house; but I regret that unfortunately I cannot accept your most +kind proposal. I am sure you will not take it amiss when I say that I am +unwilling to allow my mother to leave me without sufficient cause; and +I certainly know no reason why mamma should live in one part of the town +and I in another. When I go to Paris, her not going with me would be a +considerable pecuniary advantage to me, but here for a couple of months +a few gulden more or less do not signify." + +By this speech my wish was entirely fulfilled,--that is, that our board +and lodging do not at all events make us poorer. I must go up-stairs +to supper, for we have now chatted till half-past ten o'clock. I lately +went with my scholar, the Dutch officer, M. de la Pottrie, into the +Reformed church, where I played for an hour and a half on the organ. It +came right from my heart too. We--that is, the Cannabichs, Wendlings, +Serrariuses, and Mozarts--are going to the Lutheran Church, where I +shall amuse myself gloriously on the organ. I tried its tone at the +same rehearsal that I wrote to you about, but played very little, only a +prelude and a fugue. + +I have made acquaintance with Herr Wieland. He does not, however, know +me as I know him, for he has heard nothing of me as yet. I had not +at all imagined him to be what I find him. He speaks in rather a +constrained way, and has a childish voice, his eyes very watery, and +a certain pedantic uncouthness, and yet at times provokingly +condescending. I am not, however, surprised that he should choose to +behave in this way at Mannheim, though no doubt very differently at +Weimar and elsewhere, for here he is stared at as if he had fallen from +the skies. People seem to be so ceremonious in his presence, no one +speaks, all are as still as possible, striving to catch every word he +utters. It is unlucky that they are kept so long in expectation, for he +has some impediment in his speech which causes him to speak very slowly, +and he cannot say six words without pausing. Otherwise he is, as we all +know, a man of excellent parts. His face is downright ugly and seamed +with the small-pox, and he has a long nose. His height is rather beyond +that of papa. + +You need have no misgivings as to the Dutchman's 200 florins. I must now +conclude, as I should like to compose for a little time. One thing more: +I suppose I had better not write to Prince Zeill at present. The reason +you no doubt already know, (Munich being nearer to Salzburg than to +Mannheim,) that the Elector is at the point of death from small-pox. +This is certain, so there will be a struggle there. Farewell! As for +mamma's journey home, I think it could be managed best during Lent, by +her joining some merchants. This is only my own idea; but what I do feel +quite sure of is, that whatever you think right will be best, for you +are not only the Herr Hofcapellmeister, but the most rational of all +rational beings. If you know such a person as papa, tell him I kiss his +hands 1000 times, and embrace my sister from my heart, and in spite of +all this scribbling I am your dutiful son and affectionate brother. + + + +88. + +Mannheim, Jan. 7, 1778. + +I HOPE you are both well. I am, thank God! in good health and spirits. +You may easily conceive my sorrow at the death of the Elector of +Bavaria. My sole wish is that our Elector here may have the whole of +Bavaria, and transfer himself to Munich. I think you also would like +this. This forenoon at twelve o'clock, Carl Theodor was proclaimed +at court Duke of Bavaria. At Munich, Count Daun, Oberststallmeister, +immediately on the death of the Prince, received homage in the name of +the Elector, and sent the dragoons to ride all round the environs of the +city with trumpets and kettledrums, and to shout "Long live our Elector, +Carl Theodor!" If all goes well, as I hope it may, Count Daun will +receive a very handsome present. His aid-de-camp, whom he dispatched +here with the tidings, (his name is Lilienau,) got 3000 florins from the +Elector. + + + +89. + +Mannheim, Jan 10, 1778 + +YES, indeed! I also wish that from my heart. [Footnote: In the mother's +letter, she had written, "May God grant us the blessing of peace'" for +there was much talk about the invasion of Bavaria by the Prussians and +Austrians, on account of the succession.] You have already learned my +true desire from my last letter. It is really high time that we should +think of mamma's journey home, for though we have had various rehearsals +of the opera, still its being performed is by no means certain, and if +it is not given, we shall probably leave this on the 15th of February. +When that time arrives, (after receiving your advice on the subject,) +I mean to follow the opinions and habits of my fellow-travellers, and, +like them, order a suit of black clothes, reserving the laced suit for +Germany, as it is no longer the fashion in Paris. In the first place, +it is an economy, (which is my chief object in my Paris journey,) and, +secondly, it wears well and suits both country and town. You can go +anywhere with a black coat. To-day the tailor brought Herr Wendling his +suit. The clothes I think of taking with me are my puce-brown spagnolet +coat, and the two waistcoats. + +Now for something else. Herr Wieland, after meeting me twice, seems +quite enchanted with me. The last time, after every sort of eulogium, he +said, "It is really fortunate for me having met you here," and pressed +my hand. To-day "Rosamunde" has been rehearsed in the theatre; it is +well enough, but nothing more, for if it were positively bad it could +not be performed, I suppose,--just as some people cannot sleep without +lying in a bed! But there is no rule without an exception, and I have +seen an instance of this; so good night! Now for something more to the +purpose. I know for certain that the Emperor intends to establish +a German opera in Vienna, and is eagerly looking out for a young +Capellmeister who understands the German language, and has genius, and +is capable of bringing something new into the world. Benda at Gotha has +applied, but Schweitzer is determined to succeed. I think it would be +just the thing for me, but well paid of course. If the Emperor gives +me 1000 gulden, I will write a German opera for him, and if he does not +choose to give me a permanent engagement, it is all the same to me. Pray +write to every kind friend you can think of in Vienna, that I am capable +of doing credit to the Emperor. If he will do nothing else, he may at +least try me with an opera, and as to what may occur hereafter I care +not. Adieu! I hope you will put the thing in train at once, or some one +may forestall me. + + + +90. + +Mannheim, Jan. 17, 1778. + +NEXT Wednesday I am going for some days to Kirchheim-Boland, the +residence of the Princess of Orange. I have heard so much praise of her +here, that at last I have resolved to go. A Dutch officer, a particular +friend of mine, [M. de la Pottrie,] was much upbraided by her for +not bringing me with him when he went to offer his new-year's +congratulations. I expect to receive at least eight louis-d'or, for as +she has a passionate admiration of singing, I have had four arias copied +out for her. I will also present her with a symphony, for she has a very +nice orchestra and gives a concert every day. Besides, the copying of +the airs will not cost me much, for a M. Weber who is going there with +me has copied them. He has a daughter who sings admirably, and has +a lovely pure voice; she is only fifteen. [Footnote: Aloysia, second +daughter of the prompter and theatrical copyist, Weber, a brother +of Carl Maria von Weber's father.] She fails in nothing but in stage +action; were it not for that, she might be the prima donna of any +theatre. Her father is a downright honest German who brings up his +children well, for which very reason the girl is persecuted here. He has +six children,--five girls and a son. He and his wife and children have +been obliged to live for the last fourteen years on an income of +200 florins, but as he has always done his duty well, and has lately +provided a very accomplished singer for the Elector, he has now actually +400 florins. My aria for De' Amicis she sings to perfection with all its +tremendous passages: she is to sing it at Kirchheim-Boland. + +Now for another subject. Last Wednesday there was a great feast in our +house, [at Hofkammerrath Serrarius's,] to which I was also invited. +There were fifteen guests, and the young lady of the house [Pierron, the +"House Nymph"] was to play in the evening the concerto I had taught her +at eleven o'clock in the forenoon. The Herr Kammerrath and Herr Vogler +called on me. Herr Vogler seems quite determined to become acquainted +with me, as he often importuned me to go to see him, but he has overcome +his pride and paid me the first visit. Besides, people tell me that he +is now very different, being no longer so much admired; for at first +he was made quite an idol of here. We went up-stairs together, when by +degrees the guests assembled, and there was no end to talking. After +dinner, Vogler sent for two pianos of his, which were tuned alike, +and also his wearisome engraved sonatas. I had to play them, while he +accompanied me on the other piano. At his urgent request I sent for my +sonatas also. N. B.--Before dinner he had scrambled through my sonata at +sight, (the Litzau one which the young lady of the house plays.) He +took the first part prestissimo--the Andante allegro--and the Rondo more +prestissimo still. He played great part of the bass very differently +from the way in which it is written, inventing at times quite another +harmony and melody. It is impossible to do otherwise in playing at such +a pace, for the eyes cannot see the notes, nor the hands get hold of +them. What merit is there in this? The listeners (I mean those worthy of +the name) can only say that they have SEEN music and piano-playing. All +this makes them hear, and think, and feel as little--as he does. You may +easily believe that this was beyond all endurance, because I could not +venture to say to him MUCH TOO QUICK! besides, it is far easier to play +a thing quickly than slowly; some notes may then be dropped without +being observed. But is this genuine music? In rapid playing the right +and left hands may be changed, and no one either see or hear it; but is +this good? and in what does the art of reading prima vista consist? In +this--to play the piece in the time in which it ought to be played, and +to express all the notes and apoggiaturas, &c., with proper taste and +feeling as written, so that it should give the impression of being +composed by the person who plays it. His fingering also is miserable; +his left thumb is just like that of the late Adlgasser, all the runs +downwards with the right hand he makes with the first finger and thumb! + + + +91. + +Mannheim, Feb. 2 1778. + +I COULD no delay writing to you till the usual Saturday arrived, because +it was so long since I had the pleasure of conversing with you by +means of my pen. The first thing I mean to write about is how my worthy +friends and I got on at Kirchheim-Boland. It was simply a holiday +excursion, and nothing more. On Friday morning at eight o'clock we +drove away from here, after I had breakfasted with Herr Weber. We had +a capital covered coach which held four; at four o'clock we arrived at +Kirchheim-Boland. We immediately sent a list of our names to the palace. +Next morning early, Herr Concertmeister Rothfischer called on us. He had +been already described to me at Mannheim as a most honorable man, and +such I find him to be. In the evening we went to court, (this was on +Saturday,) where Madlle. Weber sang three airs. I say nothing of her +singing, but it is indeed admirable. I wrote to you lately with regard +to her merits; but I cannot finish this letter without writing further +about her, as I have only recently known her well, so now first discover +her great powers. We dined afterwards at the officers' table. Next day +we went some distance to church, for the Catholic one is rather far +away. This was on Sunday. In the forenoon we dined again with the +officers. In the evening there was no music, because it was Sunday. Thus +they have music only 300 times during the year. In the evening we might +have supped at court, but we preferred being all together at the inn. +We would gladly have made them a present also of the dinners at the +officers' table, for we were never so pleased as when by ourselves; +but economy rather entered our thoughts, since we were obliged to pay +heavily enough at the inn. + +The following day, Monday, we had music again, and also on Tuesday and +Wednesday. Madlle. Weber sang in all thirteen times, and played twice on +the piano, for she plays by no means badly. What surprises me most is, +that she reads music so well. Only think of her playing my difficult +sonatas at sight, SLOWLY, but without missing a single note. I give you +my honor I would rather hear my sonatas played by her than by Vogler. I +played twelve times, and once, by desire, on the organ of the Lutheran +church. I presented the Princess with four symphonies, and received only +seven louis-d'or in silver, and our poor dear Madlle. Weber only five. +This I certainly did not anticipate! I never expected great things, +but at all events I hoped that each of us would at least receive eight +louis-d'or. Basta! We were not, however, losers, for I have a profit +of forty-two florins, and the inexpressible pleasure of becoming better +acquainted with worthy upright Christian people, and good Catholics, I +regret much not having known them long ago. + +The 4th.--Now comes something urgent, about which I request an answer. +Mamma and I have discussed the matter, and we agree that we do not like +the sort of life the Wendlings lead. Wendling is a very honorable and +kind man, but unhappily devoid of all religion, and the whole family +are the same. I say enough when I tell you that his daughter was a most +disreputable character. Ramm is a good fellow, but a libertine. I +know myself, and I have such a sense of religion that I shall never do +anything which I would not do before the whole world; but I am alarmed +even at the very thoughts of being in the society of people, during my +journey, whose mode of thinking is so entirely different from mine +(and from that of all good people). But of course they must do as they +please. I have no heart to travel with them, nor could I enjoy one +pleasant hour, nor know what to talk about; for, in short, I have no +great confidence in them. Friends who have no religion cannot be long +our friends. I have already given them a hint of this by saying that +during my absence three letters had arrived, of which I could for the +present divulge nothing further than that it was unlikely I should be +able to go with them to Paris, but that perhaps I might come later, or +possibly go elsewhere; so they must not depend on me. I shall be able to +finish my music now quite at my ease for De Jean, who is to give me 200 +florins for it. I can remain here as long as I please, and neither board +nor lodging cost me anything. In the meantime Herr Weber will endeavor +to make various engagements for concerts with me, and then we shall +travel together. If I am with him, it is just as if I were with +you. This is the reason that I like him so much; except in personal +appearance, he resembles you in all respects, and has exactly your +character and mode of thinking. If my mother were not, as you know, too +COMFORTABLY LAZY to write, she would say precisely what I do. I must +confess that I much enjoyed my excursion with them. We were pleased +and merry; I heard a man converse just like you; I had no occasion to +trouble myself about anything; what was torn I found repaired. In short, +I was treated like a prince. I am so attached to this oppressed family +that my greatest wish is to make them happy, and perhaps I may be able +to do so. My advice is that they should go to Italy, so I am all anxiety +for you to write to our good friend Lugiati [impresario], and the sooner +the better, to inquire what are the highest terms given to a prima donna +in Verona--the more the better, for it is always easy to accept lower +terms. Perhaps it would be possible to obtain the Ascensa in Venice. I +will be answerable with my life for her singing, and her doing credit to +my recommendation. She has, even during this short period, derived much +profit from me, and how much further progress she will have made by that +time! I have no fears either with regard to her acting. If this plan be +realized, M. Weber, his two daughters, and I, will have the happiness +of visiting my dear papa and dear sister for a fortnight, on our way +through Salzburg. My sister will find a friend and companion in Madlle. +Weber, for, like my sister in Salzburg, she enjoys the best reputation +here, owing to the careful way in which she has been brought up; the +father resembles you, and the whole family that of Mozart. They have +indeed detractors, as with us, but when it comes to the point they must +confess the truth; and truth lasts longest. I should be glad to go with +them to Salzburg, that you might hear her. My air that De' Amicis used +to sing, and the bravura aria "Parto m' affretto," and "Dalla sponda +tenebrosa," she sings splendidly. Pray do all you can to insure our +going to Italy together. You know my greatest desire is--to write +operas. + +I will gladly write an opera for Verona for thirty zecchini, solely that +Madlle. Weber may acquire fame by it; for, if I do not, I fear she may +be sacrificed. Before then I hope to make so much money by visiting +different places that I shall be no loser. I think we shall go to +Switzerland, perhaps also to Holland; pray write to me soon about this. +Should we stay long anywhere, the eldest daughter [Josepha, afterwards +Madaine Hofer, for whom the part of the Queen of the Night in the +"Flauto magico" was written] would be of the greatest use to us; for we +could have our own menage, as she understands cooking. + +Send me an answer soon, I beg. Don't forget my wish to write an opera; I +envy every person who writes one; I could almost weep from vexation when +I hear or see an aria. But Italian, not German--seria, not buffa! I have +now written you all that is in my heart; my mother is satisfied with my +plan. + +The mother, however, adds the following postscript:-- + +"No doubt you perceive by the accompanying letter that when Wolfgang +makes new friends he would give his life for them. It is true that she +does sing incomparably; still, we ought not to lose sight of our own +interests. I never liked his being in the society of Wendling and Ramm, +but I did not venture to object to it, nor would he have listened to +me; but no sooner did he know these Webers than he instantly changed his +mind. In short, he prefers other people to me, for I remonstrate with +him sometimes, and that he does not like. I write this quite secretly +while he is at dinner, for I don't wish him to know it." + +A few days later Wolfgang urges his father still more strongly. + + + +92. + +Mannheim, Feb. 7, 1778. + +HERR SCHIEDENHOFEN might have let me know long ago through you that his +wedding was soon to take place [see Nos. 7, 10, 19], and I would have +composed a new minuet for the occasion. I cordially wish him joy; but +his is, after all, only one of those money matches, and nothing else! I +hope never to marry in this way; I wish to make my wife happy, but not +to become rich by her means; so I will let things alone, and enjoy my +golden freedom till I am so well off that I can support both wife and +children. Herr Schiedenhofen was forced to choose a rich wife; his +title imposed this on him. The nobility must not marry for love or from +inclination, but from interest, and all kinds of other considerations. +It would not at all suit a grandee to love his wife after she had done +her duty, and brought into the world an heir to the property. But we +poor humble people are privileged not only to choose a wife who loves +us, and whom we love, but we may, can, and do take such a one, because +we are neither noble, nor highborn, nor rich, but, on the contrary, +lowly, humble, and poor; we therefore need no wealthy wife, for our +riches being in our heads, die with us, and these no man can deprive us +of unless he cut them off, in which case we need nothing more. + +I lately wrote to you my chief reason for not going to Paris with these +people, but another is that I have reflected well on what I have to do +in Paris. I could not get on passably without pupils, which is a kind +of work that does not suit me--of this I have a strong example here. I +might have had two pupils: I went three times to each, but finding one +of them not at home, I never went back. I am willing to give lessons +out of complaisance, especially when I see genius, and inclination and +anxiety to learn; but to be obliged to go to a house at a certain hour, +or else to wait at home, is what I cannot submit to, if I were to gain +twice what I do. I find it impossible, so must leave it to those who +can do nothing but play the piano. I am a composer, and born to become +a Kapellmeister, and I neither can nor ought thus to bury the talent +for composition with which God has so richly endowed me (I may say this +without arrogance, for I feel it now more than ever); and this I should +do were I to take many pupils, for it is a most unsettled metier; and +I would rather, SO TO SPEAK, neglect the piano than composition, for I +look on the piano to be only a secondary consideration, though, thank +God! a very strong one too. My third reason is, that I am by no means +sure our friend Grimm is in Paris. If he is, I can go there at any time +with the post-carriage, for a capital one travels from here to Paris by +Strassburg. We intended at all events to have gone by it. They travel +also in this way. Herr Wendling is inconsolable at my not going with +them, but I believe this proceeds more from self-interest than from +friendship. Besides the reason I gave him (about the three letters +that had come during my absence), I also told him about the pupils, and +begged him to procure something certain for me, in which case I would be +only too glad to follow him to Paris, (for I can easily do so,)--above +all, if I am to write an opera, which is always in my thoughts; but +French rather than German, and Italian rather than French or German. The +Wendlings, one and all, are of opinion that my compositions would please +much in Paris. I have no fears on the subject, for, as you know, I can +pretty well adapt or conform myself to any style of composition. Shortly +after my arrival I composed a French song for Madlle. Gustel (the +daughter), who gave me the words, and she sings it inimitably. I have +the pleasure to enclose it for you. It is sung every day at Wendling's, +for they are quite infatuated with it. + + + +93. + +Mannheim, Feb. 14, 1778. + +I PERCEIVE by your letter of the 9th of February that you have not +yet received my last two letters. Wendling and Kamm leave this early +to-morrow morning. If I thought that you would be really displeased with +me for not going to Paris with them, I should repent having stayed here; +but I hope it is not so. The road to Paris is still open to me. Wendling +has promised to inquire immediately about Herr Grimm, and to send me +information at once. With such a friend in Paris, I certainly shall go +there, for no doubt he will bring something to bear for me. The main +cause of my not going with them is, that we have not been able to +arrange about mamma returning to Augsburg. The journey will not cost +much, for there are vetturini here who can be engaged at a cheap rate. +By that time, however, I hope to have made enough to pay mamma's journey +home. Just now I don't really see that it is possible. Herr de Jean sets +off to-morrow for Paris, and as I have only finished two concertos and +three quartets for him, he sent me 96 florins (having made a mistake of +four florins, thinking this sum the half of the 200); he must, however, +pay me in full, for such was the agreement I made with Wendling, and +I can send him the other pieces. It is not surprising that I have been +unable to finish them, for I never have a single quiet hour here. I can +only write at night, so I cannot rise early; besides, one is not always +disposed to work. I could, to be sure, scrawl away all day, but a thing +of this kind goes forth to the world, and I am resolved not to have +cause to be ashamed of my name on the title-page. Moreover, you know +that I become quite obtuse when obliged to write perpetually for an +instrument that I cannot bear; so from time to time I do something else, +such as duets for the piano and violin, and I also worked at the mass. +Now I have begun the pianoforte duets in good earnest, in order to +publish them. If the Elector were only here, I would very quickly finish +the mass; but what must be must be! + +I am very grateful to you, dear papa, for your fatherly letter; I will +preserve it as a treasure, and always refer to it. Pray do not forget +about my mother's journey from Augsburg to Salzburg, and let me know the +precise day; and I beg you will also remember the arias I mentioned in +my last letter. If I recollect rightly, there are also some cadenzas +which I once jotted down, and at all events an aria cantabile with +coloraturas? I wish to have these first, for they will serve as +exercises for Madlle. Weber. I have just taught her an andantino +cantabile of Bach's. Yesterday there was a concert at Cannabich's, where +from first to last all the music was of my composition, except the first +symphony, which was Cannabich's. Madlle. Rose played my concerto in +B, then Herr Ramm (by way of a change) played for the fifth time the +hautboy concerto dedicated to Ferlendi, which makes a great sensation +here. It is now quite Ramm's cheval de bataille. Madlle. Weber sang De' +Amicis's aria di bravura quite charmingly. Then I played my old concerto +in D, because it is such a favorite here, and likewise extemporized for +half an hour, after which Madlle. Weber sang De' Amicis's air, "Parto m' +affretto;" and, as a finale, my symphony "Il Re Pastore" was given. I +do entreat you urgently to interest yourself in Madlle. Weber; it would +make me so happy if good-fortune were to attend her. Husband and wife, +five children, and a salary of 450 florins! Don't forget about Italy, +and my desire to go there; you know my strong wish and passion. I hope +all may go right. I place my trust in God, who will never forsake us. +Now farewell, and don't forget all my requests and recommendations. + +These letters alarmed the father exceedingly, so he wrote a long and +very earnest letter to his son as follows:--"The object of your journey +was to assist your parents, and to contribute to your dear sister's +welfare, but, above all, that you might acquire honor and fame in the +world, which you in some degree did in your boyhood; and now it rests +entirely with you to raise yourself by degrees to one of the highest +positions ever attained by any musician. This is a duty you owe to a +kind Providence in return for the remarkable talents with which He +has gifted you; and it depends wholly on your own good sense and good +conduct, whether you become a commonplace artist whom the world will +forget, or a celebrated Capellmeister, of whom posterity will read +hereafter in books,--whether, infatuated with some pretty face, you one +day breathe your last on a straw sack, your wife and children in a state +of starvation, or, after a well-spent Christian life, die peacefully in +honor and independence, and your family well provided for." He goes on +to represent to him how little he has hitherto fulfilled the object of +his journey, and, above all, the folly of wishing to place so young a +girl on the Italian stage as a prima donna, both time and great training +being previously required. Moreover, it would be quite unworthy of +him to wander about the world with strangers, and to compose at random +merely for money. "Get off to Paris without delay. Take your place by +the side of really great people. Aut Caesar aut nihil. The very idea of +Paris should have guarded you from all passing fancies." + +To this Wolfgang replies:-- + + + +94. + +Mannheim, Feb. 19, 1778. + +I ALWAYS thought that you would disapprove of my journey with the +Webers, but I never had any such intention--I mean, UNDER PRESENT +CIRCUMSTANCES. I gave them my word of honor to write to you to that +effect. Herr Weber does not know how we stand, and I certainly shall +tell it to no one. I wish my position had been such that I had no cause +to consider any one else, and that we were all independent; but in the +intoxication of the moment I forgot the present impossibility of the +affair, and also to tell you what I had done. The reasons of my not +being now in Paris must be evident to you from my last two letters. If +my mother had not first begun on the subject, I certainly would have +gone with my friends; but when I saw that she did not like it, I began +to dislike it also. When people lose confidence in me, I am apt to lose +confidence in myself. The days when, standing on a stool, I sang Oragna +fiaguta fa, [Footnote: Words sounding like Italian, but devoid of +meaning, for which he had invented a melody. Nissen gives it in his +Life of Mozart, p. 35.] and at the end kissed the tip of your nose, +are indeed gone by; but still, have my reverence, love, and obedience +towards yourself ever failed on that account? I say no more. As for your +reproach about the little singer in Munich [see No. 62], I must confess +that I was an ass to write such a complete falsehood. She does not as +yet know even what singing means. It was true that, for a person who +had only learned music for three months, she sang surprisingly; and, +besides, she has a pleasing pure voice. The reason why I praised her so +much was probably my hearing people say, from morning to night, "There +is no better singer in all Europe; those who have not heard her have +heard nothing." I did not venture to disagree with them, partly because +I wished to acquire friends, and partly because I had come direct from +Salzburg, where we are not in the habit of contradicting any one; but +as soon as I was alone I never could help laughing. Why, then, did I not +laugh at her in my letter to you? I really cannot tell. + +The bitter way in which you write about my merry and innocent +intercourse with your brother's daughter, makes me justly indignant; +but as it is not as you think, I require to give you no answer on the +subject. I don't know what to say about Wallerstein; I was very grave +and reserved with Becke, and at the officers' table also I had a very +serious demeanor, not saying one word to anybody. But let this all pass; +you only wrote it in a moment of irritation [see No. 74]. Your remarks +about Madlle. Weber are just; but at the time I wrote to you I knew +quite as well as you that she is still too young, and must be first +taught how to act, and must rehearse frequently on the stage. But with +some people one must proceed step by step. These good people are as +tired of being here as--you know WHO and WHERE, [meaning the Mozarts, +father and son, in Salzburg,] and they think everything feasible. I +promised them to write everything to my father; but when the letter was +sent off to Salzburg, I constantly told her that she must have a little +patience, for she was still rather too young, &c. They take in all I +say in good part, for they have a high opinion of me. By my advice, +Herr Weber has engaged Madlle. Toscani (an actress) to give his daughter +lessons in acting. All you write of Madlle. Weber is true, except, that +she sings like a Gabrielli, [see Nos. 10, 37,] for I should not at all +like her to sing in that style. Those who have heard Gabrielli say, and +must say, that she was only an adept in runs and roulades; but as she +adopted so uncommon a reading, she gained admiration, which, however, +did not last longer than hearing her four times. She could not please +in the long run, for roulades soon become very tiresome, and she had the +misfortune of not being able to sing. She was not capable of sustaining +a breve properly, and having no messa di voce, she could not dwell on +her notes; in short, she sang with skill, but devoid of intelligence. +Madlle. Weber's singing, on the contrary, goes to the heart, and she +prefers a cantabile. I have lately made her practise the passages in +the Grand Aria, because, if she goes to Italy, it is necessary that she +should sing bravuras. The cantabile she certainly will never forget, +being her natural bent. Raaff (who is no flatterer), when asked to give +his sincere opinion, said, "She does not sing like a scholar, but like a +professor." + +So now you know everything. I do still recommend her to you with my +whole heart, and I beg you will not forget about the arias, cadenzas, +&c. I can scarcely write from actual hunger. My mother will display the +contents of our large money-box. I embrace my sister lovingly. She is +not to lament about every trifle, or I will never come back to her. + + + +95. + +Mannheim, Feb. 22, 1778. + +I HAVE been now two days confined to the house, and taking +antispasmodics, black powders, and elderflower tea as a sudorific, +because I have had a catarrh, a cold in my head, sore throat, headache, +pains in my eyes, and earache; but, thank God, I am now better, and hope +to be able to go out tomorrow, being Sunday. I got your letter of the +16th and the two unsealed letters of introduction for Paris. I rejoice +that my French song pleases you [see No. 92]. You must forgive my not +writing much this time, but I really cannot--I am so afraid of bringing +back my headache, and, besides, I feel no inclination to write to-day. +It is impossible to write all we think--at least, I find it to be so. +I would rather say it than write it. My last letter told you the whole +thing just as it stands. Believe what you please of me, only nothing +bad. There are people who think no one can love a poor girl without +evil designs. But I am no Brunetti [a violinist in Salzburg], no +Misliweczeck. I am a Mozart; and, though young, still a high-principled +Mozart. Pardon me if, in my eagerness, I become somewhat excited--which +is, I suppose, the term, though I might rather say, if I write as I +feel. I might have said a great deal on this subject, but I cannot--I +feel it to be impossible. Among my many faults I have also that of +believing that those friends who know me, do so thoroughly. Then many +words are not necessary; and if they do not know me, oh! how could I +find words sufficient? It is painful enough to employ words and letters +for such a purpose. This, however, is not at all meant to apply to you, +dearest papa. No! You understand me too well, and you are too kind to +try to deprive any one of his good name. I only meant it for--you can +guess to whom I allude--to people who can believe such a thing. + +I have resolved to stay in the house to-day, although Sunday, as it is +snowing heavily. To-morrow I must go out, for our "house-nymph," Madlle. +Pierron, my highly esteemed pupil, who has usually a French concert +every Monday, intends to scramble through my hochgrafliche Litzau +concerto. I also mean, for my sins, to let them give me something to +hack away at, and show that I can do something too prima fista; for I am +a regular greenhorn, and all I can do is to strum a little on the piano! +I must now conclude, being more disposed to-day to write music than +letters. Don't forget the cadenzas and the cantabile. Many thanks for +having had the arias written out so quickly, for it shows that you place +confidence in me when I beg a favor of you. + + +96. + +Mannheim, Feb. 28, 1778. + +I HOPE to receive the arias next Friday or Saturday, although in your +last letter you made no further mention of them, so I don't know whether +you sent them off on the 22d by the post-carriage. I hope so, for I +should like to play and sing them to Madlle. Weber. I was yesterday at +Raafl's to take him an aria that I lately wrote for him [Kochel, No. +295]. The words are--"Se al labbro mio non credi, nemica mia." I don't +think they are by Metastasio. The aria pleased him beyond all measure. +It is necessary to be very particular with a man of this kind. I chose +these words expressly, because he had already composed an aria for them, +so of course he can sing it with greater facility, and more agreeably +to himself. I told him to say honestly if it did not suit his voice or +please him, for I would alter it if he wished, or write another. "Heaven +forbid!" said he; "it must remain just as it is, for nothing can be more +beautiful. I only wish you to curtail it a little, for I am no longer +able to sustain my voice through so long a piece." "Most gladly," I +answered, "as much as ever you please; I made it purposely rather long, +for it is always easy to shorten, but not so easy to lengthen." After he +had sung the second part, he took off his spectacles, and, looking at +me deliberately, said, "Beautiful! beautiful! This second part is quite +charming;" and he sang it three times. When I went away he cordially +thanked me, while I assured him that I would so arrange the aria that he +would certainly like to sing it. I think an aria should fit a singer as +accurately as a well-made coat. I have also, for practice, arranged +the air "Non so d' onde viene" which has been so charmingly composed by +Bach. Just because I know that of Bach so well, and it pleases me and +haunts my ear, I wished to try if, in spite of all this, I could succeed +in writing an aria totally unlike the other. And, indeed, it does not in +the very least resemble it. I at first intended this aria for Raaff; but +the beginning seemed to me too high for Raaff's voice, but it pleased +me so much that I would not alter it; and from the orchestral +accompaniment, too, I thought it better suited to a soprano. I therefore +resolved to write it for Madlle. Weber. I laid it aside, and took the +words "Se al labbro" for Raaff. But all in vain, for I could write +nothing else, as the first air always came back into my head; so I +returned to it, with the intention of making it exactly in accordance +with Madlle. Weber's voice. It is andante sostenuto, (preceded by a +short recitative,) then follows the other part, Nel seno destarmi, and +after this the sostenuto again. When it was finished, I said to Madlle. +Weber, "Learn the air by yourself, sing it according to your own taste, +then let me hear it, and I will afterwards tell you candidly what +pleases and what displeases me." + +In the course of a couple of days I went to see her, when she sang it +for me and accompanied herself, and I was obliged to confess that she +had sung it precisely as I could have wished, and as I would have taught +it to her myself. This is now the best aria that she has, and will +insure her success whereever she goes. [Footnote: This wonderfully +beautiful aria is appended to my Life of Mozart.--Stuttgart, Bruckmaun, +1863.] Yesterday at Wendling's I sketched the aria I promised his wife +[Madame Wendling was a fine singer], with a short recitative. The words +were chosen by himself from "Didone": "Ah non lasciarmi no." She and her +daughter quite rave about this air. I promised the daughter also some +French ariettes, one of which I began to-day. I think with delight +of the Concert Spirituel in Paris, for probably I shall be desired to +compose something for it. The orchestra is said to be good and numerous, +so my favorite style of composition can be well given there--I mean +choruses, and I am very glad to hear that the French place so much value +on this class of music. The only fault found with Piccini's [Gluck's +well-known rival] new opera "Roland" is that the choruses are too meagre +and weak, and the music also a little monotonous; otherwise it was +universally liked. In Paris they are accustomed to hear nothing but +Gluck's choruses. Only place confidence in me; I shall strive with all +my might to do honor to the name of Mozart. I have no fears at all on +the subject. + +My last letters must have shown you HOW THINGS ARE, and WHAT I REALLY +MEANT. I do entreat of you never to allow the thought to cross your mind +that I can ever forget you, for I cannot bear such an idea. My chief aim +is, and always will be, to endeavor that we may meet soon and happily, +but we must have patience. You know even better than I do that things +often take a perverse turn, but they will one day go straight--only +patience! Let us place our trust in God, who will never forsake us. I +shall not be found wanting; how can you possibly doubt me? Surely it +concerns me also to work with all my strength, that I may have the +pleasure and the happiness (the sooner the better, too) of embracing +from my heart my dearest and kindest father. But, lo and behold! nothing +in this world is wholly free from interested motives. If war should +break out in Bavaria, I do hope you will come and join me at once. +I place faith in three friends--and they are powerful and invincible +ones--namely, God, and your head and mine. Our heads are, indeed, very +different, but each in its own way is good, serviceable, and useful; +and in time I hope mine may by degrees equal yours in that class of +knowledge in which you at present surpass me. Farewell! Be merry and of +good cheer! Remember that you have a son who never intentionally failed +in his filial duty towards you, and who will strive to become daily more +worthy of so good a father. + +After these frank confessions, which would, he knew, restore the +previous good understanding between him and his father, Mozart's genuine +good heart was so relieved and lightened, that the natural balance of +his mind, which had for some weeks past been entirely destroyed, was +speedily restored, and his usual lively humor soon began to revive. +Indeed, his old delight in doggerel rhymes and all kinds of silly puns +seems to return. He indulges fully in these in a letter to his Basle +(cousin), which is undoubtedly written just after the previous one. + + + +97. + +Mannheim, Feb. 28, 1778. + +MADEMOISELLE, MA TRES-CHERE COUSINE,-- + +You perhaps think or believe that I must be dead? Not at all! I beg you +will not think so, for how could I write so beautifully if I were dead? +Could such a thing be possible? I do not attempt to make any excuses +for my long silence, for you would not believe me if I did. But truth is +truth; I have had so much to do that though I have had time to think of +my cousin, I have had no time to write to her, so I was obliged to let +it alone. But at last I have the honor to inquire how you are, and how +you fare? If we soon shall have a talk? If you write with a lump of +chalk? If I am sometimes in your mind? If to hang yourself you're +inclined? If you're angry with me, poor fool? If your wrath begins to +cool?--Oh! you are laughing! VICTORIA! I knew you could not long resist +me, and in your favor would enlist me. Yes! yes! I know well how this +is, though I'm in ten days off to Paris. If you write to me from pity, +do so soon from Augsburg city, so that I may get your letter, which to +me would be far better. + +Now let us talk of other things. Were you very merry during the +Carnival? They are much gayer at Augsburg at that time than here. I only +wish I had been there that I might have frolicked about with you. Mamma +and I send our love to your father and mother, and to our cousin, and +hope they are well and happy; better so, so better! A propos, how goes +on your French? May I soon write you a French letter? from Paris, I +suppose? + +Now, before I conclude, which I must soon do because I am in haste, +(having just at this moment nothing to do,) and also have no more +room, as you see my paper is done, and I am very tired, and my fingers +tingling from writing so much, and lastly, even if I had room, I don't +know what I could say, except, indeed, a story which I have a great mind +to tell you. So listen! It is not long since it happened, and in this +very country too, where it made a great sensation, for really it seemed +almost incredible, and, indeed, between ourselves, no one yet knows the +result of the affair. So, to be brief, about four miles from here--I +can't remember the name of the place, but it was either a village or +a hamlet, or something of that kind. Well, after all, it don't much +signify whether it was called Triebetrill or Burmsquick; there is no +doubt that it was some place or other. There a shepherd or herdsman +lived, who was pretty well advanced in years, but still looked strong +and robust; he was unmarried and well-to-do, and lived happily. But +before telling you the story, I must not forget to say that this man +had a most astounding voice when he spoke; he terrified people when he +spoke! Well! to make my tale as short as possible, you must know that +he had a dog called Bellot, a very handsome large dog, white with black +spots. Well! this shepherd was going along with his sheep, for he had a +flock of eleven thousand under his care, and he had a staff in his hand, +with a pretty rose-colored topknot of ribbons, for he never went out +without his staff; such was his invariable custom. Now to proceed; being +tired, after having gone a couple of miles, he sat down on a bank beside +a river to rest. At last he fell asleep, when he dreamt that he had lost +all his sheep, and this fear awoke him, but to his great joy he saw his +flock close beside him. At length he got up again and went on, but not +for long; indeed, half an hour could scarcely have elapsed, when he came +to a bridge which was very long, but with a parapet on both sides to +prevent any one falling into the river. Well; he looked at his flock, +and as he was obliged to cross the bridge, he began to drive over his +eleven thousand sheep. Now be so obliging as to wait till the eleven +thousand sheep are all safely across, and then I will finish the story. +I already told you that the result is not yet known; I hope, however, +that by the time I next write to you, all the sheep will have crossed +the bridge; but if not, why should I care? So far as I am concerned, +they might all have stayed on this side. In the meantime you must +accept the story so far as it goes; what I really know to be true I have +written, and it is better to stop now than to tell you what is false, +for in that case you would probably have discredited the whole, whereas +now you will only disbelieve one half. + +I must conclude, but don't think me rude; he who begins must cease, or +the world would have no peace. My compliments to every friend, welcome +to kiss me without end, forever and a day, till good sense comes my +way; and a fine kissing that will be, which frightens you as well as +me. Adieu, ma chere cousine! I am, I was, I have been, oh! that I were, +would to heavens I were! I will or shall be, would, could, or should +be--what?--A blockhead! W. A. M. + + + +98. + +Mannheim, March 7, 1778. + +I have received your letter on the 26th February, and am much obliged to +you for all the trouble you have taken about the arias, which are quite +accurate in every respect. "Next to God comes papa" was my axiom when +a child, and I still think the same. You are right when you say that +"knowledge is power"; besides, except your trouble and fatigue, you +will have no cause for regret, as Madlle. Weber certainly deserves your +kindness. I only wish that you could hear her sing my new aria which I +lately mentioned to you,--I say, hear her sing it, because it seems made +expressly for her; a man like you who really understands what portamento +in singing means, would certainly feel the most intense pleasure in +hearing her. When I am happily settled in Paris, and our circumstances, +please God, improved, and we are all more cheerful and in better humor, +I will write you my thoughts more fully, and ask you to do me a great +kindness. I must now tell you I was so shocked that tears came to my +eyes, on reading in your last letter that you are obliged to go about so +shabbily dressed. My very dearest papa, this is certainly not my fault; +you know it is not. We economize in every possible way here; food and +lodging, wood and light, cost us nothing, which is all we could hope +for. As for dress, you are well aware that, in places where you are not +known, it is out of the question to be badly dressed, for appearances +must be kept up. + +My whole hopes are now centred in Paris, for German princes are all +niggards. I mean to work with all my strength, that I may soon have +the happiness of extricating you from your present distressing +circumstances. + + + +99. + +Mannheim, March. 11, 1778. + +I HAVE duly received your letter of the 26th February, and learn from +it with great joy that our best and kindest of all friends, Baron Grimm +[the well-known Encyclopedist, with whom Mozart had become acquainted +during his last visit to France], is now in Paris. The vetturino has +offered to convey us to Paris by Metz (which, as you probably know, is +the shortest route) for eleven louis-d'or. If to-morrow he agrees to +do it for ten, I shall certainly engage him, and perhaps at eleven, for +even then it will be the cheapest way for us, which is the main point, +and more convenient too, for he will take our carriage--that is, he will +place the body on wheels of his own. The convenience is great, as we +have so many small packages that we can stow away quite comfortably in +our own carriage, which we cannot do in the DILIGENCE, and besides we +shall be alone and able to talk as we like. But I do assure you that if, +after all, we go in the DILIGENCE, my sole annoyance is the bore of +not being able to say what we choose and wish, though, as it is very +necessary that we should take the cheapest conveyance, I am still rather +disposed to do so. + + + + +THIRD PART.--PARIS.--MARCH 1778 TO JANUARY 1779. + + +100. + +Paris, March 24, 1778. + +YESTERDAY (Monday, the 23d), at four o'clock in the afternoon, we +arrived here, thank God! safely, having been nine days and a half on our +journey. We thought we really could not have gone through with it; in my +life I never was so wearied. You may easily imagine what it was to leave +Mannheim and so many dear kind friends, and then to travel for ten days, +not only without these friends, but without any human being--without a +single soul whom we could associate with or even speak to. Now, thank +Heaven! we are at our destination, and I trust that, with the help of +God, all will go well. To-day we are to take a fiacre and go in quest of +Grimm and Wendling. Early to-morrow I intend to call on the Minister of +the Palatinate, Herr von Sickingen, (a great connoisseur and passionate +lover of music, and for whom I have two letters from Herr von Gemmingen +and M. Cannabich.) Before leaving Mannheim I had the quartet transcribed +that I wrote at Lodi one evening in the inn there, and also the quintet +and the Fischer variations for Herr von Gemmingen [author of the +"Deutsche Hausvater"], on which he wrote me a most polite note, +expressing his pleasure at the souvenir I had left him, and sending me +a letter to his intimate friend Herr von Sickingen, adding, "I feel sure +that you will be a greater recommendation to the letter than the letter +can possibly be to you;" and, to repay the expense of writing out +the music, he sent me three louis-d'or; he also assured me of his +friendship, and requested mine in return. I must say that all those who +knew me, Hofrathe, Kammerrathe, and other high-class people, as well as +all the court musicians, were very grieved and reluctant to see me go; +and really and truly so. + +We left on Saturday, the 14th, and on the previous Thursday there was an +afternoon concert at Cannabich's, where my concerto for three pianos +was given. Madlle. Rose Cannabich played the first, Madlle. Weber the +second, and Madlle. Pierron Serrarius (our "house-nymph") the third. +We had three rehearsals of the concerto, and it went off well. Madlle. +Weber sang three arias of mine, the "Aer tranquillo" from the "Re +Pastore," [Footnote: A festal opera that Mozart had composed in 1775, in +honor of the visit of the Archduke Maximilian Francis to Salzburg.] and +the new "Non so d' onde viene." With this last air my dear Madlle. Weber +gained very great honor both for herself and for me. All present said +that no aria had ever affected them like this one; and, indeed, she +sang it as it ought to be sung. The moment it was finished, Cannabich +exclaimed, "Bravo! bravissimo maestro! veramente scritta da maestro!" It +was given for the first time on this occasion with instruments. I should +like you to have heard it also, exactly as it was executed and sung +there, with such precision in time and taste, and in the pianos and +fortes. Who knows? you may perhaps still hear her. I earnestly hope so. +The members of the orchestra never ceased praising the aria and talking +about it. + +I have many kind friends at Mannheim (both highly esteemed and rich) who +wished very much to keep me there. Well! where I am properly paid, I am +content to be. Who can tell? it may still come to pass. I wish it may; +and thus it ever is with me--I live always in hope. Herr Cannabich is an +honorable, worthy man, and a kind friend of mine. He has only one fault, +which is, that although no longer very young, he is rather careless and +absent,--if you are not constantly before his eyes, he is very apt to +forget all about you. But where the interests of a real friend are in +question, he works like a horse, and takes the deepest interest in +the matter; and this is of great use, for he has influence. I cannot, +however, say much in favor of his courtesy or gratitude; the Webers +(for whom I have not done half so much), in spite of their poverty and +obscurity, have shown themselves far more grateful. Madame Cannabich and +her daughter never thanked me by one single word, much less thought of +offering me some little remembrance, however trifling, merely as a proof +of kindly feeling; but nothing of the sort, not even thanks, though I +lost so much time in teaching the daughter, and took such pains with +her. She can now perfectly well perform before any one; as a girl only +fourteen, and an amateur, she plays remarkably well, and for this they +have to thank me, which indeed is very well known to all in Mannheim. +She has now neatness, time, and good fingering, as well as even shakes, +which she had not formerly. They will find that they miss me much three +months hence, for I fear she will again be spoiled, and spoil herself; +unless she has a master constantly beside her, and one who thoroughly +understands what he is about, she will do no good, for she is still too +childish and giddy to practise steadily and carefully alone. [Footnote: +Rosa Cannabich became, indeed, a remarkable virtuoso. C L. Junker +mentions her, even in his musical almanac of 1783, among the most +eminent living artists.] + +Madlle. Weber paid me the compliment kindly to knit two pairs of mits +for me, as a remembrance and slight acknowledgment. M. Weber wrote out +whatever I required gratis, gave me the music-paper, and also made me a +present of Moliere's Comedies (as he knew that I had never read them), +with this inscription:--"Ricevi, amico, le opere di Moliere, in segno +di gratitudine, e qualche volta ricordati di me." [Footnote: "Accept, my +dear friend, Moliere's works as a token of my gratitude; and sometimes +think of me."] And when alone with mamma he said, "Our best friend, our +benefactor, is about to leave us. There can be no doubt that your son +has done a great deal for my daughter, and interested himself much about +her, and she cannot be too thankful to him." [Footnote: Aloysia Weber +became afterwards Madame Lange. She had great fame as a singer. We shall +hear more of her in the Vienna letters.] The day before I set off, they +would insist on my supping with them, but I managed to give them two +hours before supper instead. They never ceased thanking me, and saying +they only wished they were in a position to testify their gratitude, and +when I went away they all wept. Pray forgive me, but really tears come +to my eyes when I think of it. Weber came down-stairs with me, and +remained standing at the door till I turned the corner and called out +Adieu! + +In Paris he at once plunged into work, so that his love-affair was for a +time driven into the background. Compositions for the Concert Spirituel, +for the theatre, and for dilettanti, as well as teaching and visits to +great people, occupied him. His mother writes: "I cannot describe to you +how much Wolfgang is beloved and praised here. Herr Wendling had said +much in his favor before he came, and has presented him to all his +friends. He can dine daily, if he chooses, with Noverre [the famed +ballet-master], and also with Madame d'Epinay" [Grimm's celebrated +friend]. The mother herself scarcely saw him all day, for on account of +their small close apartment, he was obliged to compose at Director +Le Gros's house. She had (womanlike) written to the father about the +composition of a Miserere. Wolfgang continues the letter, more fully +explaining the matter. + + + +101. + +Paris, April 5, 1778. + +I MUST now explain more, clearly what mamma alludes to, as she has +written rather obscurely. Capellmeister Holzbauer has sent a Miserere +here, but as the choruses at Mannheim are weak and poor, whereas here +they are strong and good, his choruses would make no effect. M. Le Gros +(Director of the Concert Spirituel) requested me therefore to compose +others; Holzbauer's introductory chorus being retained. "Quoniam +iniquitatem meam," an allegro, is the first air by me. The second +an adagio, "Ecce enim in iniquitatibus." Then an allegro, "Ecce enim +veritatem dilexisti" to the "ossa humiliata." Then an andante for +soprano, tenor, and bass Soli; "Cor mundum," and "Redde mihi," allegro +to "ad se convertentur." I also composed a recitative for a bass air, +"Libera me de sanguinibus," because a bass air of Holzbauer's follows. +The "sacrificium Deo spiritus" being an aria andante for Raaff, with +a hautboy and a bassoon solo obligato. I have added a short recitative +with hautboy and bassoon, for here recitative is much liked. "Benigne +fac" to "muri Jerusalem" andante moderate. Chorus. Then "Tunc +acceptabis" to "super altare," allegro and tenor solo (Le Gros) and +chorus. Finis. [None of this music is known.] + +I must say that I am right glad to have done with this task, for it is +really detestable not to be able to write at home, and to be hurried +into the bargain; but now, God be praised! it is finished, and I hope it +will make some effect. M. Gussec, whom you no doubt know, when he saw my +first chorus, said to Le Gros (I was not present) that it was charming, +and could not fail to be successful, that the words were so well +arranged, and, above all, admirably set to music. He is a kind friend of +mine, but very reserved. I am not merely to write an act for an opera, +but an entire one in two acts. The poet has already completed the first +act. Noverre [ballet-master], with whom I dine as often as I please, +managed this, and indeed suggested the idea. I think it is to be called +"Alexander and Roxana." Madame Jenome is also here. I am about to +compose a sinfonie concertante,--flute, Wendling; oboe, Ramm; French +horn, Punto; and bassoon, Ritter. Punto plays splendidly. I have this +moment returned from the Concert Spirituel. Baron Grimm and I often +give vent to our wrath at the music here; N.B.--when tete-a-tete, for +in public we call out "Bravo! bravissimo!" and clap our hands till our +fingers tingle. + + + +102. + +Paris, May 1, 1778. + +THE little violoncellist Zygmatofsky and his unprincipled father are +here. Perhaps I may already have written you this; I only mention it +cursorily, because I just remember that I met him at a house which I +must now tell you about. I mean that of the Duchesse de Chabot. M. Grimm +gave me a letter to her, so I drove there, the purport of the letter +being chiefly to recommend me to the Duchesse de Bourbon, who when I was +last here [during Mozart's first visit to Paris] was in a convent, +and to introduce me afresh to her and recall me to her memory. A week +elapsed without the slightest notice of my visit, but as eight days +previously she had appointed me to call on her, I kept my engagement +and went. I waited half an hour in a large room without any fire, and as +cold as ice. At last the Duchess came in, and was very polite, begging +me to make allowances for her piano, as none of her instruments were in +good order, but I might at least try it. I said that I would most gladly +play something, but at this moment it was impossible, as my fingers were +quite benumbed from the cold, so I asked her at all events to take me +to a room where there was a fire. "Oh! oui, Monsieur, vous avez +raison"--was her answer. She then seated herself, and drew for a whole +hour in company with several gentlemen, all sitting in a circle round a +large table, and during this time I had the honor to wait. The windows +and doors were open, so that not only my hands, but my body and my feet +were cold, and my head also began to ache. Moreover, there was altum +silentium, and I really did not know what to do from cold, headache, and +weariness. I again and again thought to myself, that if it were not +on M. Grimm's account I would leave the house at once. At last, to cut +matters short, I played on the wretched, miserable piano. What however +vexed me most of all was, that the Duchess and all the gentlemen did +not cease drawing for a single moment, but coolly continued their +occupation; so I was left to play to the chairs and tables, and the +walls. My patience gave way under such unpropitious circumstances. I +therefore began the Fischer variations, and after playing one half of +them I rose. Then came eulogiums without end. I, however, said all that +could be said--which was, that I could do myself no justice on such a +piano, but I should be very glad to fix some other day to play, when a +better instrument might be found. But the Duchess would not hear of +my going away; so I was obliged to wait till her husband came in, who +placed himself beside me and listened to me with great attention, while, +as for me, I became unconscious of all cold and all headache, and, in +spite of the wretched piano, played as I CAN play when I am in the right +mood. Give me the best piano in Europe, and listeners who understand +nothing, or don't wish to understand, and who do not sympathize with me +in what I am playing, I no longer feel any pleasure. I afterwards told +all this to M. Grimm. + +You write to me that I ought to pay a good many visits in order to +make new acquaintances, and to renew former ones. This is, however, +impossible, from the distances being so great, and it is too muddy to go +on foot, for really the mud in Paris is beyond all description. To go +in a carriage entails spending four or five livres a day, and all for +nothing; it is true the people say all kinds of civil things, but there +it ends, as they appoint me to come on such and such a day, when I play, +and hear them exclaim, "Oh! c'est un prodige, c'est inconcevable, c'est +etonnant!" and then, Adieu! At first I spent money enough in driving +about, and to no purpose, from not finding the people at home. Unless +you lived here, you could not believe what an annoyance this is. +Besides, Paris is much changed; the French are far from being as polite +as they were fifteen years ago; their manner now borders on rudeness, +and they are odiously self-sufficient. + +I must proceed to give you an account of the Concert Spirituel. By the +by, I must first briefly tell you that my chorus-labors were in a manner +useless, for Holzbauer's Miserere was too long in itself, and did not +please, so they gave only two of my choruses instead of four, and chose +to leave out the best; but this was of no great consequence, for many +there were not aware that any of the music was by me, and many knew +nothing at all about me. Still, at the rehearsal great approbation +was expressed, and I myself (for I place no great reliance on Parisian +praise) was very much satisfied with my choruses. With regard to the +sinfonie concertante there appears to be a hitch, and I believe that +some unseen mischief is at work. It seems that I have enemies here also; +where have I not had them? But this is a good sign. I was obliged to +write the symphony very hurriedly, and worked very hard at it. The four +performers were and are perfectly enchanted with the piece. Le Gros had +it for the last four days to be copied, but I invariably saw it lying +in the same place. Two days ago I could not find it, though I searched +carefully among the music; and at last I discovered it hidden away. +I took no notice, but said to Le Gros, "A propos, have you given my +sinfonie to be copied?" "No; I forgot all about it." As, of course, I +have no power to compel him to have it transcribed and performed, I said +nothing; but I went to the concert on the two days when the sinfonie was +to have been performed, when Ramm and Punto came to me in the greatest +rage to ask me why my sinfonie concertante was not to be given. "I don't +know. This is the first I hear of it. I cannot tell." Ramm was frantic, +and abused Le Gros in the music-room in French, saying how very +unhandsome it was on his part, etc. I alone was to be kept in the dark! +If he had even made an excuse--that the time was too short, or something +of the kind!--but he never said a syllable. I believe the real cause to +be Cambini, an Italian maestro; for at our first meeting at Le Gros's, I +unwittingly took the wind out of his sails. He composes quintets, one +of which I heard at Mannheim; it was very pretty, so I praised it, and +played the beginning to him. Ritter, Ramm, and Punto were all present, +and gave me no peace till I agreed to continue, and to supply from my +own head what I could not remember. I therefore did so, and Cambini was +quite excited, and could not help saying, "Questa e una gran testa!" +Well, I suppose after all he did not quite relish this, [The symphony in +question has also entirely disappeared.] + +If this were a place where people had ears to hear or hearts to feel, +and understood just a little of music, and had some degree of taste, +these things would only make me laugh heartily, but as it is (so far as +music is concerned) I am surrounded by mere brute beasts. But how can it +be otherwise? for in all their actions, inclinations, and passions, they +are just the same. There is no place in the world like Paris. You must +not think that I exaggerate when I speak in this way of the music here; +refer to whom you will, except to a Frenchman born, and (if trustworthy) +you will hear the same. But I am now here, and must endure it for your +sake. I shall be grateful to Providence if I get away with my natural +taste uninjured. I pray to God every day to grant me grace to be firm +and steadfast here, that I may do honor to the whole German nation, +which will all redound to His greater honor and glory, and to enable me +to prosper and make plenty of money, that I may extricate you from your +present emergencies, and also to permit us to meet soon, and to live +together happily and contentedly; but "His will be done in earth as it +is in heaven." I entreat you, dearest father, in the meantime, to take +measures that I may see Italy, in order to bring me to life again. +Bestow this great happiness upon me, I implore you! I do hope you will +keep up your spirits; I shall cut my way through here as I best can, and +trust I shall get off safely. Adieu! + + + +103. + +Paris, May 14, 1778. + +I HAVE already so much to do that I don't know how I am to manage when +winter comes. I think I wrote to you in my last letter that the Duc +de Guines, whose daughter is my pupil in composition, plays the flute +inimitably, and she the harp magnificently; she has a great deal of +talent and genius, and, above all, a wonderful memory, for she plays +all her pieces, about 200 in number, by heart. She, however, doubts much +whether she has any genius for composition, especially as regards ideas +or invention; but her father (who, entre nous, is rather too infatuated +about her) declares that she certainly has ideas, and that she is only +diffident and has too little self-reliance. Well, we shall see. If +she acquires no thoughts or ideas, (for hitherto she really has none +whatever,) it is all in vain, for God knows I can't give her any! It +is not the father's intention to make her a great composer. He says, "I +don't wish her to write operas, or arias, or concertos, or symphonies, +but grand sonatas for her instrument and for mine." I gave her to-day +her fourth lesson on the rules of composition and harmony, and am pretty +well satisfied with her. She made a very good bass for the first minuet, +of which I had given her the melody, and she has already begun to write +in three parts; she can do it, but she quickly tires, and I cannot get +her on, for it is impossible to proceed further as yet; it is too soon, +even if she really had genius, but, alas! there appears to be none; all +must be done by rule; she has no ideas, and none seem likely to come, +for I have tried her in every possible way. Among other things it +occurred to me to write out a very simple minuet, and to see if she +could not make a variation on it. Well, that utterly failed. Now, +thought I, she has not a notion how or what to do first. So I began to +vary the first bar, and told her to continue in the same manner, and +to keep to the idea. At length this went tolerably well. When it was +finished, I told her she must try to originate something herself--only +the treble of a melody. So she thought it over for a whole quarter of +an hour, AND NOTHING CAME. Then I wrote four bars of a minuet, saying +to her, "See what an ass I am! I have begun a minuet, and can't even +complete the first part; be so very good as to finish it for me." She +declared this was impossible. At last, with great difficulty, SOMETHING +CAME, and I was only too glad that ANYTHING AT ALL CAME. I told her then +to complete the minuet--that is, the treble only. The task I set her +for the next lesson was to change my four bars, and replace them by +something of her own, and to find out another beginning, even if it were +the same harmony, only changing the melody. I shall see to-morrow what +she has done. + +I shall soon now, I think, receive the poetry for my two-act opera, when +I must first present it to the Director, M. de Vismes, to see if he will +accept it; but of this there can be no doubt, as it is recommended by +Noverre, to whom De Vismes is indebted for his situation. Noverre, too, +is soon to arrange a new ballet, for which I am to write the music. +Rudolf (who plays the French horn) is in the royal service here, and +a very kind friend of mine; he understands composition thoroughly, and +writes well. He has offered me the place of organist at Versailles if I +choose to accept it: the salary is 2000 livres a year, but I must live +six months at Versailles and the remaining six in Paris, or where I +please. I don't, however, think that I shall close with the offer; I +must take the advice of good friends on the subject. 2000 livres is +no such very great sum; in German money it may be so, but not here. +It amounts to 83 louis-d'or 8 livres a year--that is, 915 florins 45 +kreutzers of our money, (which is certainly a considerable sum,) but +only to 383 ecus 2 livres, and that is not much, for it is frightful to +see how quickly a dollar goes here! I am not at all surprised that so +little is thought of a louis-d'or in Paris, for it does not go far. +Four dollars, or a louis-d'or, which are the same, are gone in no time. +Adieu! + + + +104. + +Paris, May 29, 1778. + +I AM pretty well, thank God! but still I am often puzzled to know what +to make of it all. I feel neither hot nor cold, and don't take much +pleasure in anything. What, however, cheers and strengthens me most is +the thought that you, dearest papa, and my dear sister, are well; that I +am an honest German, and though I cannot SAY, I may at all events THINK +what I please, and, after all, that is the chief thing. Yesterday I was +for the second time at Count Sickingen's, ambassador from the Elector +Palatine; (I dined there once before with Wendling and Ramm.) I +don't know whether I told you what a charming man he is, and a great +connoisseur and devoted lover of music. I passed eight hours quite alone +with him. The whole forenoon, and afternoon too, till ten o'clock +at night, we were at the piano, playing all kind of music, praising, +admiring, analyzing, discussing, and criticizing. He has nearly +thirty scores of operas. I must not forget to tell you that I had the +satisfaction of seeing your "School for the Violin" translated into +French; I believe it is about eight years since the translation +appeared. I have just returned from a music-shop where I went to buy a +sonata of Schobert's for one of my pupils, and I mean to go again soon +to examine the book more closely, that I may write to you about it +minutely, for to-day I have not time to do this. + + + +105. + +Paris, June 12, 1778. + +I MUST now write something that concerns our Raaff. [Footnote: Mozart +wrote the part of Idomeneo for Raaff in the year 1781.] You no doubt +remember that I did not write much in his favor from Mannheim, and was +by no means satisfied with his singing--in short, that he did not please +me at all. The cause, however, was that I can scarcely say I really +heard him at Mannheim. The first time was at the rehearsal of +Holzbauer's "Gunther," when he was in his every-day clothes, his hat +on his head, and a stick in his hand. When he was not singing, he stood +looking like a sulky child. When he began to sing the first recitative, +it went tolerably well, but every now and then he gave a kind of shriek, +which I could not bear. He sang the arias in a most indolent way, and +yet some of the notes with too much emphasis, which is not what I like. +This has been an invariable habit of his, which the Bernacchi school +probably entails; for he is a pupil of Bernacchi's. At court, too, he +used to sing all kinds of airs which, in my opinion, by no means suited +his voice; so he did not at all please me. When at length he made his +debut here in the Concert Spirituel, he sang Bach's scena, "Non so d' +onde viene" which is, besides, my great favorite, and then for the first +time I really heard him sing, and he pleased me--that is, in this class +of music; but the style itself, the Bernacchi school, is not to my +taste. He is too apt to fall into the cantabile. I admit that, when he +was younger and in his prime, this must have made a great impression and +taken people by surprise; I could like it also, but there is too much of +it, and it often seems to me positively ludicrous. What does please me +in him is when he sings short pieces--for instance, andantinos; and +he has likewise certain arias which he gives in a manner peculiar to +himself. Let each occupy his proper place. I fancy that bravura singing +was once his forte, which is even still perceptible in him, and so far +as age admits of it he has a good chest and a long breath; and then his +andantino! His voice is fine and very pleasing; if I shut my eyes and +listen to him, I think his singing very like Meissner's, only Raaff's +voice seems to me more agreeable. I speak of the present time, for I +never heard either in his best days. I can therefore only refer to their +style or method of singing, for this a singer always retains. Meissner, +as you know, had the bad habit of purposely making his voice tremble at +times,--entire quavers and even crotchets, when marked sostenuto,--and +this I never could endure in him. Nothing can be more truly odious; +besides, it is a style of singing quite contrary to nature. The human +voice is naturally tremulous, but only so far as to be beautiful; +such is the nature of the voice, and it is imitated not only on wind +instruments, but on stringed instruments, and even on the piano. But the +moment the proper boundary is passed it is no longer beautiful, because +it becomes unnatural. It seems to me then just like an organ when the +bellows are panting. Now Raaff never does this,--in fact, he cannot +bear it. Still, so far as a genuine cantabile goes, Meissner pleases me +(though not altogether, for he also exaggerates) better than Raaff. In +bravura passages and roulades, Raaff is indeed a perfect master, and he +has such a good and distinct articulation, which is a great charm; and, +as I already said, his andantinus and canzonetti are delightful. He +composed four German songs, which are lovely. He likes me much, and +we are very intimate; he comes to us almost every day. I have dined +at least six times with Count von Sickingen, and always stay from one +o'clock till ten. Time, however, flies so quickly in his house that it +passes quite imperceptibly. He seems fond of me, and I like very much +being with him, for he is a most friendly, sensible person, possessing +excellent judgment and a true insight into music, I was there again +to-day with Raaff. I took some music with me, as the Count (long since) +asked me to do so. I brought my newly completed symphony, with which, +on Corpus Christi day, the Concert Spirituel is to commence. The work +pleased them both exceedingly, and I am also well satisfied with it. +Whether it will be popular here, however, I cannot tell, and, to say +the truth, I care very little about it. For whom is it to please? I can +answer for its pleasing the few intelligent Frenchmen who may be there; +as for the numskulls--why, it would be no great misfortune if they were +dissatisfied. I have some hope, nevertheless, that even the dunces among +them may find something to admire. Besides, I have been careful not +to neglect le premier coup d'archet; and that is sufficient. All the +wiseacres here make such a fuss on that point! Deuce take me if I can +see any difference! Their orchestra begins all at one stroke, just as +in other places. It is too laughable! Raaff told me a story of Abaco +on this subject. He was asked by a Frenchman, in Munich or +elsewhere,--"Monsieur, vous avez ete a Paris?" "Oui." "Est-ce que vous +etiez au Concert Spirituel?" "Oui." "Que dites-vous du premier coup +d'archet? avez-vous entendu le premier coup d'archet?" "Oui, j'ai +entendu le premier et le dernier." "Comment le dernier? que veut dire +cela?" "Mais oui, le premier et le dernier; et le dernier meme m'a donne +plus de plaisir." [Footnote: The imposing impression produced by the +first grand crash of a numerous orchestra, commencing with precision, +in tutti, gave rise to this pleasantry.] A few days afterwards his +kind mother was taken ill. Even in her letters from Mannheim she often +complained of various ailments, and in Paris also she was still exposed +to the discomfort of cold dark lodgings, which she was obliged to +submit to for the sake of economy; so her illness soon assumed the worst +aspect, and Mozart experienced the first severe trial of his life. The +following letter is addressed to his beloved and faithful friend, Abbe +Bullinger, tutor in Count Lodron's family in Salzburg. + + + +(Private.) 106. + +Paris, July 3, 1778. + +MY VERY DEAR FRIEND,-- + +Mourn with me! This has been the most melancholy day of my life; I +am now writing at two o'clock in the morning. I must tell you that my +mother, my darling mother, is no more. God has called her to Himself; I +clearly see that it was His will to take her from us, and I must learn +to submit to the will of God. The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. +Only think of all the distress, anxiety, and care I have endured for the +last fourteen days. She died quite unconscious, and her life went out +like a light. She confessed three days before, took the sacrament, +and received extreme unction. The last three days, however, she was +constantly delirious, and to-day, at twenty minutes past five o'clock, +her features became distorted, and she lost all feeling and perception. +I pressed her hand, I spoke to her, but she did not see me, she did not +hear me, and all feeling was gone. She lay thus till the moment of her +death, five hours after, at twenty minutes past ten at night. There was +no one present but myself, Herr Heiner, a kind friend whom my father +knows, and the nurse. It is quite impossible for me to describe the +whole course of the illness to-day. I am firmly convinced that she must +have died, and that God had so ordained it. All I would ask of you at +present is to act the part of a true friend, by preparing my father by +degrees for this sad intelligence. I have written to him by this post, +but only that she is seriously ill; and now I shall wait for your answer +and be guided by it. May God give him strength and courage! My dear +friend, I am consoled not only now, but have been so for some time past. +By the mercy of God I have borne it all with firmness and composure. +When the danger became imminent, I prayed to God for only two things--a +happy death for my mother, and strength and courage for myself; and our +gracious God heard my prayer and conferred these two boons fully on me. +I entreat you, therefore, my best friend, to watch over my father for +me; try to inspire him with courage, that the blow may not be too +hard and heavy on him when he learns the worst. I also, from my heart, +implore you to comfort my sister. Pray go straight to them, but do not +tell them she is actually dead--only prepare them for the truth. Do what +you think best, say what you please; only act so that my mind may be +relieved, and that I may not have to dread another misfortune. Support +and comfort my dear father and my dear sister. Answer me at once, I +entreat. Adieu! Your faithful + +W. A. M. + + + +107. + +Paris, July 3, 1778. + +MONSIEUR MON TRES-CHER PERE,-- + +I have very painful and sad news to give you, which has, in fact, been +the cause of my not having sooner replied to your letter of the 11th. +My dearest mother is very ill. She has been bled according to her usual +custom, which was indeed very necessary; it did her much good, but a +few days afterwards she complained of shivering and feverishness; then +diarrhoea came on and headache. At first we only used our home remedies, +antispasmodic powders; we would gladly have had recourse to the black +powder, but we had none, and could not get it here. As she became every +moment worse, could hardly speak, and lost her hearing, so that we were +obliged to shout to her, Baron Grimm sent his doctor to see her. She is +very weak, and still feverish and delirious. They do give me some hope, +but I have not much. I hoped and feared alternately day and night for +long, but I am quite reconciled to the will of God, and hope that you +and my sister will be the same. What other resource have we to make +us calm? More calm, I ought to say; for altogether so we cannot be. +Whatever the result may be, I am resigned, knowing that it comes from +God, who wills all things for our good, (however unaccountable they may +seem to us;) and I do firmly believe (and shall never think otherwise) +that no doctor, no man living, no misfortune, no casualty, can either +save or take away the life of any human being--none but God alone. These +are only the instruments that He usually employs, but not always; we +sometimes see people swoon, fall down, and be dead in a moment. When +our time does come, all means are vain,--they rather hurry on death than +retard it; this we saw in the case of our friend Hefner. I do not mean +to say by this that my mother will or must die, or that all hope is at +an end; she may recover and be restored to health, but only if the Lord +wills it thus. After praying to God with all my strength for health +and life for my darling mother, I like to indulge in such consolatory +thoughts, and, after doing so, I feel more cheerful and more calm and +tranquil, and you may easily imagine how much I require comfort. Now for +another subject. Let us put aside these sad thoughts, and still hope, +but not too much; we must place our trust in the Lord, and console +ourselves by the thought that all must go well if it be in accordance +with the will of the Almighty, as he knows best what is most profitable +and beneficial both for our temporal and spiritual welfare. + +I have composed a symphony for the opening of the Concert Spirituel, +which was performed with great applause on Corpus Christi day. I hear, +too, that there is a notice of it in the "Courrier de l'Europe," and +that it has given the greatest satisfaction. I was very nervous during +the rehearsal, for in my life I never heard anything go so badly. You +can have no idea of the way in which they scraped and scrambled through +my symphony twice over; I was really very uneasy, and would gladly have +had it rehearsed again, but so many things had been tried over that +there was no time left. I therefore went to bed with an aching heart and +in a discontented and angry spirit. Next day I resolved not to go to the +concert at all; but in the evening, the weather being fine, I made up +my mind at last to go, determined that if it went as badly as at the +rehearsal, I would go into the orchestra, take the violin out of the +hands of M. La Haussaye, the first violin, and lead myself. I prayed to +God that it might go well, for all is to His greater honor and glory; +and ecce, the symphony began, Raaff was standing beside me, and just +in the middle of the allegro a passage occurred which I felt sure must +please, and there was a burst of applause; but as I knew at the time I +wrote it what effect it was sure to produce, I brought it in once more +at the close, and then rose shouts of "Da capo!" The andante was also +liked, but the last allegro still more so. Having observed that all +last as well as first allegros here begin together with all the other +instruments, and generally unisono, mine commenced with only two +violins, piano for the first eight bars, followed instantly by a forte; +the audience, as I expected, called out "hush!" at the soft beginning, +and the instant the forte was heard began to clap their hands. The +moment the symphony was over I went off in my joy to the Palais Royal, +where I took a good ice, told over my beads, as I had vowed, and went +home, where I am always happiest, and always shall be happiest, or in +the company of some good, true, upright German, who, so long as he is +unmarried, lives a good Christian life, and when he marries loves his +wife, and brings up his children properly. + +I must give you a piece of intelligence that you perhaps already +know--namely, that the ungodly arch-villain Voltaire has died miserably +like a dog--just like a brute. This is his reward! You must long since +have remarked that I do not like being here, for many reasons, which, +however, do not signify as I am actually here. I never fail to do my +very best, and to do so with all my strength. Well, God will make all +things right. I have a project in my head, for the success of which I +daily pray to God. If it be His almighty will, it must come to pass; +but, if not, I am quite contented. I shall then at all events have done +my part. When this is in train, and if it turns out as I wish, you must +then do your part also, or the whole work would be incomplete. Your +kindness leads me to hope that you will certainly do so. Don't trouble +yourself by any useless thoughts on the subject; and one favor I must +beg of you beforehand, which is, not to ask me to reveal my thoughts +more clearly till the time comes. It is very difficult at present to +find a good libretto for an opera. The old ones, which are the best, +are not written in the modern style, and the new ones are all good for +nothing; for poetry, which was the only thing of which France had reason +to be proud, becomes every day worse, and poetry is the only thing which +requires to be good here, for music they do not understand. There are +now two operas in aria which I could write, one in two acts, and the +other in three. The two-act one is "Alexandra et Roxane," but the +author of the libretto is still in the country; the one in three acts +is "Demofonte" (by Metastasio). It is a translation interspersed with +choruses and dancing, and specially adapted to the French stage. But +this one I have not yet got a sight of. Write to me whether you have +Schroter's concertos in Salzburg, or Hullmandell's sonatas. I should +like to buy them to send to you. Both of them are beautiful. With regard +to Versailles, it never was my intention to go there. I asked the advice +of Baron Grimm and other kind friends on the point, and they all thought +just as I did. The salary is not much, and I should be obliged to live a +dreary life for six months in a place where nothing is to be gained, +and my talents completely buried. Whoever enters the king's service is +forgotten in Paris; and then to become an organist! A good appointment +would be most welcome to me, but only that of a Capellmeister, and a +well-paid one too. + +Now, farewell! Be careful of your health; place your trust in God, and +then you will find consolation. My dearest mother is in the hands of the +Almighty. If He still spares her to us, as I wish He may, we will thank +Him for this blessing, but if He takes her to Himself, all our anguish, +misery, and despair can be of no avail. Let us rather submit with +firmness to His almighty will, in the full conviction that it will prove +for our good, as he does nothing without a cause. Farewell, dearest +papa! Do what you can to preserve your health for my sake. + + + +108. + +Paris, July 9, 1778. + +I HOPE you are prepared to receive with firmness most melancholy and +painful intelligence. My last letter of the 3d must have shown you that +no good news could be hoped for. That very same day, the 3d, at twenty +minutes past ten at night, my mother fell asleep peacefully in the Lord; +indeed, when I wrote to you she was already in the enjoyment of heavenly +bliss, for all was then over. I wrote to you in the night, and I +hope you and my dear sister will forgive me for this slight but very +necessary deception; for, judging of your grief and sorrow by my own, +I could not prevail on myself to startle you suddenly by such dreadful +intelligence; but I hope you have now summoned up courage to hear the +worst, and that, after at first giving way to natural and only too just +anguish and tears, you will eventually submit to the will of God, and +adore His inscrutable, unfathomable, and all-wise providence. You +can easily conceive what I have had to endure, and what courage and +fortitude I required to bear with composure seeing her become daily +worse and worse; and yet our gracious God bestowed this boon on me. I +have, indeed, suffered and wept, but what did it avail? So I strove to +be comforted, and I do hope, my dear father, that my dear sister and +you will do likewise. Weep, weep, as you cannot fail to weep, but take +comfort at last; remember that God Almighty has ordained it, and how can +we rebel against Him? Let us rather pray to Him and thank Him for +His goodness, for she died a happy death. Under these heart-rending +circumstances there were three things that consoled me--my entire and +steadfast submission to the will of God, and the sight of her easy and +blessed death, which made me feel that in a moment she had become so +happy; for how far happier is she now than we are! Indeed, I would fain +at that moment have gone with her. From this wish and longing proceeded +my third source of consolation--namely, that she is not lost to us +forever, that we shall see her again, and live together far more happily +and blessedly than in this world. The time as yet we know not, but that +does not disturb me; when God wills it I am ready. His heavenly and holy +will has been fulfilled. Let us therefore pray a pious Vater unser for +her soul, and turn our thoughts to other matters, for there is a time +for everything. + +I write this in the house of Madame d'Epinay and M. Grimm, with whom I +now live; I have a pretty little room with a very agreeable prospect, +and am as happy as it is possible to be under my present circumstances. +It will be a great aid in restoring my tranquillity, to hear that my +dear father and sister submit with calmness and fortitude to the will of +God, and trust Him with their whole heart, in the entire belief that He +orders all for the best. My dearest father, do not give way! My dearest +sister, be firm! You do not as yet know your brother's kind heart, +because he has not yet had an opportunity to prove it. Remember, my +loved ones both, that you have a son and a brother anxious to devote all +his powers to make you happy, knowing well that the day must come when +you will not be hostile to his wish and his desire,--not certainly such +as to be any discredit to him,--and that you will do all that lies in +your power to make him happy. Oh! then we shall all live together as +peacefully, honorably, and contentedly as it is possible to do in this +world, and at last in God's good time all meet again above--the purpose +for which we were destined and created. + +I received your last letter of the 29th, and see with pleasure that you +are both, thank God! in good health. I could not help laughing heartily +at Haydn's tipsy fit. Had I been there, I certainly should have +whispered in his ear "Adlgasser!" It is really disgraceful in so clever +a man to render himself incapable by his own folly of performing his +duties at a festival instituted in honor of God; when the Archbishop too +and his whole court were present, and the church full of people, it was +quite abominable.[Footnote: The father had written, "Haydn (organist of +the church of the Holy Trinity) played the organ in the afternoon at the +Litany, and the Te Deum laudamus, but in such a dreadful manner that we +were quite startled, and thought he was about to undergo the fate of +the deceased Adlgasser [who was seized with paralysis when playing the +organ] It turned out, however, that he was only rather intoxicated, so +his head and hands did not agree"] This is one of my chief reasons for +detesting Salzburg--those coarse, slovenly, dissipated court musicians, +with whom no honest man of good breeding could possibly live! instead of +being glad to associate with them, he must feel ashamed of them. It +is probably from this very cause that musicians are neither loved nor +respected with us. If the orchestra were only organised like that +at Mannheim! I wish you could see the subordination that prevails +there--the authority Cannabich exercises; where all is done in earnest. +Cannabich, who is the best director I ever saw, is both beloved and +feared by his subordinates, who, as well as himself, are respected by +the whole town. But certainly they behave very differently, have good +manners, are well dressed (and do not go to public-houses to get drunk). +This can never be the case in Salzburg, unless the Prince will place +confidence either in you or me and give us full powers, which are +indispensable to a conductor of music; otherwise it is all in vain. +In Salzburg every one is master--so no one is master. If I were to +undertake it, I should insist on exercising entire authority. The Grand +Chamberlain must have nothing to say as to musical matters, or on any +point relating to music. Not every person in authority can become a +Capellmeister, but a Capellmeister must become a person of authority. + +By the by, the Elector is again in Mannheim. Madame Cannabich and also +her husband correspond with me. If what I fear were to come to pass, and +it would be a sad pity if it did,--namely, that the orchestra were to +be much diminished,--I still cherish one hope. You know that there is +nothing I desire more than a good appointment,--good in reputation, and +good in money,--no matter where, provided it be in a Catholic country. +You fenced skilfully indeed with Count Stahremberg [FOOTNOTE: A +prebendary of Salzburg, to whom the father had "opened his heart," and +told him all that had occurred in Salzburg. Wolfgang's reinstatement in +his situation was being negotiated at the time.] throughout the whole +affair; only continue as you have begun, and do not allow yourself to +be deluded; more especially be on your guard if by any chance you enter +into conversation with that silly goose---; [FOOTNOTE: He probably +alludes to the Archbishop's sister, Countess Franziska von Walles, +who did the honors of her brother's court, and who, no doubt, also +interfered in this matter.] I know her, and believe me, though she may +have sugar and honey on her lips, she has gall and wormwood in her head +and in her heart. It is quite natural that the whole affair should still +be in an unsettled state, and many things must be conceded before I +could accept the offer; and even if every point were favorably adjusted, +I would rather be anywhere than at Salzburg. But I need not concern +myself on the matter, for it is not likely that all I ask should be +granted, as I ask a great deal. Still it is not impossible; and if all +were rightly organized, I would no longer hesitate, but solely for the +happiness of being with you. If the Salzburgers wish to have me, they +must comply with my wishes, or they shall never get me. + +So the Prelate of Baumburg has died the usual prelatical death; but I +had not heard that the Prelate of the Holy Cross [in Augsburg] was also +dead. I grieve to hear it, for he was a good, honest, upright man. So +you had no faith in Deacon Zeschinger [see No. 68] being made prelate? +I give you my honor I never conjectured anything else; indeed, I do not +know who else could have got it; and what better prelate could we have +for music? + +My friend Raaff leaves this to-morrow; he goes by Brussels to +Aix-la-Chapelle and Spa, and thence to Mannheim, when he is to give me +immediate notice of his arrival, for we mean to correspond. He sends +numerous greetings to you and to my sister. You write that you have +heard nothing for a very long time of my pupil in composition; very +true, but what can I say about her? She will never be a composer; all +labor is vain with her, for she is not only vastly stupid, but also +vastly lazy. + +I had previously answered you about the opera. As to Noverre's ballet, I +only wrote that he might perhaps arrange a new one. He wanted about one +half to complete it, and this I set to music. That is, six pieces are +written by others, consisting entirely of old trumpery French airs; +the symphony and contre-danses, and about twelve more pieces, are +contributed by me. This ballet has already been given four times with +great applause. I am now positively determined to write nothing more +without previously knowing what I am to get for it: but this was only +a friendly act towards Noverre. Herr Wendling left this last May. If I +were to see Baron Bach, I must have very good eyes, for he is not here +but in London. Is it possible that I did not tell you this? You shall +find that, in future, I will answer all your letters minutely. It is +said that Baron Bach will soon return here; I should be glad of that +for many reasons, especially because at his house there will be always +opportunity to try things over in good earnest. Capellmeister Bach will +also soon be here; I believe he is writing an opera. The French are, and +always will be, downright donkeys; they can do nothing themselves, +so they must have recourse to foreigners. I talked to Piccini at the +Concert Spirituel; he is always most polite to me and I to him when we +do by chance meet. Otherwise I do not seek much acquaintance, either +with him or any of the other composers; they understand their work and +I mine, and that is enough. I already wrote to you of the extraordinary +success my symphony had in the Concert Spirituel. If I receive a +commission to write an opera, I shall have annoyance enough, but this +I shall not much mind, being pretty well accustomed to it--if only that +confounded French language were not so detestable for music! It is, +indeed, too provoking; even German is divine in comparison. And then +the singers--but they do not deserve the name, for they do not sing, but +scream and bawl with all their might through their noses and throats. I +am to compose a French oratorio for the ensuing Lent, to be given at the +Concert Spirituel. M. Le Gros (the director) is amazingly well-disposed +towards me. You must know that (though I used to see him every day) +I have not been near him since Easter; I felt so indignant at his not +having my symphony performed. I was often in the same house visiting +Raaff, and thus passed his rooms constantly. His servants often saw me, +when I always sent him my compliments. It is really a pity he did not +give the symphony--it would have been a good hit; and now he has no +longer the opportunity to do so, for how seldom are four such performers +to be found together! One day, when I went to call on Raaff, I was told +that he was out, but would soon be home; so I waited. M. Le Gros +came into the room and said, "It is really quite a marvel to have the +pleasure of seeing you once more." "Yes; I have a great deal to do." "I +hope you will stay and dine with us to-day?" "I regret that I cannot, +being already engaged." "M. Mozart, we really must soon spend a day +together." "It will give me much pleasure." A long pause; at length, +"A propos, are you disposed to write a grand symphony for me for Corpus +Christi day?" "Why not?" "May I then rely on this?" "Oh, yes! if I may, +with equal confidence, rely on its being performed, and that it will +not fare like the sinfonie concertante." This opened the flood-gates; he +excused himself in the best way he could, but did not find much to say. +In short, the symphony [Kochel, No. 297] was highly approved of; and Le +Gros is so satisfied with it that he says it is his very best symphony. +The andante, however, has not the good fortune to please him; he +declares that it has too many modulations, and is too long. He derives +this opinion from the audience forgetting to clap their hands as loudly, +and to be as vociferous, as at the end of the first and last movements. +But this andante is a great favorite WITH MYSELF, as well as with all +connoisseurs, amateurs, and the greater part of those who heard it. It +is the exact reverse of what Le Gros says, for it is both simple and +short. But in order to satisfy him (and no doubt some others) I have +written a fresh one. Each good in its own way--each having a different +character. The last pleases me the best. The first good opportunity I +have, I will send you this sinfonie concertante, and also the "School +for the Violin," some pieces for the piano, and Vogler's book ("Ton +Wissenschaft und Kunst"), and then I hope to have your opinion of them. +On August 15th, Ascension Day, my sinfonie, with the new andante, is to +be performed for the second time. The sinfonie is in Re, the andante in +Sol, for here one must not say in D or in G. Le Gros is now all for me. + +Take comfort and pray without ceasing; this is the only resource we +have. I hope you will cause a holy mass to be said in Maria Plain and +in Loretto. I have done so here. As for the letter to Herr Bahr, I don't +think it is necessary to send it to me; I am not as yet acquainted +with him; I only know that he plays the clarionet well, but is in other +respects no desirable companion, and I do not willingly associate with +such people; no credit is derived from them, and I really should feel +positively ashamed to give him a letter recommending me to him--even if +he could be of service to me; but it so happens that he is by no means +in good repute here. Many do not know him at all. Of the two Staunitz, +the junior only is here [Mannheim composer]. The elder of the two +(the veritable Hafeneder composer) is in London. They are wretched +scribblers, gamblers, and drunkards, and not the kind of people for me. +The one now here has scarcely a coat to his back. By the by, if Brunetti +should ever be dismissed, I would be glad to recommend a friend of mine +to the Archbishop as first violin; he is a most worthy man, and very +steady. I think he is about forty years of age, and a widower; his +name is Rothfischer. He is Concertmeister at Kirchheim-Boland, with +the Princess of Nassau-Weilberg [see No. 91]. Entre nous, he is +dissatisfied, for he is no favorite with his Prince--that is, his music +is not. He urged me to forward his interests, and it would cause me real +pleasure to be of use to him, for never was there such a kind man. + + + +109. + +Paris, July 18, 1778. + +I HOPE you got my last two letters. Let us allude no more to their chief +purport. All is over; and were we to write whole pages on the subject, +we could not alter the fact. + +The principal object of this letter is to congratulate my dear sister +on her name-day. I think I wrote to you that M. Raaff had left this, but +that he is my very true and most particular friend, and I can entirely +depend on his regard. I could not possibly write to you, because I did +not myself know that he had so much affection for me. Now, to write a +story properly, one ought to begin from the beginning. I ought to tell +you, first, that Raaff lodged with M. Le Gros. It just occurs to me that +you already know this; but what am I to do? It is written, and I can't +begin the letter again, so I proceed. When he arrived, we happened to be +at dinner. This, too, has nothing to do with the matter; it is only to +let you know that people do dine in Paris, as elsewhere. When I went +home I found a letter for me from Herr Weber, and the bearer of it was +Raaff. If I wished to deserve the name of a historian, I ought here to +insert the contents of this letter; and I can with truth say that I am +very reluctant to decline giving them. But I must not be too prolix; to +be concise is a fine thing, which you can see by my letter. The third +day I found him at home and thanked him; it is always advisable to be +polite. I no longer remember what we talked about. An historian must be +unusually dull who cannot forthwith supply some falsehood--I mean some +romance. Well! we spoke of the fine weather; and when we had said our +say, we were silent, and I went away. Some days after--though what day +it was I really forget, but one day in the week assuredly--I had +just seated myself, at the piano of course; and Ritter, the worthy +Holzbeisser, was sitting beside me. Now, what is to be deduced from +that? A great deal. Raaff had never heard me at Mannheim except at a +concert, where the noise and uproar was so great that nothing could +be heard; and HE had such a miserable piano that I could not have done +myself any justice on it. Here, however, the instrument was good, and +I saw Raaff sitting opposite me with a speculative air; so, as you +may imagine, I played some preludes in the Fischietti method, and also +played a florid sonata in the style and with the fire, spirit, and +precision of Haydn, and then a fugue with all the skill of Lipp, Silber, +and Aman. [Footnote: Fischietti was Capellmeister in Salzburg; Michael +Haydn and Lipp, organists.] My fugue-playing has everywhere gained me +the greatest applause. When I had quite finished, (Raaff all the time +calling out Bravo! while his countenance showed his true and sincere +delight,) I entered into conversation with Ritter, and among other +things said that I by no means liked being here; adding, "The chief +cause of this is music; besides, I can find no resources here, +no amusement, no agreeable or sociable intercourse with any +one,--especially with ladies, many of whom are disreputable, and those +who are not so are deficient in good breeding." Ritter could not deny +that I was right. Raaff at last said, smiling, "I can quite believe it, +for M. Mozart is not WHOLLY here to admire the Parisian beauties; one +half of him is elsewhere--where I have just come from." This of course +gave rise to much laughing and joking; but Raaff presently said, in a +serious tone, "You are quite right, and I cannot blame you; she deserves +it, for she is a sweet, pretty, good girl, well educated, and a superior +person with considerable talent." This gave me an excellent opportunity +strongly to recommend my beloved Madlle. Weber to him; but there was no +occasion for me to say much, as he was already quite fascinated by her. +He promised me, as soon as he returned to Mannheim, to give her lessons, +and to interest himself in her favor. I ought, by rights, to insert +something here, but I must first finish the history of our friendship; +if there is still room, I may do so. He was in my eyes only an every-day +acquaintance, and no more; but I often sat with him in his room, so by +degrees I began to place more confidence in him, and at last told him +all my Mannheim history,--how I had been bamboozled and made a fool of, +adding that perhaps I might still get an appointment there. He neither +said yes nor no; and on every occasion when I alluded to it he seemed +each time more indifferent and less interested in the matter. At last, +however, I thought I remarked more complacency in his manner, and he +often, indeed, began to speak of the affair himself. I introduced him +to Herr Grimm and to Madame d'Epinay. On one occasion he came to me +and said that he and I were to dine with Count Sickingen some day soon; +adding, "The Count and I were conversing together, and I said to him, +'A propos, has your Excellency heard our Mozart?' 'No; but I should +like very much both to see and to hear him, for they write me most +astonishing things about him from Mannheim.' 'When your Excellency does +hear him, you will see that what has been written to you is rather +too little than too much.' 'Is it possible?' 'Beyond all doubt, your +Excellency.'" Now, this was the first time that I had any reason to +think Raaff interested in me. Then it went on increasing, and one day I +asked him to come home with me; and after that he often came of his +own accord, and at length every day. The day after he left this, a +good-looking man called on me in the forenoon with a picture, and said, +"Monsieur, je viens de la part de ce Monsieur," showing me a portrait +of Raaff, and an admirable likeness. Presently he began to speak German; +and it turned out that he was a painter of the Elector's, whom Raaff +had often mentioned to me, but always forgot to take me to see him. I +believe you know him, for it must be the very person Madame Urspringer, +of Mayence, alludes to in her letter, because he says he often met us +at the Urspringers'. His name is Kymli. He is a most kind, amiable man, +well-principled, honorable, and a good Christian; one proof of which +is the friendship between him and Raaff. Now comes the best evidence of +Raaff's regard for me, and the sincere interest he takes in my welfare: +it is, that he imparts his intentions rather to those whom he can trust +than to those more immediately concerned, being unwilling to promise +without the certainty of a happy result. This is what Kymli told me. +Raaff asked him to call on me and to show me his portrait, to see me +often, and to assist me in every way, and to establish an intimate +friendship with me. It seems he went to him every morning, and +repeatedly said to Kymli, "I was at Herr Mozart's again yesterday +evening; he is, indeed, a wonderful little fellow; he is an +out-and-outer, and no mistake!" and was always praising me. He told +Kymli everything, and the whole Mannheim story--in short, all. The fact +is, that high-principled, religious, and well-conducted people always +like each other. Kymli says I may rest assured that I am in good hands. +"Raaff will certainly do all he can for you, and he is a prudent man +who will set to work cleverly; he will not say that it is your wish, but +rather your due. He is on the best footing with the Oberststallmeister. +Rely on it, he will not be beat; only you must let him go his own way +to work." One thing more. Father Martini's letter to Raaff, praising me, +must have been lost. Raaff had, some time since, a letter from him, but +not a word about me in it. Possibly it is still lying in Mannheim; but +this is unlikely, as I know that, during his stay in Paris, all his +letters have been regularly forwarded to him. As the Elector justly +entertains a very high opinion of the Padre Maestro, I think it would be +a good thing if you would be so kind as to apply to him to write again +about me to Raaff; it might be of use, and good Father Martini would not +hesitate to do a friendly thing twice over for me, knowing that he might +thus make my fortune. He no doubt would express the letter in such a +manner that it could be shown, if need be, to the Elector. Now enough as +to this; my wish for a favorable issue is chiefly that I may soon have +the happiness of embracing my dear father and sister. Oh! how joyously +and happily we shall live together! I pray fervently to God to grant me +this favor; a new leaf will at last be turned, please God! In the fond +hope that the day will come, and the sooner the better, when we shall +all be happy, I mean, in God's name, to persevere in my life here, +though so totally opposed to my genius, inclinations, knowledge, and +sympathies. Believe me, this is but too true,--I write you only the +simple truth. If I were to attempt to give you all my reasons, I might +write my fingers off and do no good. For here I am, and I must do all +that is in my power. God grant that I may not thus impair my talents; +but I hope it will not continue long enough for that. God grant it! By +the by, the other day an ecclesiastic called on me. He is the leader of +the choir at St. Peter's, in Salzburg, and knows you very well; his name +is Zendorff; perhaps you may not remember him? He gives lessons here on +the piano--in Paris. N. B., have not you a horror of the very name of +Paris? I strongly recommend him as organist to the Archbishop; he says +he would be satisfied with three hundred florins. Now farewell! Be +careful of your health, and strive to be cheerful. Remember that +possibly you may ere long have the satisfaction of tossing off a good +glass of Rhenish wine with your son--your truly happy son. Adieu! + +20th.--Pray forgive my being so late in sending you my congratulations, +but I wished to present my sister with a little prelude. The mode of +playing it I leave to her own feeling. This is not the kind of prelude +to pass from one key to another, but merely a capriccio to try over a +piano. My sonatas [Kochel, Nos. 301-306] are soon to be published. No +one as yet would agree to give me what I asked for them, so I have been +obliged at last to give in, and to let them go for 15 louis-d'or. It is +the best way too to make my name known here. As soon as they appear I +will send them to you by some good opportunity (and as economically +as possible) along with your "School for the Violin," Vogler's book, +Hullmandel's sonatas, Schroter's concertos, some of my pianoforte +sonatas, the sinfonie concertante, two quartets for the flute, and a +concerto for harp and flute [Kochel, No. 298, 299]. + +Pray, what do you hear about the war? For three days I was very +depressed and sorrowful; it is, after all, nothing to me, but I am so +sensitive that I feel quickly interested in any matter. I heard that +the Emperor had been defeated. At first it was reported that the King +of Prussia had surprised the Emperor, or rather the troops commanded by +Archduke Maximilian; that two thousand had fallen on the Austrian +side, but fortunately the Emperor had come to his assistance with forty +thousand men, but was forced to retreat. Secondly, it was said that the +King had attacked the Emperor himself, and entirely surrounded him, and +that if General Laudon had not come to his relief with eighteen hundred +cuirassiers, he would have been taken prisoner; that sixteen hundred +cuirassiers had been killed, and Laudon himself shot dead. I have not, +however, seen this in any newspaper, but to-day I was told that the +Emperor had invaded Saxony with forty thousand troops. Whether the news +be true I know not. This is a fine griffonage, to be sure! but I have +not patience to write prettily; if you can only read it, it will do well +enough. A propos, I saw in the papers that, in a skirmish between the +Saxons and Croats, a Saxon captain of grenadiers named Hopfgarten had +lost his life, and was much lamented. Can this be the kind, worthy Baron +Hopfgarten whom we knew at Paris with Herr von Bose? I should grieve +if it were, but I would rather he died this glorious death than have +sacrificed his life, as too many young men do here, to dissipation and +vice. You know this already, but it is now worse than ever. + +N. B. I hope you will be able to decipher the end of the prelude; you +need not be very particular about the time; it is the kind of thing that +may be played as you feel inclined. I should like to inflict twenty-five +stripes on the sorry Vatel's shoulders for not having married Katherl. +Nothing is more shameful, in my opinion, than to make a fool of an +honest girl, and to play her false eventually; but I hope this may +not be the case. If I were her father, I would soon put a stop to the +affair. + + + +110. + +Paris, July 31, 1778. + +I HOPE you have got my two letters of the 11th and 18th. Meantime I have +received yours of the 13th and 20th. The first brought tears of sorrow +to my eyes, as I was reminded by it of the sad death of my darling +mother, and the whole scene recurred vividly to me. Never can I forget +it while I live. You know that (though I often wished it) I had never +seen any one die, and the first time I did so it was fated to be my own +mother! My greatest misery was the thoughts of that hour, and I prayed +earnestly to God for strength. I was heard, and strength was given to +me. Melancholy as your letter made me, still I was inexpressibly happy +to find that you both bear this sorrow as it ought to be borne, and that +my mind may now be at ease about my beloved father and sister. As soon +as I read your letter, my first impulse was to throw myself on my knees, +and fervently to thank our gracious God for this blessing. I am now +comparatively happy, because I have no longer anything to dread on +account of the two persons who are dearest to me in this world; had +it been otherwise, such a terrible misfortune would have utterly +overwhelmed me. Be careful therefore of your precious health for my +sake, I entreat, and grant to him who flatters himself that he is now +what you love most in the world the joy and felicity soon to embrace +you. + +Your last letter also caused my tears to flow from joy, as it convinced +me more than ever of your fatherly love and care. I shall strive with +all my might still more to deserve your affection. I thank you for the +powder, but am sure you will be glad to hear that I do not require to +use it. During my dear mother's illness it would have been very useful, +but now, thank God! I am perfectly well and healthy. At times I have +fits of melancholy, but the best way to get rid of them is by writing +or receiving letters, which always cheers me; but, believe me, these sad +feelings never recur without too good cause. You wish to have an account +of her illness and every detail connected with it; that you shall have; +but I must ask you to let it be short, and I shall only allude to the +principal facts, as the event is over, and cannot, alas! now be altered, +and I require some space to write on business topics. + +In the first place, I must tell you that NOTHING could have saved my +mother. No doctor in the world could have restored her to health. It was +the manifest will of God; her time was come, and God chose to take her +to Himself. You think she put off being bled too long? it may be so, as +she did delay it for a little, but I rather agree with the people here, +who dissuaded her from being bled at all. The cause of my mother's +illness was internal inflammation. After being bled she rallied for some +days, but on the 19th she complained of headache, and for the first +time stayed in bed the whole day. On the 20th she was seized first with +shivering and then with fever, so I gave her an anti-spasmodic powder. I +was at that time very anxious to send for another doctor, but she would +not allow me to do so, and when I urged her very strongly, she told me +that she had no confidence in any French medical man. I therefore looked +about for a German one. I could not, of course, go out and leave her, +but I anxiously waited for M. Heina, who came regularly every day to see +us; but on this occasion two days passed without his appearing. At last +he came, but as our doctor was prevented paying his usual visit next +day, we could not consult with him; in fact, he did not come till the +24th. The previous day, when I had been expecting him so eagerly, I was +in great trouble, for my mother suddenly lost her sense of hearing. The +doctor, an old German about seventy, gave her rhubarb in wine. I could +not understand this, as wine is usually thought heating; but when I said +so, every one exclaimed, "How can you say so? Wine is not heating, but +strengthening; water is heating." And all the time the poor invalid was +longing for a drink of fresh water. How gladly would I have complied +with her wish! My dear father, you cannot conceive what I went through, +but nothing could be done, except to leave her in the hands of the +physician. All that I could do with a good conscience, was to pray to +God without ceasing, that He would order all things for her good. I went +about as if I had altogether lost my head. I had ample leisure then +to compose, but I was in such a state that I could not have written a +single note. The 25th the doctor did not come; on the 26th he visited +her again. Imagine my feelings when he all at once said to me, "I fear +she will scarcely live through the night; she may die at any moment. You +had better see that she receives the sacrament." So I hurried off to +the end of the Chaussee d'Antin, and went on beyond the Barriere to find +Heina, knowing that he was at a concert in the house of some count. He +said that he would bring a German priest with him next morning. On my +way back I looked in on Madame d'Epinay and M. Grimm for a moment as I +passed. They were distressed that I had not spoken sooner, as they would +at once have sent their doctor. I did not tell them my reason, which +was, that my mother would not see a French doctor. I was hard put to it, +as they said they would send their physician that very evening. When +I came home, I told my mother that I had met Herr Heina with a German +priest, who had heard a great deal about me and was anxious to hear me +play, and that they were both to call on me next day. She seemed quite +satisfied, and though I am no doctor, still seeing that she was better +I said nothing more. I find it impossible not to write at full +length--indeed, I am glad to give you every particular, for it will be +more satisfactory to you; but as I have some things to write that are +indispensable, I shall continue my account of the illness in my next +letter. In the mean time you must have seen from my last letter, that +all my darling mother's affairs and my own are in good order. When I +come to this point, I will tell you how things were arranged. Heina and +I regulated everything ourselves. + +Now for business. Do not allow your thoughts to dwell on what I wrote, +asking your permission not to reveal my ideas till the proper time +arrived. Pray do not let it trouble you. I cannot yet tell you about +it, and if I did, I should probably do more harm than good; but, to +tranquillize you, I may at least say that it only concerns myself. Your +circumstances will be made neither better nor worse, and until I see you +in a better position I shall think no more about the matter. If the day +ever arrives when we can live together in peace and happiness, (which +is my grand object),--when that joyful time comes, and God grant it may +come soon!--then the right moment will have arrived, and the rest +will depend on yourself. Do not, therefore, discompose yourself on +the subject, and be assured that in every case where I know that your +happiness and peace are involved, I shall invariably place entire +confidence in you, my kind father and true friend, and detail everything +to you minutely. If in the interim I have not done so, the fault is +not solely mine. [FOOTNOTE: He had evidently in his thoughts, what was +indeed manifest in his previous letters, a speedy marriage with his +beloved Aloysia.] M. Grimm recently said to me, "What am I to write to +your father? What course do you intend to pursue? Do you remain here, or +go to Mannheim?" I really could not help laughing: "What could I do at +Mannheim now? would that I had never come to Paris! but so it is. Here +I am, and I must use every effort to get forward." "Well," said he, "I +scarcely think that you will do much good here." "Why? I see a number of +wretched bunglers who make a livelihood, and why, with my talents, am I +to fail? I assure you that I like being at Mannheim, and wish very much +to get some appointment there, but it must be one that is honorable and +of good repute. I must have entire certainty on the subject before I +move a step." "I fear," said he, "that you are not sufficiently active +here--you don't go about enough." "Well," said I, "that is the hardest +of all for me to do." Besides, I could go nowhere during my mother's +long illness, and now two of my pupils are in the country, and the third +(the Duke de Guines's daughter) is betrothed, and means no longer to +continue her lessons, which, so far as my credit is concerned, does not +distress me much. It is no particular loss to me, for the Duke only pays +me what every one else does. Only imagine! I went to his house every day +for two hours, being engaged to give twenty-four lessons, (but it is +the custom here to pay after each twelve lessons.) They went into the +country, and when they came back ten days afterwards, I was not apprised +of it; had I not by chance inquired out of mere curiosity, I should not +have known that they were here. When I did go, the governess took out +her purse and said to me, "Pray excuse my only paying you at present +for twelve lessons, for I have not enough money." This is a noble +proceeding! She then gave me three louis-d'or, adding, "I hope you are +satisfied; if not, I beg you will say so." M. le Duc can have no +sense of honor, or probably thinks that I am only a young man and a +thick-headed German, (for this is the way in which the French always +speak of us,) and that I shall be quite contented. The thick-headed +German, however, was very far from being contented, so he declined +receiving the sum offered. The Duke intended to pay me for one hour +instead of two, and all from economy. As he has now had a concerto of +mine for harp and flute, for the last four months, which he has not yet +paid me for, I am only waiting till the wedding is over to go to the +governess and ask for my money. What provokes me most of all is that +these stupid Frenchmen think I am still only seven years old, as they +saw me first when I was that age. This is perfectly true, for Madame +d'Epinay herself told me so quite seriously. I am therefore treated here +like a beginner, except by the musicians, who think very differently; +but most votes carry the day! + +After my conversation with Grimm, I went the very next day to call +on Count Sickingen. He was quite of my opinion that I ought to have +patience and wait till Raaff arrives at his destination, who will do all +that lies in his power to serve me. If he should fail, Count Sickingen +has offered to procure a situation for me at Mayence. In the mean time +my plan is to do my utmost to gain a livelihood by teaching, and to earn +as much money as possible. This I am now doing, in the fond hope that +some change may soon occur; for I cannot deny, and indeed at once +frankly confess, that I shall be delighted to be released from this +place. Giving lessons is no joke here, and unless you wear yourself out +by taking a number of pupils, not much money can be made. You must not +think that this proceeds from laziness. No! it is only quite opposed to +my genius and my habits. You know that I am, so to speak, plunged +into music,--that I am occupied with it the whole day,--that I like +to speculate, to study, and to reflect. Now my present mode of life +effectually prevents this. I have, indeed, some hours at liberty, but +those few hours are more necessary for rest than for work. + +I told you already about the opera. One thing is certain--I must compose +a great opera or none. If I write only smaller ones, I shall get very +little, for here everything is done at a fixed price, and if it should +be so unfortunate as not to please the obtuse French, it is all up with +it. I should get no more to write, have very little profit, and find my +reputation damaged. If, on the other hand, I write a great opera, the +remuneration is better, I am working in my own peculiar sphere, in which +I delight, and I have a greater chance of being appreciated, because in +a great work there is more opportunity to gain approval. I assure you +that if I receive a commission to write an opera, I have no fears on the +subject. It is true that the devil himself invented their language, and +I see the difficulties which all composers have found in it. But, in +spite of this, I feel myself as able to surmount these difficulties as +any one else. Indeed, when I sometimes think in my own mind that I may +look on my opera as a certainty, I feel quite a fiery impulse within +me, and tremble from head to foot, through the eager desire to teach the +French more fully how to know, and value, and fear the Germans. Why is a +great opera never intrusted to a Frenchman? Why is it always given to a +foreigner? To me the most insupportable part of it will be the singers. +Well, I am ready. I wish to avoid all strife, but if I am challenged +I know how to defend myself. If it runs its course without a duel, I +should prefer it, for I do not care to wrestle with dwarfs. + +God grant that some change may soon come to pass! In the mean time I +shall certainly not be deficient in industry, trouble, and labor. +My hopes are centred on the winter, when every one returns from the +country. My heart beats with joy at the thought of the happy day when I +shall once more see and embrace you. + +The day before yesterday my dear friend Weber, among other things, wrote +to me that the day after the Elector's arrival it was publicly announced +that he was to take up his residence in Munich, which came like a +thunder-clap on Mannheim, wholly, so to say, extinguishing the universal +illumination by which the inhabitants had testified their joy on the +previous day. The fact was also communicated to all the court musicians, +with the addition that each was at liberty to follow the court to +Munich or to remain in Mannheim, (retaining the same salaries,) and in +a fortnight each was to give a written and sealed decision to +the Intendant. Weber, who is, as you know, in the most miserable +circumstances, wrote as follows:--"I anxiously desire to follow my +gracious master to Munich, but my decayed circumstances prevent my doing +so." Before this occurred there was a grand court concert, where poor +Madlle. Weber felt the fangs of her enemies; for on this occasion she +did not sing! It is not known who was the cause of this. Afterwards +there was a concert at Herr von Gemmingen's, where Count Seeau also was. +She sang two arias of mine, and was so fortunate as to please, in spite +of those Italian scoundrels [the singers of Munich], those infamous +charlatans, who circulated a report that she had very much gone off +in her singing. When her songs were finished, Cannabich said to her, +"Mademoiselle, I hope you will always continue to fall off in this +manner; tomorrow I will write to M. Mozart in your praise." One thing is +certain; if war had not already broken out, the court would by this time +have been transferred to Munich. Count Seeau, who is quite determined +to engage Madlle. Weber, would have left nothing undone to insure her +coming to Munich, so that there was some hope that the family might have +been placed in better circumstances; but now that all is again quiet +about the Munich journey, these poor people may have to wait a long +time, while their debts daily accumulate. If I could only help them! +Dearest father, I recommend them to you from my heart. If they could +even for a few years be in possession of 1000 florins! + + + +111. + +To HERR BULLINGER. + +Paris, August 7, 1778. + +MY VERY DEAR FRIEND,-- + +Allow me above all to thank you most warmly for the proof of friendship +you gave me by your interest in my dear father--first in preparing, and +then kindly consoling him for his loss [see No. 106]. You played your +part admirably. These are my father's own words. My kind friend, how +can I sufficiently thank you? You saved my father for me. I have you to +thank that I still have him. Permit me to say no more on the subject, +and not to attempt to express my gratitude, for I feel too weak and +incompetent to do so. My best friend, I am forever your debtor; but +patience! It is too true that I am not yet in a position to repay what +I owe you, but rely on it God will one day grant me the opportunity of +showing by deeds what I am unable to express by words. Such is my hope; +till that happy time, however, arrives, allow me to beg you to continue +your precious and valued friendship to me, and also to accept mine +afresh, now and forever; to which I pledge myself in all sincerity +of heart. It will not, indeed, be of much use to you, but not on that +account less sincere and lasting. You know well that the best and +truest of all friends are the poor. The rich know nothing of friendship, +especially those who are born to riches, and even those whom fate +enriches often become very different when fortunate in life. But when a +man is placed in favorable circumstances, not by blind, but reasonable +good fortune and merit, who during his early and less prosperous days +never lost courage, remaining faithful to his religion and his God, +striving to be an honest man and good Christian, knowing how to +value his true friends,--in short, one who really deserves better +fortune,--from such a man no ingratitude is to be feared. + +I must now proceed to answer your letter. You can be under no further +anxiety as to my health, for you must have ere this received three +letters from me. The first, containing the sad news of my mother's +death, was enclosed, my dear friend, to you. You must forgive my silence +on the subject, but my thoughts recur to it constantly. You write that +I should now think only of my father, tell him frankly all my thoughts, +and place entire confidence in him. How unhappy should I be if I +required this injunction! It was expedient that you should suggest it, +but I am happy to say (and you will also be glad to hear it) that I do +not need this advice. In my last letter to my dear father, I wrote to +him all that I myself know up to this time, assuring him that I would +always keep him minutely informed of everything, and candidly tell him +my intentions, as I place entire faith in him, being confident of his +fatherly care, love, and goodness. I feel assured that at a future +day he will not deny me a request on which my whole happiness in life +depends, and which (for he cannot expect anything else from me) will +certainly be quite fair and reasonable. My dear friend, do not let my +father read this. You know him; he would only fancy all kinds of things, +and to no purpose. + +Now for our Salzburg affair. You, my dear friend, are well aware how +I do hate Salzburg, not only on account of the injustice shown to my +father and myself there, which was in itself enough to make us wish to +forget such a place, and to blot it out wholly from our memory. But do +not let us refer to that, if we can contrive to live respectably there. +To live respectably and to live happily, are two very different things; +but the latter I never could do short of witchcraft,--it would indeed be +supernatural if I did,--so this is impossible, for in these days there +are no longer any witches. Well, happen what may, it will always be the +greatest possible pleasure to me to embrace my dear father and sister, +and the sooner the better. Still I cannot deny that my joy would be +twofold were this to be elsewhere, for I have far more hope of living +happily anywhere else. Perhaps you may misunderstand me, and think that +Salzburg is on too small a scale for me. If so, you are quite mistaken. +I have already written some of my reasons to my father. In the mean +time, let this one suffice, that Salzburg is no place for my talent. +In the first place, professional musicians are not held in much +consideration; and, secondly, one hears nothing. There is no theatre, +no opera there; and if they really wished to have one, who is there to +sing? For the last five or six years the Salzburg orchestra has always +been rich in what is useless and superfluous, but very poor in what is +useful and indispensable; and such is the case at the present moment. +Those cruel French are the cause of the band there being without a +Capellmeister. [FOOTNOTE: The old Capellmeister, Lolli, had died a short +time previously.] I therefore feel assured that quiet and order are now +reigning in the orchestra. This is the result of not making provision +in time. Half a dozen Capellmeisters should always be held in readiness, +that, if one fails, another can instantly be substituted. But where, at +present, is even ONE to be found? And yet the danger is urgent. It will +not do to allow order, quiet, and good-fellowship to prevail in the +orchestra, or the mischief would still further increase, and in the +long run become irremediable. Is there no ass-eared old periwig, no +dunderhead forthcoming, to restore the concern to its former disabled +condition? I shall certainly do my best in the matter. To-morrow I +intend to hire a carriage for the day, and visit all the hospitals and +infirmaries, to see if I can't find a Capellmeister in one of them. Why +were they so improvident as to allow Misliweczeck to give them the slip, +and he so near too? [See No. 64.] He would have been a prize, and one +not so easy to replace,--freshly emerged, too, from the Duke's Clementi +Conservatorio. He was just the man to have awed the whole court +orchestra by his presence. Well, we need not be uneasy: where there is +money there are always plenty of people to be had. My opinion is that +they should not wait too long, not from the foolish fear that they might +not get one at all,--for I am well aware that all these gentlemen +are expecting one as eagerly and anxiously as the Jews do their +Messiah,--but simply because things cannot go on at all under such +circumstances. It would therefore be more useful and profitable to look +out for a Capellmeister, there being NONE at present, than to write in +all directions (as I have been told) to secure a good female singer. + +[FOOTNOTE: In order the better to conciliate Wolfgang, Bullinger had +been desired to say that the Archbishop, no longer satisfied with +Madlle. Haydn, intended to engage another singer; and it was hinted to +Mozart, that he might be induced to make choice of Aloysia Weber; (Jahn, +ii. 307.) Madlle. Haydn was a daughter of Lipp, the organist, and sent +by the Archbishop to Italy to cultivate her voice. She did not enjoy a +very good reputation.] + +I really can scarcely believe this. Another female singer, when we have +already so many, and all admirable! A tenor, though we do not require +one either, I could more easily understand--but a prima donna, when we +have still Cecarelli! It is true that Madlle. Haydn is in bad health, +for her austere mode of life has been carried too far. There are few +of whom this can be said. I wonder that she has not long since lost her +voice from her perpetual scourgings and flagellations, her hair-cloth, +unnatural fasts, and night-prayers! But she will still long retain her +powers, and instead of becoming worse, her voice will daily improve. +When at last, however, she departs this life to be numbered among the +saints, we still have five left, each of whom can dispute the palm with +the other. So you see how superfluous a new one is. But, knowing how +much changes and novelty and variety are liked with us, I see a wide +field before me which may yet form an epoch. [FOOTNOTE: Archbishop +Hieronymus, in the true spirit of Frederick the Great, liked to +introduce innovations with an unsparing hand; many, however, being both +necessary and beneficent.] Do your best that the orchestra may have a +leg to stand on, for that is what is most wanted. A head they have [the +Archbishop], but that is just the misfortune; and till a change is made +in this respect, I will never come to Salzburg. When it does take place, +I am willing to come and to turn over the leaf as often as I see V. S. +[volti subito] written. Now as to the war [the Bavarian Succession]. So +far as I hear, we shall soon have peace in Germany. The King of Prussia +is certainly rather alarmed. I read in the papers that the Prussians had +surprised an Imperial detachment, but that the Croats and two Cuirassier +regiments were near, and, hearing the tumult, came at once to their +rescue, and attacked the Prussians, placing them between two fires, and +capturing five of their cannon. The route by which the Prussians entered +Bohemia is now entirely cut up and destroyed. The Bohemian peasantry do +all the mischief they can to the Prussians, who have besides constant +desertions among their troops; but these are matters which you must know +both sooner and better than we do. But I must write you some of our news +here. The French have forced the English to retreat, but it was not a +very hot affair. The most remarkable thing is that, friends and foes +included, only 100 men were killed. In spite of this, there is a grand +jubilation here, and nothing else is talked of. It is also reported that +we shall soon have peace. It is a matter of indifference to me, so far +as this place is concerned; but I should indeed be very glad if we were +soon to have peace in Germany, for many reasons. Now farewell! Your true +friend and obedient servant, + +WOLFGANG ROMATZ. + + + +112. + +St. Germains, August 27, 1778. + +I WRITE to you very hurriedly; you will see that I am not in Paris. +Herr Bach, from London [Johann Christian], has been here for the last +fortnight. He is going to write a French opera, and is only come for +the purpose of hearing the singers, and afterwards goes to London to +complete the opera, and returns here to put it on the stage. You may +easily imagine his joy and mine when we met again; perhaps his delight +may not be quite as sincere as mine, but it must be admitted that he is +an honorable man and willing to do justice to others. I love him from my +heart (as you know), and esteem him; and as for him, there is no doubt +that he praises me warmly, not only to my face, but to others also, +and not in the exaggerated manner in which some speak, but in earnest. +Tenducci is also here, Bach's dearest friend, and he expressed the +greatest delight at seeing me again. I must now tell you how I happen to +be at St. Germains. The Marechal de Noailles lives here, as you no +doubt know, (for I am told I was here fifteen years ago, though I +don't remember it.) Tenducci is a great favorite of his, and as he +is exceedingly partial to me, he was anxious to procure me this +acquaintance. I shall gain nothing here, a trifling present perhaps, but +at the same time I do not lose, for it costs me nothing; and even if I +do not get anything, still I have made an acquaintance that may be very +useful to me. I must make haste, for I am writing a scena for Tenducci, +which is to be given on Sunday; it is for pianoforte, hautboy, horn, and +bassoon, the performers being the Marechal's own people--Germans, who +play very well. I should like to have written to you long since, but +just as I had begun the letter (which is now lying in Paris) I was +obliged to drive to St. Germains, intending to return the same day, and +I have now been here a week. I shall return to Paris as soon as I can, +though I shall not lose much there by my absence, for I have now only +one pupil, the others being in the country. I could not write to you +from here either, because we were obliged to wait for an opportunity to +send a letter to Paris. I am quite well, thank God, and trust that both +of you are the same. You must have patience--all goes on slowly; I +must make friends. France is not unlike Germany in feeding people with +encomiums, and yet there is a good hope that, by means of your friends, +you may make your fortune. One lucky thing is, that food and lodging +cost me nothing. When you write to the friend with whom I am staying +[Herr Grimm], do not be too obsequious in your thanks. There are some +reasons for this which I will write to you some other time. The rest +of the sad history of the illness will follow in the next letter. You +desire to have a faithful portrait of Rothfischer? He is an attentive, +assiduous director, not a great genius, but I am very much pleased with +him, and, best of all, he is the kindest creature, with whom you can do +anything--if you know how to set about it, of course. He directs +better than Brunetti, but is not so good in solo-playing. He has more +execution, and plays well in his way, (a little in the old-fashioned +Tartini mode,) but Brunetti's style is more agreeable. The concertos +which he writes for himself are pretty and pleasant to listen to, and +also to play occasionally. Who can tell whether he may not please? At +all events, he plays a thousand million times better than Spitzeger, +and, as I already said, he directs well, and is active in his calling. +I recommend him to you heartily, for he is the most good-natured man! +Adieu! + + + +113. + +Paris, Sept. 11, 1778. + +I HAVE received your three letters. I shall only reply to the last, +being the most important. When I read it, (Heina was with me and sends +you his regards,) I trembled with joy, for I fancied myself already in +your arms. True it is (and this you will yourself confess) that no +great stroke of good fortune awaits me; still, when I think of once more +embracing you and my dear sister, I care for no other advantage. This is +indeed the only excuse I can make to the people here, who are vociferous +that I should remain in Paris; but my reply invariably is, "What would +you have? I am content, and that is everything; I have now a place I can +call my home, and where I can live in peace and quiet with my excellent +father and beloved sister. I can do what I choose when not on duty. I +shall be my own master, and have a certain competency; I may leave when +I like, and travel every second year. What can I wish for more?" The +only thing that disgusts me with Salzburg, and I tell you of it just as +I feel it, is the impossibility of having any satisfactory intercourse +with the people, and that musicians are not in good repute there, +and--that the Archbishop places no faith in the experience of +intelligent persons who have seen the world. For I assure you that +people who do not travel (especially artists and scientific men) are but +poor creatures. And I at once say that if the Archbishop is not prepared +to allow me to travel every second year, I cannot possibly accept the +engagement. A man of moderate talent will never rise above mediocrity, +whether he travels or not, but a man of superior talents (which, +without being unthankful to Providence, I cannot deny that I possess) +deteriorates if he always remains in the same place. If the Archbishop +would only place confidence in me, I could soon make his music +celebrated; of this there can be no doubt. I also maintain that +my journey has not been unprofitable to me--I mean, with regard to +composition, for as to the piano, I play it as well as I ever shall. One +thing more I must settle about Salzburg, that I am not to take up the +violin as I formerly did. I will no longer conduct with the violin; I +intend to conduct, and also accompany airs, with the piano. It would +have been a good thing to have got a written agreement about the +situation of Capellmeister, for otherwise I may have the honor to +discharge a double duty, and be paid only for one, and at last be +superseded by some stranger. My dear father, I must decidedly say that +I really could not make up my mind to take this step were it not for the +pleasure of seeing you both again; I wish also to get away from Paris, +which I detest, though my affairs here begin to improve, and I don't +doubt that if I could bring myself to endure this place for a few years, +I could not fail to succeed. I am now pretty well known--that is, the +people all know ME, even if I don't know them. I acquired considerable +fame by my two symphonies; and (having heard that I was about to leave) +they now really want me to write an opera, so I said to Noverre, "If you +will be responsible for its BEING PERFORMED as soon as it is finished, +and will name the exact sum that I am to receive for it, I will remain +here for the next three months on purpose," for I could not at once +decline, or they would have thought that I distrusted myself. This was +not, however, done; and I knew beforehand that they could not do it, +for such is not the custom here. You probably know that in Paris it is +thus:--When the opera is finished it is rehearsed, and if these stupid +Frenchmen do not think it good it is not given, and the composer has +had all his trouble for nothing; if they approve, it is then put on the +stage; as its popularity increases, so does the rate of payment. There +is no certainty. I reserve the discussion of these matters till we meet, +but I must candidly say that my own affairs begin to prosper. It is no +use trying to hurry matters--chi va piano, va sano. My complaisance has +gained me both friends and patrons; were I to write you all, my fingers +would ache. I will relate it to you personally and place it clearly +before you. M. Grimm may be able to help CHILDREN, but not grown-up +people; and--but no, I had better not write on the subject. Yet I must! +Do not imagine that he is the same that he was; were it not for Madame +d'Epinay, I should be no longer in this house. And he has no great cause +to be so proud of his good deeds towards me, for there were four houses +where I could have had both board and lodging. The worthy man does not +know that, if I had remained in Paris, I intended to have left him next +month to go to a house that, unlike his, is neither stupid nor tiresome, +and where a man has not constantly thrown in his face that a kindness +has been done him. Such conduct is enough to cause me to forget a +benefit, but I will be more generous than he is. I regret not remaining +here only because I should have liked to show him that I do not require +him, and that I can do as much as his Piccini, although I am only +a German! The greatest service he has done me consists in fifteen +louis-d'or which he lent me bit by bit during my mother's life and +at her death. Is he afraid of losing them? If he has a doubt on the +subject, then he deserves to be kicked, for in that case he must +mistrust my honesty (which is the only thing that can rouse me to rage) +and also my talents; but the latter, indeed, I know he does, for he once +said to me that he did not believe I was capable of writing a French +opera. I mean to repay him his fifteen louis-d'or, with thanks, when I +go to take leave of him, accompanied by some polite expressions. My poor +mother often said to me, "I don't know why, but he seems to me somehow +changed." But I always took his part, though I secretly felt convinced +of the very same thing. He seldom spoke of me to any one, and when he +did, it was always in a stupid, injudicious, or disparaging way. He +was constantly urging me to go to see Piccini, and also Caribaldi,--for +there is a miserable opera buffa here,--but I always said, "No, I will +not go a single step," &c. In short, he is of the Italian faction; he is +insincere himself, and strives to crush me. This seems incredible, does +it not? But still such is the fact, and I give you the proof of it. I +opened my whole heart to him as a true friend, and a pretty use he made +of this! He always gave me bad advice, knowing that I would follow it; +but he only succeeded in two or three instances, and latterly I never +asked his opinion at all, and if he did advise me to do anything, I +never did it, but always appeared to acquiesce, that I might not subject +myself to further insolence on his part. + +But enough of this; we can talk it over when we meet. At all events, +Madame d'Epinay has a better heart. The room I inhabit belongs to her, +not to him. It is the invalid's room--that is, if any one is ill in +the house, he is put there; it has nothing to recommend it except the +view,--only four bare walls, no chest of drawers--in fact, nothing. Now +you may judge whether I could stand it any longer. I would have written +this to you long ago, but feared you would not believe me. I can, +however, no longer be silent, whether you believe me or not; but you +do believe me, I feel sure. I have still sufficient credit with you to +persuade you that I speak the truth. I board too with Madame d'Epinay, +and you must not suppose that he pays anything towards it, but indeed I +cost her next to nothing. They have the same dinner whether I am there +or not, for they never know when I am to be at home, so they can make no +difference for me; and at night I eat fruit and drink one glass of wine. +All the time I have been in their house, now more than two months, I +have not dined with them more than fourteen times at most, and with the +exception of the fifteen louis-d'or, which I mean to repay with thanks, +he has no outlay whatever on my account but candles, and I should really +be ashamed of myself more than of him, were I to offer to supply these; +in fact I could not bring myself to say such a thing. This is my nature. +Recently, when he spoke to me in such a hard, senseless, and stupid way, +I had not nerve to say that he need not be alarmed about his fifteen +louis-d'or, because I was afraid of offending him; I only heard him +calmly to the end, when I asked whether he had said all he wished--and +then I was off! He presumes to say that I must leave this a week +hence--IN SUCH HASTE IS HE. I told him it was impossible, and my reasons +for saying so. "Oh! that does not matter; it is your father's wish." +"Excuse me, in his last letter he wrote that he would let me know in his +next when I was to set off." "At all events hold yourself in readiness +for your journey." But I must tell you plainly that it will be +impossible for me to leave this before the beginning of next month, or +at the soonest the end of the present one, for I have still six arias to +write, which will be well paid. I must also first get my money from Le +Gros and the Duc de Guines; and as the court goes to Munich the end of +this month, I should like to be there at the same time to present my +sonatas myself to the Electress, which perhaps might bring me a present. +I mean to sell my three concertos to the man who has printed them, +provided he gives me ready money for them; one is dedicated to Jenomy, +another to Litzau; the third is in B. I shall do the same with my +six difficult sonatas, if I can; even if not much, it is better than +nothing. Money is much wanted on a journey. As for the symphonies, most +of them are not according to the taste of the people here; if I have +time, I mean to arrange some violin concertos from them, and curtail +them; in Germany we rather like length, but after all it is better to be +short and good. In your next letter I shall no doubt find instructions +as to my journey; I only wish you had written to me alone, for I would +rather have nothing more to do with Grimm. I hope so, and in fact it +would be better, for no doubt our friends Geschwender and Heina can +arrange things better than this upstart Baron. Indeed, I am under +greater obligations to Heina than to him, look at it as you will by the +light of a farthing-candle. I expect a speedy reply to this, and shall +not leave Paris till it comes. I have no reason to hurry away, nor am I +here either in vain or fruitlessly, because I shut myself up and work, +in order to make as much money as possible. I have still a request, +which I hope you will not refuse. If it should so happen, though I hope +and believe it is not so, that the Webers are not in Munich, but still +at Mannheim, I wish to have the pleasure of going there to visit them. +It takes me, I own, rather out of my way, but not much--at all events it +does not appear much to me. I don't believe, after all, that it will +be necessary, for I think I shall meet them in Munich; but I shall +ascertain this to-morrow by a letter. If it is not the case, I feel +beforehand that you will not deny me this happiness. My dear father, if +the Archbishop wishes to have a new singer, I can, by heavens! find none +better than her. He will never get a Teyberin or a De' Amicis, and the +others are assuredly worse. I only lament that when people from Salzburg +flock to the next Carnival, and "Rosamunde" is given, Madlle. Weber +will not please, or at all events they will not be able to judge of her +merits as they deserve, for she has a miserable part, almost that of a +dumb personage, having only to sing some stanzas between the choruses. +She has one aria where something might be expected from the ritournelle; +the voice part is, however, alla Schweitzer, as if dogs were yelping. +There is only one air, a kind of rondo in the second act, where she has +an opportunity of sustaining her voice, and thus showing what she can +do. Unhappy indeed is the singer who falls into Schweitzer's hands; for +never while he lives will he learn how to write for the voice. When I +go to Salzburg I shall certainly not fail to plead zealously for my dear +friend; in the mean time you will not neglect doing all you can in her +favor, for you cannot cause your son greater joy. I think of nothing +now but the pleasure of soon embracing you. Pray see that everything +the Archbishop promised you is made quite secure, and also what I +stipulated, that my place should be at the piano. My kind regards to all +my friends, and to Herr Bullinger in particular. How merry shall we +be together! I have all this already in my thoughts, already before my +eyes. Adieu! + + + +114. + +Nancy, Oct. 3, 1778. + +PRAY excuse my not having told you of my journey previous to leaving +Paris. But I really cannot describe to you the way in which the whole +affair was hurried forward, contrary to my expectations, wish, or +will. At the very last moment I wanted to send my luggage to Count +Sickingen's, instead of to the bureau of the diligence, and to remain +some days longer in Paris. This, I give you my honor, I should at once +have done had I not thought of you, for I did not wish to displease +you. We can talk of these matters better at Salzburg. But one thing +more--only fancy how Herr Grimm deceived me, saying that I was going by +the diligence, and should arrive at Strassburg in five days; and I did +not find out till the last day that it was quite another carriage, which +goes at a snail's pace, never changes horses, and is ten days on the +journey. You may easily conceive my rage; but I only gave way to it when +with my intimate friends, for in his presence I affected to be quite +merry and pleased. When I got into the carriage, I received the +agreeable information that we should be travelling for twelve days. So +this is an instance of Grimm's good sense! It was entirely to save money +that he sent me by this slow conveyance, not adverting to the fact that +the expense would amount to the same thing from the constant living at +inns. Well, it is now past. What vexed me most in the whole affair was +his not being straightforward with me. He spared his own money, but not +mine, as he paid for my journey, but not for my board. If I had stayed +eight or ten days longer in Paris, I could have paid my own journey, and +made it comfortably. + +I submitted to this conveyance for eight days, but longer I could not +stand it--not on account of the fatigue, for the carriage was well hung, +but from want of sleep. We were off every morning at four o'clock, and +thus obliged to rise at three. Twice I had the satisfaction of being +forced to get up at one o'clock in the morning, as we were to set off at +two. You know that I cannot sleep in a carriage, so I really could not +continue this without the risk of being ill. I would have taken the +post, but it was not necessary, for I had the good fortune to meet with +a person who quite suited me--a German merchant who resides in Paris, +and deals in English wares. Before getting into the carriage we +exchanged a few words, and from that moment we remained together. We did +not take our meals with the other passengers, but in our own room, +where we also slept. I was glad to meet this man, for, being a great +traveller, he understands it well. He also was very much disgusted with +our carriage; so we proceed to-morrow by a good conveyance, which does +not cost us much, to Strassburg. You must excuse my not writing more, +but when I am in a town where I know no one, I am never in a good humor; +though I believe that if I had friends here I should like to remain, +for the town is indeed charming--handsome houses, spacious streets, and +superb squares. + +I have one request to make, which is to give me a large chest in my room +that I may have all my things within my reach. I should like also +to have the little piano that Fischietti and Rust had, beside my +writing-table, as it suits me better than the small one of Stein. I +don't bring many new things of my own with me, for I have not composed +much. I have not yet got the three quartets and the flute concerto I +wrote for M. de Jean; for when he went to Paris he packed them in the +wrong trunk, so they are left at Mannheim. I can therefore bring nothing +finished with me except my sonatas [with violin]; M. Le Gros purchased +the two overtures from me and the sinfonie concertante, which he thinks +exclusively his own; but this is not the case, for I have it still fresh +in my head, and mean to write it out again as soon as I am at home. + +The Munich company of comedians are, I conclude, now acting? [in +Salzburg.] Do they give satisfaction? Do people go to see them? +I suppose that, as for the operettas, the "Fischermadchen" ("La +Pescatrice" of Piccini), or "Das Bauernmadchen bei Hof" ("La Contadina +in Corte," by Sacchini), will be given first? The prima donna is, no +doubt, Madlle. Keiserin, whom I wrote to you about from Munich. I have +heard her, but do not know her. At that time it was only her third +appearance on any stage, and she had only learned music three weeks [see +No. 62]. Now farewell! I shall not have a moment's peace till I once +more see those I love. + + + +115. + +Strassburg, Oct. 15, 1778. + +I GOT your three letters safely, but could not possibly answer them +sooner. What you write about M. Grimm, I, of course, know better than +you can do. That he was all courtesy and civility I do not deny; indeed, +had this not been the case, I would not have stood on such ceremony +with him. All that I owe M. Grimm is fifteen louis-d'or, and he has only +himself to blame for their not being repaid, and this I told him. But +what avails any discussion? We can talk it over at Salzburg. I am very +much obliged to you for having put my case so strongly before Father +Martini, and also for having written about me to M. Raaff. I never +doubted your doing so, for I am well aware that it rejoices you to see +your son happy and pleased, and you know that I could never be more so +than in Munich; being so near Salzburg, I could constantly visit you. +That Madlle. Weber, or rather MY DEAR WEBERIN, should now receive a +salary, and justice be at last done to her merits, rejoices me to a +degree natural in one who feels such deep interest in all that concerns +her. I still warmly recommend her to you; though I must now, alas! give +up all hope of what I so much wished,--her getting an engagement in +Salzburg,--for the Archbishop would never give her the salary she now +has. All we can now hope for is that she may sometimes come to Salzburg +to sing in an opera. I had a hurried letter from her father the day +before they went to Munich, in which he also mentions this news. These +poor people were in the greatest distress about me, fearing that I must +be dead, a whole month having elapsed without any letter from me, (owing +to the last one being lost;) an idea that was confirmed by a report in +Mannheim that my poor dear mother had died of a contagious disease. So +they have been all praying for my soul. The poor girl went every day for +this purpose into the Capuchin church. Perhaps you may laugh at this? I +did not; on the contrary, I could not help being much touched by it. + +To proceed. I think I shall certainly go by Stuttgart to Augsburg, +because I see by your letter that nothing, or at least not much, is to +be made in Donaueschingen; but I will apprise you of all this before +leaving Strassburg. Dearest father, I do assure you that, were it not +for the pleasure of soon embracing you, I would never come to Salzburg; +for, with the exception of this commendable and delightful impulse, I +am really committing the greatest folly in the world. Rest assured +that these are my own thoughts, and not borrowed from others. When my +resolution to leave Paris was known, certain facts were placed before +me, and the sole weapons I had to contend against or to conquer these, +were my true and tender love for my kind father, which could not be +otherwise than laudable in their eyes, but with the remark that if my +father had known my present circumstances and fair prospects, (and had +not got different and false impressions by means of a kind friend,) he +certainly would not have written to me in such a strain as to render me +wholly incapable of offering the least resistance to his wish; and in my +own mind I thought, that had I not been exposed to so much annoyance +in the house where I lived, and the journey come on me like a sudden +thunder-clap, leaving me no time to reflect coolly on the subject, I +should have earnestly besought you to have patience for a time, and to +let me remain a little longer in Paris. I do assure you that I should +have succeeded in gaining fame, honor, and wealth, and been thus enabled +to defray your debts. But now it is settled, and do not for a moment +suppose that I regret it; but you alone, dearest father, you alone can +sweeten the bitterness of Salzburg for me; and that you will do so, +I feel convinced. I must also candidly say that I should arrive in +Salzburg with a lighter heart were it not for my official capacity +there, for this thought is to me the most intolerable of all. Reflect on +it yourself, place yourself in my position. At Salzburg I never know how +I stand; at one time I am everything, at another absolutely nothing. +I neither desire SO MUCH nor SO LITTLE, but still I wish to be +SOMETHING--if indeed I am something! In every other place I know what my +duties are. Elsewhere those who undertake the violin stick to it,--the +same with the piano, &c., &c. I trust this will be regulated hereafter, +so that all may turn out well and for my happiness and satisfaction. I +rely wholly on you. + +Things here are in a poor state; but the day after to-morrow, Saturday +the 17th, I MYSELF ALONE, (to save expense,) to please some kind +friends, amateurs, and connoisseurs, intend to give a subscription +concert. If I engaged an orchestra, it would with the lighting cost me +more than three louis-d'or, and who knows whether we shall get as +much? My sonatas are not yet published, though promised for the end of +September. Such is the effect of not looking after things yourself, for +which that obstinate Grimm is also to blame. They will probably be full +of mistakes, not being able to revise them myself, for I was obliged +to devolve the task on another, and I shall be without my sonatas in +Munich. Such an occurrence, though apparently a trifle, may often bring +success, honor, and wealth, or, on the other hand, misfortune. + + + +116. + +Strassburg, Oct. 20, 1778. + +You will perceive that I am still here, by the advice of Herr Frank and +other Strassburg magnates, but I leave this to-morrow. In my last +letter I mentioned that on the 17th I was to give a kind of sample of +a concert, as concerts here fare worse than even at Salzburg. It is, of +course, over. I played quite alone, having engaged no musicians, so that +I might at least lose nothing; briefly, I took three louis-d'or. The +chief receipts consisted in the shouts of Bravo! and Bravissimo! which +echoed on every side. Prince Max of Zweibrucken also honored the concert +by his presence. I need not tell you that every one was pleased. I +intended then to pursue my journey, but was advised to stay till the +following Saturday, in order to give a grand concert in the theatre. +I did so, and, to the surprise, indignation, and disgrace of all the +Strassburgers, my receipts were exactly the same. The Director, M. de +Villeneuve, abused the inhabitants of this most detestable town in the +most unmeasured terms. I took a little more money, certainly, but +the cost of the band (which is very bad, but its pay very good), the +lighting, printing, the guard at the door, and the check-takers at the +entrances, &c., made up a considerable sum. Still I must tell you that +the applause and clapping of hands almost deafened me, and made my ears +ache; it was as if the whole theatre had gone crazy. Those who were +present, loudly and publicly denounced their fellow-citizens, and I told +them all that if I could have reasonably supposed so few people would +have come, I would gladly have given the concert gratis, merely for the +pleasure of seeing the theatre well filled. And in truth I should have +preferred it, for, upon my word, I don't know a more desolate sight than +a long table laid for fifty, and only three at dinner. Besides, it was +so cold; but I soon warmed myself, for, to show the Strassburg gentlemen +how little I cared, I played a very long time for my own amusement, +giving a concerto more than I had promised, and, at the close, +extemporizing. It is now over, but at all events I gained honor and +fame. + +I have drawn on Herr Scherz for eight louis-d'or, as a precaution, for +no one can tell what may happen on a journey; and I HAVE is better than +I MIGHT HAVE HAD. I have read the fatherly well-meaning letter which you +wrote to M. Frank when in such anxiety about me. [Footnote: "Your sister +and I confessed, and took the Holy Communion," writes the father, "and +prayed to God fervently for your recovery. Our excellent Bullinger +prays daily for you also."] When I wrote to you from Nancy, not knowing +myself, you of course could not know, that I should have to wait so +long for a good opportunity. Your mind may be quite at ease about the +merchant with whom I am travelling; he is the most upright man in the +world, takes more care of me than of himself, and, entirely to oblige +me, is to go with me to Augsburg and Munich, and possibly even to +Salzburg. We actually shed tears when we think that we must separate. He +is not a learned man, but a man of experience, and we live together +like children. When he thinks of his wife and family whom he has left in +Paris, I try to comfort him, and when I think of my own people he speaks +comfort to me. + +On the 31st of October, my name-day, I amused myself (and, better still, +others) for a couple of hours. At the repeated entreaties of Herr Frank, +de Berger, &c., &c., I gave another concert, by which, after paying the +expenses, (not heavy this time,) I actually cleared a louis-d'or! Now +you see what Strassburg is! I wrote at the beginning of this letter that +I was to leave this on the 27th or 28th, but it proved impossible, owing +to a sudden inundation here, when the floods caused great damage. You +will probably see this in the papers. Of course travelling was out of +the question, which was the only thing that induced me to consent to +give another concert, being obliged to remain at all events. + +To-morrow I go by the diligence to Mannheim. Do not be startled at this. +In foreign countries it is expedient to follow the advice of those who +know from experience what ought to be done. Most of the strangers who +go to Stuttgart (N.B., by the diligence) do not object to this detour of +eight hours, because the road is better and also the conveyance. I +must now, dearest father, cordially wish you joy of your approaching +name-day. My kind father, I wish you from my heart all that a son can +wish for a good father, whom he so highly esteems and dearly loves. I +thank the Almighty that He has permitted you again to pass this day in +the enjoyment of perfect health, and implore from Him the boon, that +during the whole of my life (and I hope to live for a good many years to +come) I may be able to congratulate you every year. However strange, +and perhaps ridiculous, this wish may seem to you, I do assure you it is +both sincere and well-intended. + +I hope you received my last letter from Strassburg. I wish to write +nothing further of M. Grimm, but it is entirely owing to his stupidity +in pressing forward my departure so much, that my sonatas are not yet +engraved, or at all events that I have not got them, and when I do I +shall probably find them full of mistakes. If I had only stayed three +days longer in Paris, I could have revised them myself and brought them +with me. The engraver was desperate when I told him that I could not +correct them, but must commission someone else to do so. Why? Because, +being resolved not to be three days longer in the same house with Grimm, +I told him that on account of the sonatas I was going to stay with Count +Sickingen, when he replied, his eyes sparkling with rage, "If you leave +my house before you leave Paris, I will never in my life see you again. +In that case do not presume ever to come near me, and look on me as your +bitterest enemy." Self-control was indeed very necessary. Had it not +been for your sake, who knew nothing about the matter, I certainly +should have replied, "Be my enemy; by all means be so. You are so +already, or you would not have prevented me putting my affairs in order +here, which would have enabled me to keep my word, to preserve my honor +and reputation, and also to make money, and probably a lucky hit; for if +I present my sonatas to the Electress when I go to Munich, I shall +thus keep my promise, probably receive a present, and make my fortune +besides." But as it was, I only bowed, and left the room without saying +a syllable. Before quitting Paris, however, I said all this to him, +but he answered me like a man totally devoid of sense, or rather like +a malicious man who affects to have none. I have written twice to Herr +Heina, but have got no answer. The sonatas ought to have appeared by the +end of September, and M. Grimm was to have forwarded the promised copies +immediately to me, so I expected to have found them in Strassburg; but +M. Grimm writes to me that he neither hears nor sees anything of them, +but as soon as he does they are to be forwarded, and I hope to have them +ere long. + +Strassburg can scarcely do without me. You cannot think how much I am +esteemed and beloved here. People say that I am disinterested as well as +steady and polite, and praise my manners. Every one knows me. As soon +as they heard my name, the two Herrn Silbermann and Herr Hepp (organist) +came to call on me, and also Capellmeister Richter. He has now +restricted himself very much; instead of forty bottles of wine a day, +he only drinks twenty! I played publicly on the two best organs that +Silbermann has here, in the Lutheran and New Churches, and in the Thomas +Church. If the Cardinal had died, (and he was very ill when I arrived,) +I might have got a good situation, for Herr Richter is seventy-eight +years of age. Now farewell! Be cheerful and in good spirits, and +remember that your son is, thank God! well, and rejoicing that his +happiness daily draws nearer. Last Sunday I heard a new mass of Herr +Richter's, which is charmingly written. + + + +117. + +Mannheim, November 12, 1778. + +I arrived here safely on the 6th, agreeably surprising all my kind +friends. God be praised that I am once more in my beloved Mannheim! +I assure you, if you were here you would say the same. I am living at +Madame Cannabich's, who, as well as her family and all my good friends +here, was quite beside herself with joy at seeing me again. We have not +yet done talking, for she tells me of all the events and changes that +have taken place during my absence. I have not been able to dine once at +home since I came, for people are fighting to have me; in a word, just +as I love Mannheim, so Mannheim loves me; and, though of course I don't +know it positively, still I do think it possible that I may get an +appointment here. But HERE, not in Munich, for my own belief is that the +Elector will soon once more take up his residence in Mannheim, for he +surely cannot long submit to the coarseness of the Bavarian gentlemen. +You know that the Mannheim company is in Munich. There they hissed the +two best actresses, Madame Toscani and Madame Urban. There was such +an uproar that the Elector himself leant over his box and called out, +"Hush!" To this, however, no one paid any attention; so he sent down +Count Seeau, who told some of the officers not to make such a noise, as +the Elector did not like it; but the only answer he got was, that they +had paid their money, and no man had a right to give them any orders. +But what a simpleton I am! You no doubt have heard this long ago through +our.... + +I have now something to say. I may PERHAPS make forty louis-d'or here. +To be sure, I should have to stay six weeks, or at most two months, in +Mannheim. Seiler's company is here, whom you no doubt already know by +reputation. Herr von Dalberg is the director. He will not hear of my +leaving this till I have written a duodrama for him, and indeed I did +not long hesitate, for I have often wished to write this style of drama. +I forget if I wrote to you about it the first time that I was here. +Twice at that time I saw a similar piece performed, which afforded me +the greatest pleasure; in fact, nothing ever surprised me so much, for +I had always imagined that a thing of this kind would make no effect. Of +course you know that there is no singing in it, but merely recitation, +to which the music is a sort of obligato recitativo. At intervals there +is speaking while the music goes on, which produces the most striking +effect. What I saw was Benda's "Medea." He also wrote another, "Ariadne +auf Naxos," and both are truly admirable. You are aware that of all the +Lutheran Capellmeisters Benda was always my favorite, and I like those +two works of his so much that I constantly carry them about with me. +Conceive my joy at now composing the very thing I so much wished! Do you +know what my idea is?--that most operatic recitatives should be treated +in this way, and the recitative only occasionally sung WHEN THE WORDS +CAN BE THOROUGHLY EXPRESSED BY THE MUSIC. An Academie des Amateurs is +about to be established here, like the one in Paris, where Herr Franzl +is violin leader, and I am at this moment writing a concerto for violin +and piano. I found my dear friend Raaff still here, but he leaves this +on the 8th. He has sounded my praises here, and shown sincere interest +in me, and I hope he will do the same in Munich. Do you know what that +confounded fellow Seeau said here?--that my opera buffa had been hissed +at Munich! Fortunately he said so in a place where I am well known; +still, his audacity provokes me; but the people, when they go to Munich, +will hear the exact reverse. A whole flock of Bavarians are here, among +others Fraulein de Pauli (for I don't know her present name). I +have been to see her because she sent for me immediately. Oh! what a +difference there is between the people of the Palatinate and those +of Bavaria! What a language it is! so coarse! and their whole mode of +address! It quite annoys me to hear once more their hoben and olles +(haben and alles), and their WORSHIPFUL SIR. Now good-bye! and pray +write to me soon. Put only my name, for they know where I am at the +post-office. I am so well known here that it is impossible a letter for +me can be lost. My cousin wrote to me, and by mistake put Franconian +Hotel instead of Palatine Hotel. The landlord immediately sent the +letter to M. Serrarius's, where I lodged when I was last here. What +rejoices me most of all in the whole Mannheim and Munich story is that +Weber has managed his affairs so well. They have now 1600 florins; +for the daughter has 1000 florins and her father 400, and 200 more as +prompter. Cannabich did the most for them. It is quite a history about +Count Seeau; if you don't know it, I will write you the details next +time. + +I beg, dearest father, that you will make use of this affair at +Salzburg, and speak so strongly and so decidedly, that the Archbishop +may think it possible I may not come after all, and thus be induced +to give me a better salary, for I declare I cannot think of it with +composure. The Archbishop cannot pay me sufficiently for the slavery of +Salzburg. As I said before, I feel the greatest pleasure at the thought +of paying you a visit, but only annoyance and misery in seeing myself +once more at that beggarly court. The Archbishop must no longer attempt +to play the great man with me as he used to do, or I may possibly play +him a trick,--this is by no means unlikely,--and I am sure that you +would participate in my satisfaction. + + + +118. + +Mannheim, Nov. 24, 1778. + +MY DEAR BARON VON DALBERG,-- + +I called on you twice, but had not the good fortune to find you at home; +yesterday you were in the house, but engaged, so I could not see you. I +hope you will therefore excuse my troubling you with these few lines, as +it is very important to me to explain myself fully. Herr Baron, you are +well aware that I am not an interested man, particularly when I know +that it is in my power to do a service to so great a connoisseur and +lover of music as yourself. On the other hand, I also know that you +certainly would not wish that I should be a loser on this occasion; I +therefore take the liberty to make my final stipulations on the subject, +as it is impossible for me to remain here longer in uncertainty. I agree +to write a monodrama for the sum of twenty-five louis-d'or, and to stay +here for two months longer to complete everything, and to attend all the +rehearsals, &c., but on this condition, that, happen what may, I am +to be paid by the end of January. Of course I shall also expect free +admission to the theatre. Now, my dear Baron, this is all that I can +do, and if you consider, you will admit that I certainly am acting with +great discretion. With regard to your opera, I do assure you I should +rejoice to compose music for it, but you must yourself perceive that I +could not undertake such a work for twenty-five louis-d'or, as it would +be twice the labor of a monodrama (taken at the lowest rate). The chief +obstacle would be your having told me that Gluck and Schweitzer are +partially engaged to write this work. But were you even to give me fifty +louis-d'or, I would still as an honest man dissuade you from it. An +opera without any singers! what is to be done in such a case? Still, if +on this occasion there is a prospect of its being performed, I will +not hesitate to undertake the work to oblige you; but it is no trifling +one--of that I pledge you my word. I have now set forth my ideas clearly +and candidly, and request your decision. + + + +119. + +Mannheim, Dec. 3, 1778. + +I MUST ask your forgiveness for two things,--first, that I have not +written to you for so long; and secondly, that this time also I must +be brief. My not having answered you sooner is the fault of no one but +yourself, and your first letter to me at Mannheim. I really never could +have believed--but silence! I will say no more on the subject. Lot us +have done with it. Next Wednesday, the 9th, I leave this; I cannot do so +sooner, because, thinking that I was to be here for a couple of months, +I accepted some pupils, and of course wish to make out the twelve +lessons. I assure you that you have no idea what kind and true friends +I have here, which time will prove. Why must I be so brief? Because +my hands are more than full. To please Herr Gemmingen and myself, I am +writing the first act of the melodramatic opera (that I was commissioned +to write), but now do so gratis; I shall bring it with me and finish +it at home. You see how strong my inclination must be for this kind of +composition. Of course Herr von Gemmingen is the poet. The duodrama is +called "Semiramis." + +Next Wednesday I set off, and do you know how I travel? With the worthy +prelate, the Bishop of Kaisersheim. When a kind friend of mine mentioned +me to him, he at once knew my name, expressing the pleasure it would be +to him to have me as a travelling companion. He is (though a priest and +prelate) a most amiable man. I am therefore going by Kaisersheim and +not by Stuttgart; but it is just the same to me, for I am very lucky in +being able to spare my purse a little (as it is slender enough) on the +journey. Be so good as to answer me the following questions. How do the +comedians please at Salzburg? Is not the young lady who sings, Madlle. +Keiserin? Does Herr Feiner play the English horn? Ah! if we had only +clarionets too! You cannot imagine the splendid effect of a symphony +with flutes, hautboys, and clarionets. At my first audience of the +Archbishop I shall tell him much that is new, and also make some +suggestions. Oh, how much finer and better our orchestra might be if the +Archbishop only chose! The chief cause why it is not so, is that there +are far too many performances. I make no objection to the chamber-music, +only to the concerts on a larger scale. + +A propos, you say nothing of it, but I conclude you have received the +trunk; if not, Herr von Grimm is responsible for it. You will find in it +the aria I wrote for Madlle. Weber. You can have no idea of the effect +of that aria with instruments; you may not think so when you see it, +but it ought to be sung by a Madlle. Weber! Pray, give it to no one, for +that would be most unfair, as it was written solely for her, and fits +her like a well-fitting glove. + + + +120. + +Kaisersheim, Dec. 18, 1778. + +I ARRIVED here safely on Sunday the 13th, God be praised! I travelled in +the most agreeable way, and had likewise the inexpressible pleasure to +find a letter from you here. The reason that I did not forthwith answer +it was, because I wished to give you sure and precise information as to +my departure, for which I had not fixed any time; but I have at length +resolved, as the prelate goes to Munich on the 26th or 27th, to be +again his companion. I must tell you, however, that he does not go by +Augsburg. I lose nothing by this; but if you have anything to arrange or +transact where my presence is wanted, I can at any time, if you wish it, +(being so near,) make a little expedition from Munich. My journey from +Mannheim to this place would have been most agreeable to a man, leaving +a city with a light heart. The prelate and his Chancellor, an honest, +upright, and amiable man, drove together in one carriage, and Herr +Kellermeister, Father Daniel, Brother Anton, the Secretary, and I, +preceded them always half an hour, or an hour. But for me, to whom +nothing could be more painful than leaving Mannheim, this journey was +only partly agreeable, and would not have been at all so, but rather +very tiresome, if I had not from my early youth been so much accustomed +to leave people, countries, and cities, and with no very sanguine hope +of soon or ever again seeing the kind friends I left. I cannot deny, +but at once admit, that not only I myself, but all my intimate friends, +particularly the Cannabichs, were in the most pitiable distress during +the last few days after my departure was finally settled. We felt as +if it were not possible for us to part. I set off at half-past eight +o'clock in the morning, and Madame Cannabich did not leave her room; +she neither would nor could take leave of me. I did not wish to distress +her, so left the house without seeing her. My very dear father, I can +safely say that she is one of my best and truest friends, for I only +call those friends who are so in every situation, who, day and night, +think how they can best serve the interests of their friend, applying to +all influential persons, and toiling to secure his happiness. Now I do +assure you such is the faithful portrait of Madame Cannabich. There may +indeed be an alloy of self-interest in this, for where does anything +take place--indeed, how can anything be done in this world--without some +alloy of selfishness? What I like best in Madame Cannabich is, that she +never attempts to deny this. I will tell you when we meet in what way +she told me so, for when we are alone, which, I regret to say, is very +seldom, we become quite confidential. Of all the intimate friends who +frequent her house, I alone possess her entire confidence; for I alone +know all her domestic and family troubles, concerns, secrets, and +circumstances. We were not nearly so well acquainted the first time +I was here, (we have agreed on this point,) nor did we mutually under +stand each other so well; but living in the same house affords greater +facilities to know a person. When in Paris I first began fully to +appreciate the sincere friendship of the Cannabichs, having heard from +a trustworthy source the interest both she and her husband took in me. +I reserve many topics to explain and to discuss personally, for since my +return from Paris the scene has undergone some remarkable changes, but +not in all things. Now as to my cloister life. The monastery itself made +no great impression on me, after having seen the celebrated Abbey of +Kremsmunster. I speak of the exterior and what they call here the court +square, for the most renowned part I have yet to see. What appears to +me truly ridiculous is the formidable military. I should like to know of +what use they are. At night I hear perpetual shouts of "Who goes there?" +and I invariably reply, "Guess!" You know what a good and kind man +the prelate is, but you do not know that I may class myself among his +favorites, which, I believe, does me neither good nor harm, but it is +always pleasant to have one more friend in the world. With regard to the +monodrama, or duodrama, a voice part is by no means necessary, as not a +single note is sung, but entirely spoken; in short, it is a recitative +with instruments, only the actor speaks the words instead of singing +them. If you were to hear it even with the piano, it could not fail to +please you, but properly performed, you would be quite transported. I +can answer for this; but it requires a good actor or actress. + +I shall really feel quite ashamed if I arrive in Munich without my +sonatas. I cannot understand the delay; it was a stupid trick of +Grimm's, and I have written to him to that effect. He will now see that +he was in rather too great a hurry. Nothing ever provoked me so much. +Just reflect on it. I know that my sonatas were published in the +beginning of November, and I, the author, have not yet got them, +therefore cannot present them to the Electress, to whom they are +dedicated. I have, however, taken measures in the mean time which will +insure my getting them. I hope that my cousin in Augsburg has received +them, or that they are lying at Josef Killiau's for her; so I have +written to beg her to send them to me at once. + +Until I come myself, I commend to your good offices an organist, +and also a good pianist, Herr Demmler, from Augsburg. I had entirely +forgotten him, and was very glad when I heard of him here. He has +considerable genius; a situation in Salzburg might be very useful in +promoting his further success, for all he requires is a good leader +in music; and I could not find him a better conductor than you, dear +father, and it would really be a pity if he were to leave the right +path. [See No. 68.] That melancholy "Alceste" of Schweitzer's is to be +performed in Munich. The best part (besides some of the openings, +middle passages, and the finales of some arias) is the beginning of +the recitative "O Jugendzeit," and this was made what it is by Raaff's +assistance; he punctuated it for Hartig (who plays Admet), and by so +doing introduced the true expression into the aria. The worst of all, +however, (as well as the greater part of the opera,) is certainly the +overture. + +As for the trifles that are not to be found in the trunk, it is quite +natural that under such circumstances something should be lost, or even +stolen. The little amethyst ring I felt I ought to give to the nurse who +attended my dear mother, whose wedding-ring was left on her finger. [A +large blot.] The ink-bottle is so full, and I am too hasty in dipping +in my pen, as you will perceive. As for the watch, you have guessed +rightly. I sold it, but only got five louis-d'or for it, and that in +consideration of the works, which were good; for the shape, as you know, +was old-fashioned and quite out of date. Speaking of watches, I must +tell you that I am bringing one with me--a genuine Parisian. You know +what sort of thing my jewelled watch was--how inferior all the so-called +precious stones were, how clumsy and awkward its shape; but I would not +have cared so much about that, had I not been obliged to spend so much +money in repairing and regulating it, and after all the watch would one +day gain a couple of hours, and next day lose in the same proportion. +The one the Elector gave me did just the same, and, moreover, the works +were even worse and more fragile. I exchanged these two watches and +their chains for a Parisian one which is worth twenty louis-d'or. So now +at last I know what o'clock it is; with my five watches I never got so +far as that before! At present, out of four, I have, at all events, one +on which I can depend. + + + +121. + +Kaisersheim, Dec. 23, 1778. + +MA TRES-CHERE COUSINE,-- + +I write to you in the greatest haste, and in the deepest sorrow and +remorse, and with the determined purpose to tell you that it is my +intention to set off to-morrow to Munich. I would, I assure you, gladly +have gone to Augsburg, but the prelate was resolved to claim me, for +which you cannot blame me. It is my loss, so don't be cross. I may +perhaps make an escapade from Munich to Augsburg, but this is by no +means certain. If you will be as glad to see me, as I shall be to see +you, do come to the good town of Munich. Be sure you come by the new +year, that I may see your face so dear, and escort you far and near. One +thing I very much regret, which is that I cannot give you house-room, +because I am not at an hotel, but am living with--whom do you think? +I should like to know this myself [with the Webers]. But now Spassus +apart. For that very reason, and for my sake, it would be advisable +you should come; perhaps you may have a great part to play, but at +all events come. I can then pay you in my own mighty person all proper +compliments. Now adieu, angel of piety! I await you with anxiety. Your +sincere cousin, + +W. A. MOZART. + +P.S.--Write to me forthwith to Munich, Poste Restante, a little note of +twenty-four pages, but do not mention where you are to lodge, that I may +not find you out nor you me. + + + +122. + +Munich, Dec. 29, 1778. + +I WRITE from the house of M. Becke [flute-player; see No. 60]. I arrived +here safely, God be praised! on the 25th, but have been unable to write +to you till now. I reserve everything till our glad, joyous meeting, +when I can once more have the happiness of conversing with you, for +to-day I can only weep. I have far too sensitive a heart. In the mean +time, I must tell you that the day before I left Kaisersheim I received +the sonatas; so I shall be able to present them myself to the Electress. +I only delay leaving this till the opera [Footnote: Schweitzer's +"Alceste." (See No. 120.)] is given, when I intend immediately to leave +Munich, unless I were to find that it would be very beneficial and +useful to me to remain here for some time longer. In which case I feel +convinced, quite convinced, that you would not only be satisfied I +should do so, but would yourself advise it. I naturally write very +badly, for I never learned to write; still, in my whole life I never +wrote worse than this very day, for I really am unfit for anything--my +heart is too full of tears. I hope you will soon write to me and comfort +me. Address to me, Poste Restante, and then I can fetch the letter +myself. I am staying with the Webers. I think, after all, it would be +better, far better, to enclose your letter to me to our friend Becke. + +I intend (I mention it to you in the strictest secrecy) to write a mass +here; all my best friends advise my doing so. I cannot tell you what +friends Cannabich and Raaff have been to me. Now farewell, my kindest +and most beloved father! Write to me soon. + +A happy new-year! More I cannot bring myself to write to-day. This +letter is scrawled hurriedly, quite unlike the others, and betrays +the most violent agitation of mind. During the whole journey there was +nothing to which Mozart looked forward with such joy as once more seeing +his beloved Madlle. Weber in Munich. He had even destined "a great part" +for the Basle (his cousin) in the affair; but he was now to learn that +Aloysia had been faithless to him. Nissen relates: "Mozart, being in +mourning for his mother, appeared dressed, according to the French +custom, in a red coat with black buttons; but soon discovered that +Aloysia's feelings towards him had undergone a change. She seemed +scarcely to recognize one for whose sake she had once shed so many +tears. On which Mozart quickly seated himself at the piano and sang, +"Ich lass das Madel gern das mich nicht will," ["I gladly give up the +girl who slights me."] His father, moreover, was displeased in the +highest degree by Wolfgang's protracted absence, fearing that the +Archbishop might recall his appointment; so Wolfgang became very uneasy +lest he should not meet with a kind reception from his father on his +return home." + + + +123. + +Munich, Dec. 31, 1778. + +I HAVE this instant received your latter from my friend Becke. I wrote +to you from his house two days ago, but a letter such as I never wrote +before; for this kind friend said so much to me about your tender +paternal love, your indulgence towards me, your complaisance and +discretion in the promotion of my future happiness, that my feelings +were softened even to tears. But, from your letter of the 28th, I see +only too clearly that Herr Becke, in his conversation with me, rather +exaggerated. Now, distinctly, and once for all, as soon as the opera +("Alceste") is given, I intend to leave this, whether the diligence goes +the day after or the same night. If you had spoken to Madame Robinig, I +might have travelled home with her. But be that as it may, the opera is +to be given on the 11th, and on the 12th (if the diligence goes) I set +off. It would be more for my interest to stay here a little longer, but +I am willing to sacrifice this to you, in the hope that I shall have +a twofold reward for it in Salzburg. I don't think your idea about the +sonatas at all good; even if I do not get them, I ought to leave Munich +forthwith. Then you advise my not being seen at court; to a man so well +known as I am here such a thing is impossible. But do not be uneasy. I +received my sonatas at Kaisersheim; and, as soon as they are bound, I +mean to present them to the Electress. A. propos, what do you mean by +DREAMS OF PLEASURE? I do not wish to give up dreaming, for what mortal +on the whole compass of the earth does not often dream? above all DREAMS +OF PLEASURE--peaceful dreams, sweet, cheering dreams if you will--dreams +which, if realized, would have rendered my life (now far rather sad than +pleasurable) more endurable. + +The 1st.--I have this moment received, through a Salzburg vetturino, a +letter from you, which really at first quite startled me. For Heaven's +sake tell me, do you really think that I can at once fix a day for my +journey; or is it your belief that I don't mean to come at all? When I +am so very near, I do think you might be at ease on that point. When the +fellow had explained his route to me, I felt a strong inclination to go +with him, but at present I really cannot; to-morrow or next day I +intend to present the sonatas to the Electress, and then (no matter how +strongly I may be urged) I must wait a few days for a present. Of one +thing I give you my word, that to please you I have resolved not to wait +to see the opera, but intend to leave this the day after I receive the +present I expect. At the same time I confess I feel this to be very hard +on me; but if a few days more or less appear of such importance to you, +so let it be. Write to me at once on this point. The 2d.--I rejoice at +the thoughts of conversing with you, for then you will first comprehend +how my matters stand here. You need have neither mistrust nor misgivings +as to Raaff, for he is the most upright man in the world, though no +lover of letter-writing. The chief cause of his silence, however, is no +doubt that he is unwilling to make premature promises, and yet is glad +to hold out some hope too; besides, like Cannabich, he has worked for me +with might and main. + + + +124. + +Munich, Jan. 8, 1779. + +[Footnote: The second grand aria that Mozart wrote for Aloysia, bears +the same date.] + +I HOPE you received my last letter, which I meant to have given to the +vetturino, but having missed him I sent it by post. I have, in the mean +time, got all your letters safely through Herr Becke. I gave him my +letter to read, and he also showed me his. I assure you, my very dear +father, that I am now full of joy at returning to you, (but not to +Salzburg,) as your last letter shows that you know me better than +formerly. There never was any other cause for my long delay in going +home but this doubt, which gave rise to a feeling of sadness that I +could no longer conceal; so I at last opened my heart to my friend +Becke. What other cause could I possibly have? I have done nothing to +cause me to dread reproach from you; I am guilty of no fault; (by +a fault I mean that which does not become a Christian, and a man of +honor;) in short, I now rejoice, and already look forward to the most +agreeable and happy days, but only in the society of yourself and my +dear sister. I give you my solemn word of honor that I cannot endure +Salzburg or its inhabitants, (I speak of the natives of Salzburg.) Their +language, their manners, are to me quite intolerable. You cannot think +what I suffered during Madame Robinig's visit here, for it is long +indeed since I met with such a fool; and, for my still further +annoyance, that silly, deadly dull Mosmayer was also there. + +But to proceed. I went yesterday, with my dear friend Cannabich, to +the Electress to present my sonatas. Her apartments are exactly what I +should like mine one day to be, very pretty and neat, just like those of +a private individual, all except the view, which is miserable. We +were there fully an hour and a half, and she was very gracious. I have +managed to let her know that I must leave this in a few days, which +will, I hope, expedite matters. You have no cause to be uneasy about +Count Seeau; I don't believe the thing will come through his hands, and +even if it does, he will not venture to say a word. Now, once for all, +believe that I have the most eager longing to embrace you and my beloved +sister. If it were only not in Salzburg! But as I have not hitherto been +able to see you without going to Salzburg, I do so gladly. I must make +haste, for the post is just going. + +My cousin is here. Why? To please me, her cousin; this is, indeed, the +ostensible cause. But--we can talk about it in Salzburg; and, on this +account, I wished very much that she would come with me there. You will +find a few lines, written by her own hand, attached to the fourth page +of this letter. She is quite willing to go; so if it would really give +you pleasure to see her, be so kind as to write immediately to her +brother, that the thing may be arranged. When you see her and know her, +she is certain to please you, for she is a favorite with every one. + +Wolfgang's pleasantries, in the following; letter to his cousin, show +that his good humor was fully restored. He was received at home with +very great rejoicings, and his cousin soon followed him. + + + +125. + +Salzburg, May 10, 1779. + +DEAREST, sweetest, most beauteous, fascinating, and charming of all +cousins, most basely maltreated by an unworthy kinsman! Allow me to +strive to soften and appease your just wrath, which only heightens your +charms and winning beauty, as high as the heel of your slipper! I hope +to soften you, Nature having bestowed on me a large amount of softness, +and to appease you, being fond of sweet pease. As to the Leipzig affair, +I can't tell whether it may be worth stooping to pick up; were it a bag +of ringing coin, it would be a very different thing, and nothing less do +I mean to accept, so there is an end of it. + +Sweetest cousin, such is life! One man has got a purse, but another has +got the money, and he who has neither has nothing; and nothing is even +less than little; while, on the other hand, much is a great deal more +than nothing, and nothing can come of nothing. Thus has it been from the +beginning, is now, and ever shall be; and as I can make it neither +worse nor better, I may as well conclude my letter. The gods know I am +sincere. How does Probst get on with his wife? and do they live in +bliss or in strife? most silly questions, upon my life! Adieu, angel! +My father sends you his uncle's blessing, and a thousand cousinly kisses +from my sister. Angel, adieu! + +A TENDER ODE. [Footnote: A parody of Klopstock's "Dein susses Bild, +Edone"] + +TO MY COUSIN. + + THY sweet image, cousin mine, + Hovers aye before me; Would the form indeed were thine! + How I would adore thee! I see it at the day's decline; I see it + through the pale moonshine, And linger o'er that form divine + + By all the flowers of sweet perfume + I'll gather for my cousin,--By all the wreaths of myrtle-bloom + I'll wreathe her by the dozen,--I call upon that image there To + pity my immense despair, And be indeed my cousin fair + +[Footnote: These words are written round the slightly sketched +caricature of a face.] + + + + +FOURTH PART.--MUNICH.--IDOMENEO.--NOVEMBER 1780 TO JANUARY 1781. + + +MOZART now remained stationary at Salzburg till the autumn of 1780, +highly dissatisfied at being forced to waste his youthful days in +inactivity, and in such an obscure place, but still as busy as ever. A +succession of grand instrumental compositions were the fruits of this +period: two masses, some vespers, the splendid music for "Konig Thamos," +and the operetta "Zaide" for Schikaneder. At length, however, to his +very great joy, a proposal was made to him from Munich to write a grand +opera for the Carnival of 1781. It was "Idomeneo, Konig von Greta." At +the beginning of November he once more set off to Munich in order to +"prepare an exact fit," on the spot, of the different songs in the opera +for the singers, and to rehearse and practise everything with them. The +Abbate Varesco in Salzburg was the author of the libretto, in which +many an alteration had yet to be made, and these were all to be effected +through the intervention of the father. + + + +126. + +Munich, Nov. 8, 1780. + +FORTUNATE and pleasant was my arrival here,--fortunate, because no +mishap occurred during the journey; and pleasant, because we had +scarcely patience to wait for the moment that was to end this short but +disagreeable journey. I do assure you it was impossible for us to sleep +for a moment the whole night. The carriage jolted our very souls out, +and the seats were as hard as stone! From Wasserburg I thought I never +could arrive in Munich with whole bones, and during two stages I held on +by the straps, suspended in the air and not venturing to sit down. +But no matter; it is past now, though it will serve me as a warning in +future rather to go on foot than drive in a diligence. + +Now as to Munich. We arrived here at one o'clock in the forenoon, and +the same evening I called on Count Seeau [the Theatre Intendant], but as +he was not at home I left a note for him. Next morning I went there with +Becke. Seeau has been moulded like wax by the Mannheim people. I have a +request to make of the Abbate [Gianbattista Varesco]. The aria of Ilia +in the second act and second scene must be a little altered for what I +require,--"Se il padre perdei, in te lo ritrovo" This verse could not be +better; but now comes what always appeared unnatural to me,--N.B. in an +aria,--I mean, to speak aside. In a dialogue these things are natural +enough, for a few words can be hurriedly said aside, but in an aria, +where the words must be repeated, it has a bad effect; and even were +this not the case, I should prefer an uninterrupted aria. The beginning +may remain if he chooses, for it is charming and quite a natural flowing +strain, where, not being fettered by the words, I can write on quite +easily; for we agreed to bring in an aria andantino here in concert with +four wind instruments, viz. flute, hautboy, horn, and bassoon; and I beg +that you will let me have the air as soon as possible. + +Now for a grievance. I have not, indeed, the honor of being acquainted +with the hero Del Prato [the musico who was to sing Idamante], but from +description I should say that Cecarelli is rather the better of the two, +for often in the middle of an air our musico's breath entirely fails; +nota bene, he never was on any stage, and Raaff is like a statue. Now +only for a moment imagine the scene in the first act! But there is +one good thing, which is, that Madame Dorothea Wendling is +arci-contentissima with her scena, and insisted on hearing it played +three times in succession. The Grand Master of the Teutonic Order +arrived yesterday. "Essex" was given at the Court Theatre, and a +magnificent ballet. The theatre was all illuminated. The beginning was +an overture by Cannabich, which, as it is one of his last, I did not +know. I am sure, if you had heard it you would have been as much pleased +and excited as I was, and if you had not previously known the fact, you +certainly could not have believed that it was by Cannabich. Do come soon +to hear it, and to admire the orchestra. I have no more to say. There +is to be a grand concert this evening, where Mara is to sing three airs. +Tell me whether it snows as heavily in Salzburg as here. My kind regards +to Herr Schikaneder [impresario in Salzburg], and beg him to excuse +my not yet sending him the aria, for I have not been able to finish it +entirely. + + + +127. + +Munich, Nov. 13, 1780. + +I WRITE in the greatest haste, for I am not yet dressed, and must go off +to Count Seeau's. Cannabich, Quaglio, and Le Grand, the ballet-master, +also dine there to consult about what is necessary for the opera. +Cannabich and I dined yesterday with Countess Baumgarten, [Footnote: He +wrote an air for her, the original of which is now in the State Library +at Munich.] nee Lerchenteld. My friend is all in all in that family, and +now I am the same. It is the best and most serviceable house here to me, +for owing to their kindness all has gone well with me, and, please God, +will continue to do so. I am just going to dress, but must not omit the +chief thing of all, and the principal object of my letter,--to wish you, +my very dearest and kindest father, every possible good on this your +name-day. I also entreat the continuance of your fatherly love, and +assure you of my entire obedience to your wishes. Countess la Rose sends +her compliments to you and my sister, so do all the Cannabichs and both +Wendling families, Ramm, Eck father and son, Becke, and Herr del Prato, +who happens to be with me. Yesterday Count Seeau presented me to the +Elector, who was very gracious. If you were to speak to Count Seeau now, +you would scarcely recognize him, so completely have the Mannheimers +transformed him. + +I am ex commissione to write a formal answer in his name to the Abbate +Varesco, but I have no time, and was not born to be a secretary. In the +first act (eighth scene) Herr Quaglio made the same objection that we +did originally,--namely, that it is not fitting the king should be +quite alone in the ship. If the Abbe thinks that he can be reasonably +represented in the terrible storm forsaken by every one, WITHOUT A SHIP, +exposed to the greatest peril, all may remain as it is; but, N. B., no +ship--for he cannot be alone in one; so, if the other mode be adopted, +some generals or confidants (mates) must land from the ship with him. +Then the king might address a few words to his trusty companions, and +desire them to leave him alone, which in his melancholy situation would +be quite natural. + +The second duet is to be omitted altogether, and indeed with more profit +than loss to the opera; for if you will read the scene it evidently +becomes cold and insipid by the addition of an air or a duet, and very +irksome to the other actors, who must stand, by all the time unoccupied; +besides, the noble contest between Ilia and Idamante would become too +long, and thus lose its whole interest. + +Mara has not the good fortune to please me. She does too little to be +compared to a Bastardella [see No. 8], (yet this is her peculiar style,) +and too much to touch the heart like a Weber [Aloysia], or any judicious +singer. + +P.S.--A propos, as they translate so badly here, Count Seeau would like +to have the opera translated in Salzburg, and the arias alone to be +in verse. I am to make a contract that the payment of the poet and the +translator should be made in one sum. Give me an answer soon about this. +Adieu! What of the family portraits? Are they good likenesses? Is my +sister's begun yet? The opera is to be given for the first time on the +26th of January. Be so kind as to send me the two scores of the masses +that I have with me, and also the mass in B. Count Seeau is to mention +them soon to the Elector; I should like to be known here in this style +also. I have just heard a mass of Gruan's; it would be easy to compose +half a dozen such in a day. Had I known that this singer, Del Prato, was +so bad, I should certainly have recommended Cecarelli. + + + +128. + +Munich, Nov. 15, 1780. + +The aria is now admirable, but there is still an alteration to be made +recommended by Raaff; he is, however, right, and even were he not, some +courtesy ought to be shown to his gray hairs. He was with me yesterday, +and I played over his first aria to him, with which he was very much +pleased. The man is old, and can no longer show off in an aria like that +in the second art,--"Fuor del mar ho un mare in seno," &c. As, moreover, +in the third act he has no aria, (the one in the first act not being so +cantabile as he would like, owing to the expression of the words,) he +wishes after his last speech, "O Creta fortuinata, O me felice," to have +a pretty aria to sing instead of the quartet; in this way a superfluous +air would be got rid of, and the third act produce a far better effect. +In the last scene also of the second act, Idomeneo has an aria, or +rather a kind of cavatina, to sing between the choruses. For this it +would be better to substitute a mere recitative, well supported by the +instruments. For in this scene, (owing to the action and grouping which +have been recently settled with Le Grand,) the finest of the whole +opera, there cannot fail to be such a noise and confusion in the +theatre, that an aria, would make a very bad figure in this place, and +moreover there is a thunderstorm which is not likely to subside during +Raaff's aria! The effect, therefore, of a recitative between the +choruses must be infinitely better. Lisel Wendling has also sung through +her two arias half a dozen times, and is much pleased with them. I heard +from a third person that the two Wendlings highly praised their arias, +and as for Raaff he is my best and dearest friend. I must teach the +whole opera myself to Del Prato. He is incapable of singing even the +introduction to any air of importance, and his voice is so uneven! He +is only engaged for a year, and at the end of that time (next September) +Count Seeau will get another. Cecarelli might try his chance then +serieusement. + +I nearly forgot the best of all. After mass last Sunday, Count Seeau +presented me, en passant, to H.S.H. the Elector, who was very gracious. +He said, "I am happy to see you here again;" and on my replying that +I would strive to deserve the good opinion of His Serene Highness, he +clapped me on the shoulder, saying, "Oh! I have no doubt whatever that +all will go well--a piano piano si va lontano." + +Deuce take it! I cannot write everything I wish. Raaff has just left me; +he sends you his compliments, and so do the Cannabichs, and Wendlings, +and Ramm. My sister must not be idle, but practise steadily, for every +one is looking forward with pleasure to her coming here. My lodging is +in the Burggasse at M. Fiat's [where the marble slab to his memory is +now erected]. + + + +129. + +Munich, Nov. 22, 1780. + +I SEND herewith, at last, the long-promised aria for Herr Schikaneder. +During the first week that I was here I could not entirely complete it, +owing to the business that caused me to come here. Besides, Le Grand, +the ballet-master, a terrible talker and bore, has just been with me, +and by his endless chattering caused me to miss the diligence. I hope +my sister is quite well. I have at this moment a bad cold, which in such +weather is quite the fashion here. I hope and trust, however, that +it will soon take its departure,--indeed, both phlegm and cough are +gradually disappearing. In your last letter you write repeatedly, "Oh! +my poor eyes! I du not wish to write myself blind--half-past eight at +night, and no spectacles!" But why do you write at night, and without +spectacles? I cannot understand it. I have not yet had an opportunity +of speaking to Count Seeau, but hope to do so to-day, and shall give you +any information I can gather by the next post. At present all will, no +doubt, remain as it is. Herr Raaff paid me a visit yesterday morning, +and I gave him your regards, which seemed to please him much. He +is, indeed, a worthy and thoroughly respectable man. The day before +yesterday Del Frato sang in the most disgraceful way at the concert. I +would almost lay a wager that the man never manages to get through the +rehearsals, far less the opera; he has some internal disease. + +Come in!--Herr Panzacchi! [who was to sing Arbace]. He has already paid +me three visits, and has just asked me to dine with him on Sunday. I +hope the same thing won't happen to me that happened to us with the +coffee. He meekly asks if, instead of se la sa, he may sing se co la, or +even ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la. + +I am so glad when you often write to me, only not at night, and far less +without spectacles. You must, however, forgive me if I do not say much +in return, for every minute is precious; besides, I am obliged chiefly +to write at night, for the mornings are so very dark; then I have to +dress, and the servant at the Weiser sometimes admits a troublesome +visitor. When Del Prato comes I must sing to him, for I have to teach +him his whole part like a child; his method is not worth a farthing. +I will write more fully next time. What of the family portraits? My +sister, if she has nothing better to do, might mark down the names +of the best comedies that have been performed during my absence. Has +Schikaneder still good receipts? My compliments to all my friends, and +to Gilofsky's Katherl. Give a pinch of Spanish snuff from me to Pimperl +[the dog], a good wine-sop, and three kisses. Do you not miss me at all? +A thousand compliments to all--all! Adieu! I embrace you both from my +heart, and hope my sister will soon recover. [Nannerl, partly owing to +her grief in consequence of an unfortunate love-affair, was suffering +from pains in the chest, which threatened to turn to consumption.] + + + +180. + +Munich, Nov. 24, 1780. + +I beg you will convey to Madlle. Katharine Gilofsky de Urazowa my +respectful homage. Wish her in my name every possible happiness on +her name-day; above all, I wish that this may be the last time I +congratulate her as Mademoiselle. What you write to me about Count +Seinsheim is done long ago; they are all links of one chain. I have +already dined with, him once, and with Baumgarten twice, and once with +Lerchenfeld, father of Madlle. Baumgarten. Not a single day passes +without some of these people being at Cannabich's. Do not be uneasy, +dearest father, about my opera; I do hope that all will go well. +No doubt it will be assailed by a petty cabal, which will in all +probability be defeated with ridicule; for the most respected and +influential families among the nobility are in my favor, and the +first-class musicians are one and all for me. I cannot tell you what a +good friend Cannabich is--so busy and active! In a word, he is always on +the watch to serve a friend. I will tell you the whole story about Mara. +I did not write to you before on the subject, because I thought +that, even if you knew nothing of it, you would be sure to hear the +particulars here; but now it is high time to tell you the whole truth, +for probably additions have been made to the story,--at least, in this +town, it has been told in all sorts of different ways. No one can know +about it better than I do, as I was present, so I heard and witnessed +the whole affair. When the first symphony was over, it was Madame Mara's +turn to sing. I then saw her husband come sneaking in behind her with +his violoncello in his hand; I thought she was going to sing an +aria obligato with violoncello accompaniment. Old Danzi, the first +violoncello, also accompanies well. All at once Toeschi (who is a +director, but has no authority when Cannabich is present) said to +Danzi (N. B., his son-in-law), "Rise, and give Mara your place." When +Cannabich saw and heard this, he called out, "Danzi, stay where you are; +the Elector prefers his own people playing the accompaniments." Then +the air began, Mara standing behind his wife, looking very sheepish, +and still holding his violoncello. The instant they entered the +concert-room, I took a dislike to both, for you could not well see two +more insolent-looking people, and the sequel will convince you of this. +The aria had a second part, but Madame Mara did not think proper +to inform the orchestra of the fact previously, but after the last +ritournelle came down into the room with her usual air of effrontery to +pay her respects to the nobility. In the mean time her husband attacked +Cannabich. I cannot write every detail, for it would be too long; but, +in a word, he insulted both the orchestra and Cannabich's character, +who, being naturally very much irritated, laid hold of his arm, saying, +"This is not the place to answer you." Mara wished to reply, but +Cannabich threatened that if he did not hold his tongue he would have +him removed by force. All were indignant at Mara's impertinence. A +concerto by Ramm was then given, when this amiable couple proceeded to +lay their complaint before Count Seeau; but from him, also, as well as +from every one else, they heard that they were in the wrong. At last +Madame Mara was foolish enough to speak to the Elector himself on the +subject, her husband in the mean time saying in an arrogant tone, "My +wife is at this moment complaining to the Elector--an unlucky business +for Cannabich; I am sorry for him." But people only burst out laughing +in his face. The Elector, in reply to Madame Mara's complaint, said, +"Madame, you sang like an angel, although your husband did not accompany +you;" and when she wished to press her grievance, he said, "That is +Count Seeau's affair, not mine." When they saw that nothing was to be +done, they left the room, although she had still two airs to sing. This +was nothing short of an insult to the Elector, and I know for certain +that, had not the Archduke and other strangers been present, they would +have been very differently treated; but on this account Count Seeau was +annoyed, so he sent after them immediately, and they came back. She sang +her two arias, but was not accompanied by her husband. In the last one +(and I shall always believe that Herr Mara did it on purpose) two bars +were wanting--N. B., only in the copy from which Cannabich was playing. +When this occurred, Mara seized Cannabich's arm, who quickly got right, +but struck his bow on the desk, exclaiming audibly, "This copy is all +wrong." When the aria was at an end, he said, "Herr Mara, I give you one +piece of advice, and I hope you will profit by it: never seize the arm +of the director of an orchestra, or lay your account with getting +at least half a dozen sound boxes on the ear." Mara's tone was now, +however, entirely lowered; he begged to be forgiven, and excused himself +as he best could. The most shameful part of the affair was that Mara (a +miserable violoncellist, all here declare) would never have been heard +at court at all but for Cannabich, who had taken considerable trouble +about it. At the first concert before my arrival he played a concerto, +and accompanied his wife, taking Danzi's place without saying a word +either to Danzi or any one else, which was allowed to pass. The Elector +was by no means satisfied with his mode of accompanying, and said he +preferred his own people. Cannabich, knowing this, mentioned to Count +Seeau, before the concert began, that he had no objection to Mara's +playing, but that Danzi must also play. When Mara came he was told this, +and yet he was guilty of this insolence. If you knew these people, you +would at once see pride, arrogance, and unblushing effrontery written on +their faces. + +My sister is now, I hope, quite recovered. Pray do not write me any +more melancholy letters, for I require at this time a cheerful spirit, +a clear head, and inclination to work, and these no one can have who is +sad at heart. I know, and, believe me, deeply feel, how much you deserve +rest and peace, but am I the obstacle to this? I would not willingly be +so, and yet, alas! I fear I am. But if I attain my object, so that I can +live respectably here, you must instantly leave Salzburg. You will say, +that may never come to pass; at all events, industry and exertion shall +not be wanting on my part. Do try to come over soon to see me. We can +all live together. I have a roomy alcove on my first room in which two +beds stand. These would do capitally for you and me. As for my sister, +all we can do is to put a stove into the next room, which will only be +an affair of four or five florins; for in mine we might heat the stove +till it is red-hot, and leave the stove-door open into the bargain, yet +it would not make the room endurable--it is so frightfully cold in it. +Ask the Abbate Varesco if we could not break off at the chorus in the +second act, "Placido e il mare" after Elettra's first verse, when the +chorus is repeated,--at all events after the second, for it is really +far too long. I have been confined to the house two days from my cold, +and, luckily for me, I have very little appetite, for in the long run +it would be inconvenient to pay for my board. I have, however, written +a note to the Count on the subject, and received a message from him +that he would speak to me about it shortly. By heavens! he ought to be +thoroughly ashamed of himself. I won't pay a single kreutzer. + + + +131. + +Munich, Dec. 1, 1780. + +THE rehearsal went off with extraordinary success; there were only six +violins in all, but the requisite wind-instruments. No one was admitted +but Count Seeau's sister and young Count Seinsheim. This day week we are +to have another rehearsal, with twelve violins for the first act, and +then the second act will be rehearsed (like the first on the previous +occasion). I cannot tell you how delighted and surprised all were; but +I never expected anything else, for I declare I went to this rehearsal +with as quiet a heart as if I had been going to a banquet. Count +Seinsheim said to me, "I do assure you that though I expected a great +deal from you, I can truly say this I did not expect." + +The Cannabichs and all who frequent their house are true friends of +mine. After the rehearsal, (for we had a great deal to discuss with the +Count,) when I went home with Cannabich, Madame Cannabich came to +meet me, and hugged me from joy at the rehearsal having passed off +so admirably; then came Ramm and Lang, quite out of their wits with +delight. My true friend the excellent lady, who was alone in the house +with her invalid daughter Rose, had been full of solicitude on my +account. When you know him, you will find Ramm a true German, saying +exactly what he thinks to your face. He said to me, "I must honestly +confess that no music ever made such an impression on me, and I assure +you I thought of your father fifty times at least, and of the joy he +will feel when he hears this opera." But enough of this subject. My cold +is rather worse owing to this rehearsal, for it is impossible not to +feel excited when honor and fame are at stake, however cool you may be +at first. I did everything you prescribed for my cold, but it goes on +very slowly, which is particularly inconvenient to me at present; but +all my writing about it will not put an end to my cough, and yet write I +must. To-day I have begun to take violet syrup and a little almond +oil, and already I feel relieved, and have again stayed two days in the +house. Yesterday morning Herr Raaff came to me again to hear the aria +in the second act. The man is as much enamored of his aria as a young +passionate lover ever was of his fair one. He sings it the last thing +before he goes to sleep, and the first thing in the morning when he +awakes. I knew already, from a sure source, but now from himself, that +he said to Herr von Viereck (Oberststallmeister) and to Herr von Kastel, +"I am accustomed constantly to change my parts, to suit me better, in +recitative as well as in arias, but this I have left just as it was, for +every single note is in accordance with my voice." In short, he is as +happy as a king. He wishes the interpolated aria to be a little altered, +and so do I. The part commencing with the word era he does not like, for +what we want here is a calm tranquil aria; and if consisting of only one +part, so much the better, for a second subject would have to be brought +in about the middle, which leads me out of my way. In "Achill in Sciro" +there is an air of this kind, "or che mio figlio sei." I thank my sister +very much for the list of comedies she sent me. It is singular enough +about the comedy "Rache fur Rache"; it was frequently given here with +much applause, and quite lately too, though I was not there myself. I +beg you will present my devoted homage to Madlle. Therese von Barisani; +if I had a brother, I would request him to kiss her hand in all +humility, but having a sister only is still better, for I beg she will +embrace her in the most affectionate manner in my name. A propos, do +write a letter to Cannabich; he deserves it, and it will please him +exceedingly. What does it matter if he does not answer you? You must +not judge him from his manner; he is the same to every one, and means +nothing. You must first know him well. + + + +132. + +Munich, Dec. 5, 1780. + +The death of the Empress [Maria Theresa] does not at all affect my +opera, for the theatrical performances are not suspended, and the plays +go on as usual. The entire mourning is not to last more than six weeks, +and my opera will not be given before the 20th of January. I wish you to +get my black suit thoroughly brushed to make it as wearable as possible, +and forward it to me by the first diligence; for next week every one +must be in mourning, and I, though constantly on the move, must cry with +the others. + +With regard to Raaff's last aria, I already mentioned that we both wish +to have more touching and pleasing words. The word era is constrained; +the beginning good, but gelida massa is again hard. In short, +far-fetched or pedantic expressions are always inappropriate in a +pleasing aria. I should also like the air to express only peace and +contentment; and one part would be quite as good--in fact, better, in my +opinion. I also wrote about Panzacchi; we must do what we can to oblige +the good old man. He wishes to have his recitative in the third act +lengthened a couple of lines, which, owing to the chiaro oscuro and his +being a good actor, will have a capital effect. For example, after the +strophe, "Sei la citta del pianto, e questa reggia quella del duol," +comes a slight glimmering of hope, and then, "Madman that I am! whither +does my grief lead me?" "Ah! Creta tutta io vedo." The Abbato Varesco is +not obliged to rewrite the act on account of these things, for they can +easily be interpolated. I have also written that both I and others think +the oracle's subterranean speech too long to make a good effect. Reflect +on this. I must now conclude, having such a mass of writing to do. I +have not seen Baron Lehrbach, and don't know whether he is here or not; +and I have no time to run about. I may easily not know whether he is +here, but he cannot fail to know positively that I am. Had I been a +girl, no doubt he would have come to see me long ago. Now adieu! + +I have this moment received your letter of the 4th December. You must +begin to accustom yourself a little to the kissing system. You can +meanwhile practise with Maresquelli, for each time that you come to +Dorothea Wendling's (where everything is rather in the French style) you +will have to embrace both mother and daughter, but--N. B., on the chin, +so that the paint may not be rubbed off. More of this next time. Adieu! + +P.S.--Don't forget about my black suit; I must have it, or I shall be +laughed at, which is never agreeable. + + + +133. + +Munich, Dec. 13, 1780. + +Your last letters seemed to me far too short, so I searched all the +pockets in my black suit to see if I could not find something more. In +Vienna and all the Imperial dominions, the gayeties are to be resumed +six weeks hence,--a very sensible measure, for mourning too long is +not productive of half as much good to the deceased as of injury to the +living. Is Herr Schikaneder to remain in Salzburg? If so, he might still +see and hear my opera. Here people, very properly, cannot comprehend +why the mourning should last for three months, while that for our late +Elector was only six weeks. The theatre, however, goes on as usual. You +do not write to me how Herr Esser accompanied my sonatas--ill, or well? +The comedy, "Wie man sich die Sache deutet," is charming, for I saw +it--no, not saw it, but read it, for it has not yet been performed; +besides, I have been only once in the theatre, having no leisure to go, +the evening being the time I like best to work. If her Grace, the most +sensible gracious Frau von Robinig, does not on this occasion change the +period of her gracious journey to Munich, her Grace will be unable to +hear one note of my opera. My opinion, however, is, that her Grace +in her supreme wisdom, in order to oblige your excellent son, will +graciously condescend to stay a little longer. I suppose your portrait +is now begun, and my sister's also, no doubt. How is it likely to turn +out? Have you any answer yet from our plenipotentiary at Wetzlar? I +forget his name--Fuchs, I think. I mean, about the duets for two pianos. +It is always satisfactory to explain a thing distinctly, and the arias +of Esopus are, I suppose, still lying on the table? Send them to me by +the diligence, that I may give them myself to Herr von Dummhoff, who +will then remit them post-free. To whom? Why, to Heckmann--a charming +man, is he not? and a passionate lover of music. My chief object comes +to-day at the close of my letter, but this is always the case with me. +One day lately, after dining with Lisel Wendling, I drove with Le Grand +to Cannabich's (as it was snowing heavily). Through the window +they thought it was you, and that we had come together. I could not +understand why both Karl and the children ran down the steps to meet +us, and when they saw Le Grand, did not say a word, but looked quite +discomposed, till they explained it when we went up-stairs. I shall +write nothing more, because you write so seldom to me--nothing, except +that Herr Eck, who has just crept into the room to fetch his sword which +he forgot the last time he was here, sends his best wishes to Thresel, +Pimperl, Jungfer Mitzerl, Gilofsky, Katherl, my sister, and, last of +all, to yourself. Kiss Thresel for me; a thousand kisses to Pimperl. + + + +134. + +Munich, Dec. 16, 1780. + +HERR ESSER came to call on me yesterday for the first time. Did he go +about on foot in Salzburg, or always drive in a carriage, as he does +here? I believe his small portion of Salzburg money will not remain +long in his purse. On Sunday we are to dine together at Cannabich's, and +there he is to let us hear his solos, clever and stupid. He says he will +give no concert here, nor does he care to appear at court; he does not +intend to seek it, but if the Elector wishes to hear him,--"Eh, bien! +here am I; it would be a favor, but I shall not announce myself." But, +after all, he may be a worthy fool--deuce take it! cavalier, I meant to +say. He asked me why I did not wear my Order of the Spur. I said I had +one in my head quite hard enough to carry. He was so obliging as to dust +my coat a little for me, saying, "One cavalier may wait upon another." +In spite of which, the same afternoon--from forgetfulness, I suppose--he +left his spur at home, (I mean the outward and visible one,) or at all +events contrived to hide it so effectually that not a vestige of it was +to be seen. In case I forget it again, I must tell you that Madame and +Madlle. Cannabich both complain that their throats are daily becoming +larger owing to the air and water here, which might at last become +regular goitres. Heaven forbid! They are indeed taking a certain +powder--how do I know what? Not that this is its name; at all events, it +seems to do them no good. For their sakes, therefore, I took the liberty +to recommend what we call goitre pills, pretending (in order to enhance +their value) that my sister had three goitres, each larger than the +other, and yet at last, by means of these admirable pills, had got +entirely rid of them! If they can be made up here, pray send me the +prescription; but if only to be had at Salzburg, I beg you will pay +ready money for them, and send a few cwt. of them by the next diligence. +You know my address. + +There is to be another rehearsal this afternoon of the first and second +acts in the Count's apartments; then we shall only have a chamber +rehearsal of the third, and afterwards go straight to the theatre. The +rehearsal has been put off owing to the copyist, which enraged Count +Seinsheim to the uttermost. As for what is called the popular taste, do +not be uneasy, for in my opera there is music for every class, except +for the long-eared. A propos, how goes on the Archbishop? Next Monday +I shall have been six weeks away from Salzburg. You know, dear father, +that I only stay there to oblige you, for, by heavens! if I followed +my own inclinations, before coming here I would have torn up my last +diploma; for I give you my honor that not Salzburg itself, but the +Prince and his proud nobility, become every day more intolerable to +me. I should rejoice were I to be told that my services were no longer +required, for with the great patronage that I have here, both my present +and future circumstances would be secure, death excepted, which no +one can guard against, though no great misfortune to a single man. But +anything in the world to please you. It would be less trying to me if +I could only occasionally escape from time to time, just to draw my +breath. You know how difficult it was to get away on this occasion; and +without some very urgent cause, there would not be the faintest hope of +such a thing. It is enough to make one weep to think of it, so I say +no more. Adieu! Come soon to see me at Munich and to hear my opera, +and then tell me whether I have not a right to feel sad when I think of +Salzburg. Adieu! + + + +135. + +Munich, Dec. 19, 1780. + +THIS last rehearsal has been as successful as the first, and +satisfactorily proved to the orchestra and all those who heard it, their +mistake in thinking that the second act could not possibly excel the +first in expression and novelty. Next Saturday both acts are again to be +rehearsed, but in a spacious apartment in the palace, which I have long +wished, as the room at Count Seeau's is far too small. The Elector is +to be in an adjoining room (incognito) to hear the music. "It must be a +life-and-death rehearsal," said Cannabich to me. At the last one he was +bathed in perspiration. + +Cannabich, whose name-day this is, has just left me, reproaching me for +discontinuing this letter in his presence. As to Madame Duschek, the +thing is impossible at present, but I will do what I can with pleasure +after my opera is given. I beg you will write to her and say, with +my compliments, that next time she comes to Salzburg we can square +accounts. It would delight me if I could get a couple of cavaliers like +old Czernin,--this would be a little yearly help; but certainly not for +less than 100 florins a year, in which case it might be any style of +music they pleased. I trust that you are now quite recovered; indeed, +after the friction performed by a Barisani Theres, you cannot be +otherwise. You have no doubt seen by my letters that I am well and +happy. Who would not feel happy to have completed such a great and +laborious work--and completed it, too, with honor and renown? Three +arias alone are wanting--the last chorus in the third act, and the +overture and ballet; and then--Adieu partie! + +One more indispensable remark, and I have done. The scene between father +and son in the first act, and the first scene in the second act between +Idomenco and Arbace, are both too long, and sure to weary the audience, +particularly as in the first the actors are both bad, and in the second +one of them is also very inferior; besides, the whole details are only a +narrative of what the spectators have already seen with their own eyes. +The scenes will be printed just as they are. I only wish the +Abbate would point out to me how not only to curtail them, but very +considerably to curtail them; otherwise I must do it myself, for +the scenes cannot remain as they are--I mean, so far as the music is +concerned. I have just got your letter, which, being begun by my sister, +is without a date. A thousand compliments to Thresel--my future upper +and under nursery-maid to be. I can easily believe that Katherl would +gladly come to Munich, if (independent of the journey) you would allow +her to take my place at meals. Eh! bien. I can contrive it, for she can +occupy the same room with my sister. + + + +136. + +Munich, Dec 27, 1780. + +I HAVE received the entire opera, Schachtner's letter, your note, and +the pills. As for the two scenes to be curtailed, it was not my own +suggestion, but one to which I consented--my reason being that Raaff and +Del Prato spoil the recitative by singing it quite devoid of all spirit +and fire, and so monotonously. They are the most miserable actors that +ever trod the stage. I had a desperate battle royal with Seeau as to the +inexpediency, unfitness, and almost impossibility of the omissions in +question. However, all is to be printed as it is, which at first he +positively refused to agree to, but at last, on rating him soundly, he +gave way. The last rehearsal was splendid. It took place in a spacious +apartment in the palace. The Elector was also within hearing. On this +occasion it was rehearsed with the whole orchestra, (of course I mean +those who belong to the opera.) After the first act the Elector called +out Bravo! rather too audibly, and when I went into the next room to +kiss his hand he said, "Your opera is quite charming, and cannot fail to +do you honor." As he was not sure whether he could remain for the whole +performance, we played the concerted aria and the thunderstorm at the +beginning of the second act, by his desire, when he again testified +his approbation in the kindest manner, and said, laughing, "Who could +believe that such great things could be hidden in so small a head?" +Next day, too, at his reception, he extolled my opera much. The ensuing +rehearsal will probably take place in the theatre. A propos, Becke +told me, a day or two ago, that he had written to you about the last +rehearsal but one, and among other things had said that Raaff's aria +in the second act is not composed in accordance with the sense of the +words, adding, "So I am told, for I understand Italian too little to be +able to judge." I replied, "If you had only asked me first and +written afterwards! I must tell you that whoever said such a thing can +understand very little Italian. The aria is quite adapted to the words. +You hear the mare, and the mare funesto; and the passages dwell on the +minacciar, and entirely express minacciar (threatening). Moreover, it +is the most superb aria in the opera, and has met with universal +approbation." + +Is it true that the Emperor is ill? Is it true that the Archbishop +intends to come to Munich? Raaff is the best and most upright man alive, +but--so addicted to old-fashioned routine that flesh and blood cannot +stand it; so that it is very difficult to write for him, but very easy +if you choose to compose commonplace arias, as for instance the first +one, "Vedromi intorno." When you hear it, you will say that it is good +and pretty, but had I written it for Zonca it would have suited the +words better. Raaff likes everything according to rule, and does +not regard expression. I have had a piece of work with him about the +quartet. The more I think of the quartet as it will be on the stage, +the more effective I consider it, and it has pleased all those who +have heard it on the piano. Raaff alone maintains that it will not be +successful. He said to me confidentially, "There is no opportunity to +expand the voice; it is too confined." As if in a quartet the words +should not far rather be spoken, as it were, than sung! He does not at +all understand such things. I only replied, "My dear friend, if I were +aware of one single note in this quartet which ought to be altered, I +would change it at once; but there is no single thing in my opera with +which I am so pleased as with this quartet, and when you have once +heard it sung in concert you will speak very differently. I took every +possible pains to conform to your taste in your two arias, and intend to +do the same with the third, so I hope to be successful; but with +regard to trios and quartets, they should be left to the composer's own +discretion." On which he said that he was quite satisfied. The other +day he was much annoyed by some words in his last aria--rinvigorir and +ringiovenir, and especially vienmi a rinvigorir--five i's! It is true, +this is very disagreeable at the close of an air. + + + +137. + +Munich, Dec. 30. 1780. + +A HAPPY New-Year! Excuse my writing much, for I am over head and ears +in my work. I have not quite finished the third act; and as there is +no extra ballet, but only an appropriate divertissement in the opera, +I have the honor to write that music also, but I am glad of it, for now +the music will be all by the same master. The third act will prove at +least as good as the two others,--in fact, I believe, infinitely better, +and that it might fairly be said, finis coronat opus. The Elector was so +pleased at the rehearsal that, as I already wrote to you, he praised +it immensely next morning at his reception, and also in the evening at +court. I likewise know from good authority that, on the same evening +after the final rehearsal, he spoke of my music to every one he +conversed with, saying, "I was quite surprised; no music ever had such +an effect on me; it is magnificent music." The day before yesterday we +had a recitative rehearsal at Wendling's, and tried over the quartet +all together. We repeated it six times, and now it goes well. The +stumbling-block was Del Prato; the wretch can literally do nothing. His +voice is not so bad, if he did not sing from the back of the throat; +besides, he has no intonation, no method, no feeling. He is only one of +the best of the youths who sing in the hope of getting a place in the +choir of the chapel. Raaff was glad to find himself mistaken about the +quartet, and no longer doubts its effect. Now I am in a difficulty with +regard to Raaff's last air, and you must help me out of it. He cannot +digest the rinvigorir and ringiovenir, and these two words make the +whole air hateful to him. It is true that mostrami and vienmi are also +not good, but the worst of all are the two final words; to avoid the +shake on the i in the first word rinvigorir, I was forced to transfer +it to the o. Raaff has now found, in the "Natal di Giove," which is in +truth very little known, an aria quite appropriate to this situation. +I think it is the ad libitum aria, "Bell' alme al ciel diletto" and he +wishes me to write music for these words. He says, "No one knows it, and +we need say nothing." He is quite aware that he cannot expect the +Abbate to alter this aria a third time, and he will not sing it as it +is written. I beg you will send me an immediate reply. I shall conclude, +for I must now write with all speed; the composing is finished, but not +the writing out. + +My compliments to dear Thresel: the maid who waits on me here is also +named Thresel, but, heavens! how inferior to the Linz Thresel in beauty, +virtue, charms--and a thousand other merits! You probably know that the +worthy musico Marquesi, the Marquessius di Milano, has been poisoned +in Naples, but how? He was enamored of a Duchess, whose rightful lover +became jealous, and sent three or four fellows to give him his choice +between drinking poison out of a cup and being assassinated. He chose +the former, but being an Italian poltroon he died ALONE, and allowed +his murderers to live on in peace and quiet. I would at least (in my +own room) have taken a couple with me into the next world, if absolutely +obliged to die myself. Such an admirable singer is a great loss. Adieu! + + + +138. + +Munich, Jan. 3, 1780. + +MY head and my hands are so fully occupied with my third act, that it +would not be wonderful if I turned into a third act myself, for it alone +has cost me more trouble than the entire opera; there is scarcely +a scene in it which is not interesting to the greatest degree. +The accompaniment of the underground music consists merely of five +instruments, namely, three trombones and two French horns, which are +placed on the spot whence the voice proceeds. The whole orchestra is +silent at this part. + +The grand rehearsal positively takes place on the 20th, and the first +performance on the 22d. All you will both require is to bring one +black dress, and another for every-day wear, when you are only visiting +intimate friends where there is no ceremony, and thus save your black +dress a little; and if my sister likes, one pretty dress also, that she +may go to the ball and the Academie Masquee. + +Herr von Robinig is already here, and sends his regards to you. I hear +that the two Barisanis are also coming to Munich; is this true? Heaven +be praised that the cut on the finger of the Archbishop was of no +consequence! Good heavens! how dreadfully I was alarmed at first! +Cannabich thanks you for your charming letter, and all his family beg +their remembrances. He told me you had written very humorously. You must +have been in a happy mood. + +No doubt we shall have a good many corrections to make in the third act +when on the stage; as for instance scene sixth, after Arbace's aria, the +personages are marked, "Idomeneo, Arbace, &c., &c." How can the latter +so instantly reappear on the spot? Fortunately he might stay away +altogether. In order to make the matter practicable, I have written a +somewhat longer introduction to the High Priest's recitative. After +the mourning chorus the King and his people all go away, and in the +following scene the directions are, "Idomeneo kneels down in the +Temple." This is impossible; he must come accompanied by his whole +suite. A march must necessarily be introduced here, so I have composed +a very simple one for two violins, tenor, bass, and two hautboys, to +be played a mezza voce, and during this time the King appears, and the +Priests prepare the offerings for the sacrifice. The King then kneels +down and begins the prayer. + +In Elettra's recitative, after the underground voice has spoken, there +ought to be marked exeunt. I forgot to look at the copy written for the +press to see whether it is there, and whereabouts it comes. It seems +to me very silly that they should hurry away so quickly merely to allow +Madlle. Elettra to be alone. + +I have this moment received your few lines of January 1st. When I opened +the letter I chanced to hold it in such a manner that nothing but a +blank sheet met my eyes. At last I found the writing. I am heartily glad +that I have got an aria for Raaff, as he was quite resolved to introduce +the air he had discovered, and I could not possibly (N. B., with a +Raaff) have arranged in any other way than by having Varesco's air +printed, but Raaff's sung. I must stop, or I shall waste too much time. +Thank my sister very much for her New-Year's wishes, which I +heartily return. I hope we shall soon be right merry together. Adieu! +Remembrances to friends, not forgetting Ruscherle. Young Eck sends her a +kiss, a sugar one of course. + + + +139. + +Munich, Jan. 10, 1780. + +My greatest piece of news is that the opera is put off for a week. +The grand rehearsal is not to take place till the 27th--N. B., my +birthday--and the opera itself on the 29th. Why? Probably to save Count +Seeau two hundred gulden. I, indeed, am very glad, because we can now +rehearse frequently and more carefully. You should have seen the faces +of the Robinigs when I told them this news. Louisa and Sigmund are +delighted to stay; but Lise, that SNEAKING MISERY, has such a spiteful +Salzburg tongue that it really drives me distracted. Perhaps they may +still remain, and I hope so on Louisa's account. In addition to +many other little altercations with Count Seeau, I have had a sharp +contention with him about the trombones. I call it so, because I was +obliged to be downright rude, or I never should have carried my point. +Next Saturday the three acts are to be rehearsed in private. I got your +letter of the 8th, and read it with great pleasure; the burlesque, too, +I like very much. Excuse my writing more at this time; for, in the first +place, as you see, my pen and ink are bad, and, in the second, I have +still a couple of airs to write for the last ballet. I hope you will +send no more such letters as the last, of only three or four lines. + + + +140. + +Munich, Jan. 18, 1780. + +PRAY forgive a short letter, for I must go this very moment, ten +o'clock (in the forenoon of course), to the rehearsal. There is to be a +recitative rehearsal for the first time to-day in the theatre. I +could not write before, having been so incessantly occupied with those +confounded dances. Laus Deo, I have got rid of them at last, but only +of what was most pressing. The rehearsal of the third act went off +admirably. It was considered very superior to the second act. The poetry +is, however, thought far too long, and of course the music likewise, +(which I always said it was.) On this account the aria of Idamante, "No +la morte io non pavento" is to be omitted, which was, indeed, always +out of place there; those who have heard it with the music deplore +this. Raaff's last air, too, is still more regretted, but we must make a +virtue of necessity. The prediction of the oracle is still far too long, +so I have shortened it; but Varesco need know nothing of this, because +it will all be printed just as he wrote it. Madame von Robinig will +bring with her the payment both for him and Schachtner. Herr Geschwender +declined taking any money with him. In the meantime say to Varesco in +my name, that he will not get a farthing from Count Seeau beyond the +contract, for all the alterations were made FOR ME and not for the +Count, and he ought to be obliged to me into the bargain, as they were +indispensable for his own reputation. There is a good deal that might +still be altered; and I can tell him that he would not have come off +so well with any other composer as with me. I have spared no trouble in +defending him. + +The stove is out of the question, for it costs too much. I will have +another bed put up in the room that adjoins the alcove, and we must +manage the best way we can. Do not forget to bring my little watch with +you. We shall probably make an excursion to Augsburg, where we could +have the little silly thing regulated. I wish you also to bring +Schachtner's operetta. There are people who frequent Cannabich's +house, who might as well hear a thing of the kind. I must be off to the +rehearsal. Adieu! + + +The father and sister arrived on the 25th of January, and the first +performance of the opera took place a few days afterwards; then the +family amused themselves for some little time with the gayeties of the +Carnival. The Archbishop had gone to Vienna; and, desiring to appear +in the Imperial city in the full splendor of a spiritual prince, he had +taken with him, in addition to fine furniture and a large household, +some of his most distinguished musicians. On this account, therefore, +Mozart, in the middle of March, also received the command to go to +Vienna. He set off immediately. + +END OF VOL. I. + + + +CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. [LETTERS LISTED BY DATE] + + + + FIRST PART + ITALY VIENNA MUNICH + 1770-1776 + + + LETTER + + 1. Salzburg, 1769 + 2. Verona, Jan 7, 1770 + 3. Milan, Jan 26, 1770 + 4. Milan, Feb. 10, 1770 + 5. Milan, Feb 17, 1770 + 6. Milan, Carnival, Erchtag, 1770 + 7. Milan, Mar 3, 1770 + 8. Bologna, Mar 24, 1770 + 9. Rome, April 14, 1770 + 10. Rome, April 21, 1770 + 11. Rome, April 25, 1770 + 12. Naples, May 19, 1770 + 13. Naples, May 29, 1770 + 14. Naples, June 5, 1770 + 15. Naples, June 16, 1770 + 16. Rome, July 17, 1770 + 17. Bologna, July 21, 1770 + 18. Bologna, July, 1770 + 19. Bologna, August 4, 1770 + 20. Bologna, August 21, 1770 + 21. Bologna, Sept 8, 1770 + 22. Bologna, Sept 22, 1770 + 23. Bologna, Sept 29, 1770 + 24. Bologna, Oct 6, 1770 + 25. Milan, Oct. 20, 1770 + 26. Milan, Oct. 27, 1770 + 27. Milan, Nov 3, 1770 + 28. Milan, Dec 1, 1770 + 29. Milan, Jan, 1771 + 30. Venice, Feb 15, 1771 + 31. Venice, Feb 20, 1771 + 32. Verona, Aug 18, 1771 + 33. Milan, Aug 23, 1771 + 34. Milan, Aug 31, 1771 + 35. Milan, Sept 13, 1771 + 36. Milan, Sept 21, 1771 + 37. Milan, Oct 5, 1771 + 38. Milan, Oct 26, 1771 + 39. Milan, Nov 2, 1771 + 40. Milan, Nov. 24, 1771 + 41. Milan, Nov 30, 1771 + 42. Bologna, Oct 28, 1772 + 43. Milan, Nov 7, 1772 + 44. Milan, Nov, 1772 + 45. Milan, Nov 21, 1772 + 46. Milan, Nov 28, 1772 + 47. Milan, Dec 5, 1772 + 48. Milan, Dec 18, 1772 + 49. Milan, Jan 23, 1773 + 50. Vienna, Aug 14, 1773 + 51. Vienna, Aug 21, 1773 + 52. Vienna, Sept. 15, 1773 + 53. Munich, Dec. 28, 1774 + 54. Munich, Dec. 30, 1774 + 55. Munich, Jan. 11, 1775 + 56. Munich, Jan. 14, 1775 + 57. Munich, Jan., 1775 + 58. Salzburg, Sept. 4, 1776 + + + + SECOND PART. + MUNICH AUGSBURG MANNHEIM + SEPTEMBER 1777 to MARCH 1778 + + + + 59. Wasserburg, Sept. 23, 1777 + 60. Munich, Sept. 26, 1777 + 61. Munich, Sept. 29, 1777 + 62. Munich, Oct. 2, 1777 + 63. Munich, Oct. 6, 1777 + 64. Munich, Oct. 11, 1777 + 65. Augsburg, Oct. 14, 1777 + 66. Augsburg, Oct. 17, 1777 + 67. Augsburg, Oct. 17, 1777 + 68. Augsburg, Oct. 23, 1777 + 69. Augsburg, Oct. 25, 1777 + 70. Mannheim, Oct. 30, 1777 + 71. Mannheim, Nov. 4, 1777 + 72. Mannheim, Nov. 5 1777 + 73. Mannheim, Nov. 8, 1777 + 74. Mannheim, Nov. 13, 1777 + 75. Mannheim, Nov. 13, 1777 + 76. Mannheim, Nov. 14-16, 1777 + 77. Mannheim, Nov. 20, 1777 + 78. Mannheim, Nov. 22, 1777 + 79. Mannheim, Nov. 26, 1777 + 80. Mannheim, Nov. 29, 1777 + 81. Mannheim, Dec. 3, 1777 + 82. Mannheim, Dec. 6, 1777 + 83. Mannheim, Dec. 10, 1777 + 84. Mannheim, Dec. 14, 1777 + 85. Mannheim, Dec. 18, 1777 + 86. Mannheim, Dec. 20, 1777 + 87. Mannheim, Dec. 27, 1777 + 88. Mannheim, Jan. 7, 1778 + 89. Mannheim, Jan. 10, 1778 + 90. Mannheim, Jan. 17, 1778 + 91. Mannheim, Feb. 2-4, 1778 + 92. Mannheim, Feb. 7, 1778 + 93. Mannheim, Feb. 14, 1778 + 94. Mannheim, Feb. 19, 1778 + 95. Mannheim, Feb. 22, 1778 + 96. Mannheim, Feb. 28, 1778 + 97. Mannheim, end of Feb, 1778 + 98. Mannheim, Mar. 7, 1778 + 99. Mannheim, Mar. 11, 1778 + + + + THIRD PART. + PARIS. + MARCH 1778 to JANUARY 1779 + + + + 100. Paris, Mar. 24, 1778 + 101. Paris, April 5, 1778 + 102. Paris, May 1, 1778 + 103. Paris, May 14, 1778 + 104. Paris, May 29, 1778 + 105. Paris, June 12 1778 + 106. Paris, July 3, 1778 + 107. Paris, July 3, 1778 + 108. Paris, July 9, 1778 + 109. Paris, July 18, 1778 + 110. Paris, July 31, 1778 + 111. Paris, Aug 7, 1778 + 112. St Germains, Aug 27, 1778 + 113. Paris, Sept 11, 1778 + 114. Nancy, Oct 3, 1778 + 115. Strassburg, Oct 15, 1778 + 116. Strassburg, Oct 26, 1778 + 117. Mannheim, Nov 12, 1778 + 118. Mannheim, Nov 24, 1778 + 119. Mannheim, Dec 3, 1778 + 120. Kaisersheim, Dec 18, 1778 + 121. Kaisersheim, Dec 23, 1778 + 122. Munich, Dec 29, 1778 + 123. Munich, Dec 31, 1778 + 124. Munich, Jan 8, 1779 + 125. Salzburg, May 10, 1779 + + + + FOURTH PART + MUNICH IDOMENEO + NOVEMBER 1780 to JANUARY 1781 + + + + 126. Munich, Nov 8, 1780 + 127. Munich, Nov 13, 1780 + 128. Munich, Nov 15, 1780 + 129. Munich, Nov 22, 1780 + 130. Munich, Nov 24, 1780 + 131. Munich, Dec 1, 1780 + 132. Munich, Dec 5, 1780 + 133. Munich, Dec 13, 1780 + 134. Munich, Dec 16, 1780 + 135. Munich, Dec 19, 1780 + 136. Munich, Dec 27, 1780 + 137. Munich, Dec 30, 1780 + 138. Munich, Jan 3, 1781 + 139. Munich, Jan 10, 1781 + 140. Munich, Jan 18, 1781 + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus +Mozart, Vol. 1, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LETTERS OF WOLFGANG *** + +***** This file should be named 5307.txt or 5307.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/0/5307/ + +Produced by John Mamoun, Charles Franks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, V.1. + +Author: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart + Translated by Lady Wallace + +Release Date: March, 2004 [EBook #5307] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on June 27, 2002] +[Date last updated: August 13, 2005] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LETTERS OF MOZART *** + + + + +Produced by John Mamoun <mamounjo@umdnj.edu>, Charles Franks and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + +THE LETTERS OF WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART. (1769-1791.) +TRANSLATED, FROM THE COLLECTION OF LUDWIG NOHL, BY LADY WALLACE. +WITH A PORTRAIT AND FACSIMILE +IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. +New York and Philadelphia: 1866. + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS + + PREFACE + THE LETTERS OF W.A. MOZART, VOLUME I + + FIRST PART: ITALY/VIENNA/MUNICH 1770-1776 + SECOND PART: MUNICH/AUGSBURG/MANNHEIM SEPT. 1777-MARCH 1778 + THIRD PART: PARIS MARCH 1778-JANUARY 1779 + FOURTH PART: MUNICH/IDOMENEO NOVEMBER 1780-JANUARY 1781 + + CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. [LETTERS LISTED BY DATE] + + + +PREFACE + + + +A full and authentic edition of Mozart's Letters ought to require +no special apology; for, though their essential substance has +already been made known by quotations from biographies by Nissen, +Jahn, and myself, taken from the originals, still in these three +works the letters are necessarily not only very imperfectly +given, but in some parts so fragmentary, that the peculiar charm +of this correspondence--namely, the familiar and confidential +mood in which it was written at the time--is entirely destroyed. +It was only possible to restore, and to enable others to enjoy +this charm--a charm so novel, even to those already conversant +with Mozart's life, that the most familiar incidents acquire +fresh zest from it--by an ungarbled edition of these letters. +This is what I now offer, feeling convinced that it will be +welcome not only to the mass of Mozart's admirers, but also to +professional musicians; for in them alone is strikingly set forth +how Mozart lived and labored, enjoyed and suffered, and this with +a degree of vivid and graphic reality which no biography, however +complete, could ever succeed in giving. Who does not know the +varied riches of Mozart's life? All that agitated the minds of +men in that day--nay, all that now moves, and ever will move, the +heart of man--vibrated with fresh pulsation, and under the most +manifold forms, in his sensitive soul, and mirrored itself in a +series of letters, which indeed rather resemble a journal than a +correspondence. + +This artist, Nature had gifted in all respects with the most +clear and vigorous intellect that ever man possessed. Even in a +language which he had not so fully mastered as to acquire the +facility of giving expression to his ideas, he contrived to +relate to others all that he saw and heard, and felt and thought, +with surprising clearness and the most charming sprightliness, +combined with talent and good feeling. Above all, in his letters +to his father when travelling, we meet with the most minute +delineations of countries and people, of the progress of the fine +arts, especially in the theatres and in music; we also see the +impulses of his own heart and a hundred other things which, in +fascination, and universal as well as artistic interest, have +scarcely a parallel in our literature. The style may fail to a +certain degree in polish, that is, in definite purpose in +expressing what he wished to say in an attractive or congenial +form,--an art, however, which Mozart so thoroughly understood in +his music. His mode of writing, especially in the later letters +from Vienna, is often very slovenly, evidencing how averse the +Maestro was to the task. Still these letters are manifestly the +unconstrained, natural, and simple outpourings of his heart, +delightfully recalling to our minds all the sweetness and pathos, +the spirit and grace, which have a thousand times enchanted us in +the music of Mozart. The accounts of his visit to Paris may, +indeed, lay claim to a certain aesthetic value, for they are +written throughout with visible zest in his own descriptions, and +also with wit, and charm, and characteristic energy. As these +combined merits can only become apparent by an ungarbled series +of the letters, I have resolved, after many long years of zealous +research in collecting them, to undertake the work,--that is, to +publish the letters entire that have come to my knowledge. + +It now only remains for me to give some words of explanation as +to the method I have pursued in editing them. + +In the first place, this edition, (being transcribed closely from +the originals,) if compared with the letters already published, +will prove that the latter are open to many corrections, both in +trivial and more important respects. I have forborne, however, +attracting attention to the deviations from the original text, +either in Nissen or Jahn. I have no wish to be punctilious about +trifles, where, as in the case of Jahn, the principal points are +correct. Further, by this faithful production of the letters, +(nothing being omitted but the constant repetition of forms of +greeting and subscription,) we find many an additional feature in +the Maestro's life, and chiefly various facts with regard to the +creation and publication of his works, which may serve to +complete and to amend various statements in Dr. Ludwig Ritter von +Kochel's "Chronological Thematic Catalogue of the Musical +Compositions of W. A. Mozart," (Leipzig, Breitkopf and Hartel). +This will be effected not only by the hitherto unpublished +letters, though comparatively few in number, but also by passages +being given in full, which have been hitherto suppressed as of no +consequence. I have referred to Nissen and Jahn only when, in +spite of all my inquiries, I could not discover the proprietor of +the original, or procure a correct copy. + +I must also remark that all letters without a special address are +written to his father. I have only adhered to Mozart's defective +orthography in his few letters of early date, and in the rest +adopted the more modern fashion. I did so for this simple reason, +that these defects form a charm in his juvenile letters, from +being in accordance with their boyish contents, while, with +regard to the others, they only tend to distract the attention +from the substance of the letters, instead of imparting +additional interest to them. Biographers can, and ought always to +render faithfully the original writing, because quotations +alternate with the text of the biographer; but in a regular and +uninterrupted series of letters this attraction must be very +sparingly used, or it will have a pernicious effect. + +The explanatory remarks, and also the supplementary Lexicon, in +which I have availed myself of Jahn's catalogue, will make the +letters more intelligible to the world at large. The Index, too, +has been most carefully prepared to facilitate references. + +Lastly, I return my best thanks to the keeper of the Archives of +the Mozarteum in Salzburg, to Herr Jellinck, and to all the +librarians and collectors of autographs who have assisted me in +my task, either by furnishing me with copies of their Mozart +letters, or by letting me know where I could procure them. I +would also earnestly request all who may possess any Mozart +letters to send me an exact transcript of them in the interest of +Art; for those here given allude to many still unknown, which are +no doubt scattered about here and there, waiting to be brought to +light. + +With respect to myself, the best reward I aspire to in return for +the many sacrifices this collection has cost me, is, that my +readers may do justice to the purpose which chiefly guided me +throughout this publication,--my desire being not merely to +benefit science, and to give a graphic description of the +amiability and purity of heart which so distinguished this +attractive man, (for such was my aim in my "Life of Mozart,") but +above all to draw attention afresh to the unremitting zeal with +which Mozart did homage to every advance in Art, striving to make +music more and more the interpreter of man's innermost being. I +also wished to show how much his course was impeded by the +sluggishness and stupidity of the multitude, though partly +sustained by the sympathy of kindred souls, till the glorious +victory was won over routine and imbecility. Amidst all the +fatiguing process of copying and collating letters already so +familiar to me, these considerations moved me more vividly than +ever; and no work on the Maestro can ever bring them with such +force before the intelligent reader as this connected succession +of letters, containing his own details of his unwearied artistic +struggles and productions. May these letters, then, kindle fresh +zeal in our artists of the present day, both in youthful genius +and in laurel-crowned Maestri!--especially may they have the +happiest influence on those who devote themselves to that phase +of Art in which Mozart attained the highest renown!--may they +impart that energetic courage which is derived from the +experience that incessant efforts for the progress of Art and its +appliances enlarge the limits of human intellect, and can alone +insure an immortal crown! + +LUDWIG NOHL. + +MUNICH, October 1, 1864. + + + +FIRST PART +ITALY, VIENNA, MUNICH. +1770 TO 1776. + + + +PART I. + + + +Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg on the 17th January, +1756. His father, Leopold Mozart, belonged to a respectable +tradesman's family in the free city of Augsburg. Conscious of +being gifted with no small portion of intellectual endowments, he +followed the impulse that led him to aim at a higher position in +life, and went to the then celebrated University of Salzburg in +order to study jurisprudence. As he did not, however, at once +succeed in procuring employment in this profession, he was +forced, from his straitened means, to enter the service of Canon +Count Thun as valet. Subsequently, however, his talents, and that +thorough knowledge of music by which he had already (according to +the custom of many students) gained some part of his livelihood, +obtained for him a better position. In the year 1743 he was +received into the band (Kapelle) of the Salzburg cathedral by +Archbishop Sigismund; and as his capabilities and fame as a +violinist increased, the same Prince shortly afterwards promoted +him to the situation of Hof-Componist (Court Composer) and leader +of the orchestra, and in 1762 he was appointed Hof-Kapellmeister +(conductor of the Court music). + +In 1747 Leopold Mozart married Anna Maria Pertlin, a foster-child +of the Convent of St. Gilgen. The fruits of this marriage were +seven children, two of whom alone survived,--Maria Anna, (the +fourth), called Nannerl, born in 1751; and the youngest, Wolfgang +Amadeus Johannes Chrysostomus. The daughter at a very early age +displayed a most remarkable talent for music, and when her father +began to give her instructions in it, an inborn and passionate +love of this art was soon evident in her little brother of three +years old, who at once gave tokens of a degree of genius far +surpassing all experience, and really bordering on the +marvellous. In his fourth year he could play all sorts of little +pieces on the piano. He only required half an hour to learn a +minuet, and one hour for a longer movement; and in his fifth year +he actually composed some pretty short pieces, several of which +are still extant. + +[Footnote: The Grand Duchess Helene Paulowna, a few weeks ago, +made a present to the Mozarteum of the music-book from which +Mozart learned music, and in which he wrote down his first +compositions.] + +The wonderful acquirements of both these children, to which +Wolfgang soon added skilful playing on the violin and organ, +induced their father to travel with them. In January, 1702, when +the boy was just six years old, they went first to Munich, and in +the autumn to Vienna, the children everywhere on their journey +exciting the greatest sensation, and being handsomely +remunerated. Leopold Mozart, therefore, soon afterwards resolved +to undertake a longer journey, accompanied by his whole family. +This lasted more than three years, extending from the smaller +towns in West Germany to Paris and London, while they visited, on +their way back, Holland, France, and Switzerland. The careful +musical instruction which the father perseveringly bestowed on +his son, went hand in hand with the most admirable education, and +the boy was soon as universally beloved for his amiable +disposition and natural simplicity and candor, as admired for his +rare gifts and acquirements. + +After nearly a year passed at home in unremitting musical +instruction, and practice of various instruments as well as +composition, the father once more set off with all his family to +Vienna,--on this occasion with a view to Wolfgang paving the way +to Italy by the composition of an opera, (Italy, at that time, +being the Eldorado of music.) He succeeded in procuring the +scrittura of an opera buffa, "La Finta semplice;" but, when +finished, although the Emperor himself had intrusted the +composition to the boy, the cabals of envious singers effectually +prevented its being performed. But a German operetta which the +lad of twelve also wrote at that time, "Bastien und Bastienne," +was given in private, at the summer residence of the Mesmer +family, in the suburb called Landstrasse. The father, too, had +some compensation by the Emperor commissioning his son to compose +a solemn mass for the consecration of the new Waisenhaus church, +which Wolfgang himself directed with the conductor's baton, in +presence of the Imperial Family, on the 7th December, 1768. + +Immediately on their return home, the young virtuoso was +appointed archiepiscopal Concertmeister. He passed almost the +whole of the year 1769 in Salzburg, chiefly engaged in the +composition of masses. We also see him at that time eagerly +occupied in improving his knowledge of Latin, although two years +previously he had composed a comedy in that language,--"Apollo et +Hyacinthus." From this study proceeds the first letter which is +still extant from his hand:-- + + + +1. + +Salzburg, 1769. + +MY DEAR YOUNG LADY,-- + +I beg you will pardon the liberty I take in plaguing you with +these few lines, but as you said yesterday that there was nothing +you could not understand in Latin, and I might write what I chose +in that language, I could not resist the bold impulse to write +you a few Latin lines. When you have deciphered these, be so good +as to send me the answer by one of Hagenauer's servants, for my +messenger cannot wait; remember, you must answer this by a +letter. + +[Footnote: By a messenger of the Hagenauer family, in whose +house, opposite the inn of "Den drei Allurten," Mozart was born, +and with whom his family were on the most intimate terms.] + +"Cuperem scire, de qua causa, a quam plurimis adolescentibus +ottium usque adeo oestimetur, ut ipsi se nec verbis, nec +verberibus ad hoc sinant abduci." + +[Footnote: "I should like to know the reason why indolence is so +highly prized by very many young men, that neither by words nor +blows will they suffer themselves to be roused from it."] + +WOLFGANG MOZART. + + + +The father's plan to go to Italy, there to lay the foundation of +a European reputation for his son, was realized in the beginning +of December, 1769, and during the journey, the boy, who was at +that time just entering his fifteenth year, subjoined to his +father's reports scraps of his own writing, in which, in true +boyish fashion, he had recourse to all kinds of languages and +witticisms, but always exhibiting in his opinions on music the +closest observation, the gravest thought, and the most acute +judgment. + + + +2. + +Verona, Jan. 1770. + +MY VERY DEAREST SISTER,-- + +I have at last got a letter a span long after hoping so much for +an answer that I lost patience; and I had good cause to do so +before receiving yours at last. The German blockhead having said +his say, now the Italian one begins. Lei e piu franca nella +lingua italiana di quel che mi ho immaginato. Lei mi dica la +cagione perche lei non fu nella commedia che hanno giocata i +Cavalieri. Adesso sentiamo sempre una opera titolata Il Ruggiero. +Oronte, il padre di Bradamante, e un principe (il +Signor Afferi) bravo cantante, un baritono, [Footnote: +"You are more versed in the Italian language than I +believed. Tell me why you were not one of the actors in the +comedy performed by the Cavaliers. We are now hearing an opera +called 'Il Ruggiero.' Oronte, the father of Bradamante, is a +Prince (acted by Afferi, a good singer, a baritone)."] +but very affected when he speaks out a falsetto, but not quite so +much so as Tibaldi in Vienna. Bradamante innamorata di Ruggiero +(ma [Footnote: "Bradamante is enamored of Ruggiero, but"]--she is +to marry Leone, but will not) fa una povera Baronessa, che ha +avuto una gran disgrazia, ma non so la quale; recita [Footnote: +"Pretends to be a poor Baroness who has met with some great +misfortune, but what it is I don't know, she performs"] under an +assumed name, but the name I forget; ha una voce passabile, e la +statura non sarebbe male, ma distuona come il diavolo. Ruggiero, +un ricco principe innamorato di Bradamante, e un musico; canta un +poco Manzuolisch [Footnote: Manzuoli was a celebrated soprano, +from whom Mozart had lessons in singing when in London.] ed ha +una bellissima voce forte ed e gia vecchio; ha 55 anni, ed ha una +[Footnote: "She has a tolerable voice, and her appearance is in +her favor, but she sings out of tune like a devil Ruggiero, a +rich Prince enamored of Bradamante, is a musico, and sings rather +in Manzuoli's style, and has a fine powerful voice, though quite +old; he is fifty-five, and has a"] flexible voice. Leone is to +marry Bradamante--richississimo e, [Footnote: "Immensely rich."] +but whether he is rich off the stage I can't say. La moglie di +Afferi, che ha una bellissima voce, ma e tanto susurro nel teatro +che non si sente niente. Irene fa una sorella di Lolli, del gran +violinista che habbiamo sentito a Vienna, a una [Footnote: +"Afferi's wife has a most beautiful voice, but sings so softly on +the stage that you really hear nothing at all. A sister of Lolli, +the great violinist whom we heard at Vienna, acts Irene; she has +a"] very harsh voce, e canta sempre [Footnote: "Voice, and always +sings"] a quaver too tardi o troppo a buon' ora. Granno fa un +signore, che non so come si chiame; e la prima volta che lui +recita. [Footnote: "Slow or too fast. Ganno is acted by a +gentleman whose name I never heard. It is his first appearance on +the stage."] There is a ballet between each act. We have a good +dancer here called Roessler. He is a German, and dances right +well. The very last time we were at the opera (but not, I hope, +the very last time we ever shall be there) we got M. Roessler to +come up to our palco, (for M. Carlotti gives us his box, of which +we have the key,) and conversed with him. Apropos, every one is +now in maschera, and one great convenience is, that if you fasten +your mask on your hat you have the privilege of not taking off +your hat when any one speaks to you; and you never address them +by name, but always as "Servitore umilissimo, Signora Maschera." +Cospetto di Bacco! that is fun! The most strange of all is that +we go to bed at half-past seven! Se lei indovinasse questo, io +diro certamente che lei sia la madre di tutti gli indovini. +[Footnote: "If you guess this, I shall say that you are the +mother of all guessers."] Kiss mamma's hand for me, and to +yourself I send a thousand kisses, and assure you that I shall +always be your affectionate brother. + +Portez-vous bien, et aimez-moi toujours. + + + +3. + +Milan, Jan. 26, 1770. + +I REJOICE in my heart that you were so well amused at the +sledging party you write to me about, and I wish you a thousand +opportunities of pleasure, so that you may pass your life +merrily. But one thing vexes me, which is, that you allowed Herr +von Molk [an admirer of this pretty young girl of eighteen] to +sigh and sentimentalize, and that you did not go with him in his +sledge, that he might have upset you. What a lot of pocket- +handkerchiefs he must have used that day to dry the tears he shed +for you! He no doubt, too, swallowed at least three ounces of +cream of tartar to drive away the horrid evil humors in his body. +I know nothing new except that Herr Gellert, the Leipzig poet, +[Footnote: Old Mozart prized Gellert's poems so highly, that on +one occasion he wrote to him expressing his admiration.] is dead, +and has written no more poetry since his death. Just before +beginning this letter I composed an air from the "Demetrio" of +Metastasio, which begins thus, "Misero tu non sei." + +The opera at Mantua was very good. They gave "Demetrio." The +prima donna sings well, but is inanimate, and if you did not see +her acting, but only singing, you might suppose she was not +singing at all, for she can't open her mouth, and whines out +everything; but this is nothing new to us. The seconda donna +looks like a grenadier, and has a very powerful voice; she really +does not sing badly, considering that this is her first +appearance. Il primo uomo, il musico, sings beautifully, but his +voice is uneven; his name is Caselli. Il secondo uomo is quite +old, and does not at all please me. The tenor's name is Ottini; +he does not sing unpleasingly, but with effort, like all Italian +tenors. We know him very well. The name of the second I don't +know; he is still young, but nothing at all remarkable. Primo +ballerino good; prima ballerina good, and people say pretty, but +I have not seen her near. There is a grotesco who jumps cleverly, +but cannot write as I do--just as pigs grunt. The orchestra is +tolerable. In Cremona, the orchestra is good, and Spagnoletta is +the name of the first violinist there. Prima donna very passable +--rather ancient, I fancy, and as ugly as sin. She does not sing +as well as she acts, and is the wife of a violin-player at the +opera. Her name is Masci. The opera was the "Clemenza di Tito." +Seconda donna not ugly on the stage, young, but nothing superior. +Primo uomo, un musico, Cicognani, a fine voice, and a beautiful +cantabile. The other two musici young and passable. The tenor's +name is non lo so [I don't know what]. He has a pleasing +exterior, and resembles Le Roi at Vienna. Ballerino primo good, +but an ugly dog. There was a ballerina who danced far from badly, +and, what is a capo d'opera, she is anything but plain, either on +the stage or off it. The rest were the usual average. I cannot +write much about the Milan opera, for we did not go there, but we +heard that it was not successful. Primo uomo, Aprile, who sings +well, and has a fine even voice; we heard him at a grand church +festival. Madame Piccinelli, from Paris, who sang at one of our +concerts, acts at the opera. Herr Pick, who danced at Vienna, is +now dancing here. The opera is "Didone abbandonata," but it is +not to be given much longer. Signor Piccini, who is writing the +next opera, is here. I am told that the title is to be "Cesare in +Egitto." + +WOLFGANG DE MOZART, + +Noble of Hohenthal and attached to the Exchequer. + + + +4. + +Milan, Feb. 10, 1770. + +SPEAK of the wolf, and you see his ears! I am quite well, and +impatiently expecting an answer from you. I kiss mamma's hand, +and send you a little note and a little kiss; and remain, as +before, your----What? Your aforesaid merry-andrew brother, +Wolfgang in Germany, Amadeo in Italy. + +DE MORZANTINI. + + + +5. + +Milan, Feb. 17, 1770. + +Now I am in for it! My Mariandel! I am so glad that you were so +tremendously merry. Say to nurse Urserl that I still think I sent +back all her songs, but if, engrossed by high and mighty thoughts +of Italy, I carried one off with me, I shall not fail, if I find +it, to enclose it in one of my letters. Addio, my children, +farewell! I kiss mamma's hands a thousand times, and send you a +thousand kisses and salutes on your queer monkey face. Per fare +il fine, I am yours, &c. + + + +6. + +Milan, Carnival, Erchtag. + +MANY kisses to mamma and to you. I am fairly crazed with so much +business, [Footnote: Concerts and compositions of every kind +occupied Mozart. The principal result of his stay in Milan was, +that the young maestro got the scrittura of an opera for the +ensuing season. As the libretto was to be sent to them, they +could first make a journey through Italy with easy minds. The +opera was "Mitridate, Re di Ponto."] so I can't possibly write +any more. + + + +7. + +Milan, March 3, 1770. + +CARA SORELLA MIA,-- + +I am heartily glad that you have had so much amusement. Perhaps +you may think that I have not been as merry as you; but, indeed, +I cannot sum up all we have done. I think we have been at least +six or seven times at the opera and the feste di ballo, which, as +in Vienna, begin after the opera, but with this difference, that +at Vienna the dancing is more orderly. We also saw the facchinata +and chiccherata. The first is a masquerade, an amusing sight, +because the men go as facchini, or porters; there was also a +barca filled with people, and a great number on foot besides; and +five or six sets of trumpets and kettledrums, besides several +bands of violins and other instruments. The chiccherata is also a +masquerade. What the people of Milan call chicchere, we call +petits maitres, or fops. They were all on horseback, which was a +pretty sight. I am as happy now to hear that Herr von Aman +[Footnote: The father had written in a previous letter, "Herr von +Aman's accident, of which you wrote to us, not only distressed us +very much, but cost Wolfgang many tears. You know how sensitive +he is"] is better, as I was grieved when you mentioned that he +had met with an accident. What kind of mask did Madame Rosa wear, +and Herr von Molk, and Herr von Schiedenhofen? Pray write this to +me, if you know it; your doing so will oblige me very much. Kiss +mamma's hands for me a thousand million times, and a thousand to +yourself from "Catch him who can!" Why, here he is! + + + +8. + +Bologna, March 24, 1770. + +Oh, you busy creature! + +Having been so long idle, I thought it would do me no harm to set +to work again for a short time. On the post-days, when the German +letters come, all that I eat and drink tastes better than usual. +I beg you will let me know who are to sing in the oratorio, and +also its title. Let me hear how you like the Haydn minuets, and +whether they are better than the first. From my heart I rejoice +to hear that Herr von Aman is now quite recovered; pray say to +him that he must take great care of himself and beware of any +unusual exertion. Be sure you tell him this. I intend shortly to +send you a minuet that Herr Pick danced on the stage, and which +every one in Milan was dancing at the feste di ballo, only that +you may see by it how slowly people dance. The minuet itself is +beautiful. Of course it comes from Vienna, so no doubt it is +either Teller's or Starzer's. It has a great many notes. Why? +Because it is a theatrical minuet, which is in slow time. The +Milan and Italian minuets, however, have a vast number of notes, +and are slow and with a quantity of bars; for instance, the first +part has sixteen, the second twenty, and even twenty-four. + +We made the acquaintance of a singer in Parma, and also heard her +to great advantage in her own house--I mean the far-famed +Bastardella. She has, first, a fine voice; second, a flexible +organ; third, an incredibly high compass. She sang the following +notes and passages in my presence. + +[Here, Mozart illustrates with about 20 measures of music] + + + +9. + +Rome, April 14, 1770. + +I AM thankful to say that my stupid pen and I are all right, so +we send a thousand kisses to you both. I wish that my sister were +in Rome, for this city would assuredly delight her, because St. +Peter's is symmetrical, and many other things in Rome are also +symmetrical. Papa has just told me that the loveliest flowers are +being carried past at this moment. That I am no wiseacre is +pretty well known. + +Oh! I have one annoyance--there is only a single bed in our +lodgings, so mamma may easily imagine that I get no rest beside +papa. I rejoice at the thoughts of a new lodging. I have just +finished sketching St. Peter with his keys, St. Paul with his +sword, and St. Luke with--my sister, &c., &c. I had the honor of +kissing St. Peter's foot at San Pietro, and as I have the +misfortune to be so short, your good old + +WOLFGANG MOZART + +was lifted up! + + + +10. + +Rome, April 21, 1770. + +CARA SORELLA MIA,-- + +Pray try to find the "Art of Ciphering" which you copied out, but +I have lost it, and know nothing about it. So pray do write it +out again for me, with some other copies of sums, and send them +to me here. + +Manzuoli has entered into a contract with the Milanese to sing in +my opera [see Nos. 2-6]. For this reason he sang four or five +arias to me in Florence, and also some of my own, which I was +obliged to compose in Milan (none of my theatrical things having +been heard there) to prove that I was capable of writing an +opera. Manzuoli asks 1000 ducats. It is not yet quite certain +whether Gabrielli will come. Some say Madame de' Amicis will sing +in it; we shall see her in Naples. I wish that she and Manzuoli +could act together; we should then be sure of two good friends. +The libretto is not yet chosen. I recommended one of Metastasio's +to Don Ferdinando [Count Firmiani's steward, in Milan] and to +Herr von Troyer. I am at this moment at work on the aria "Se +ardore e speranza." + + + +11. + +Rome, April 25, 1770. + +CARA SORELLA MIA,-- + +Io vi accerto che io aspetto con una incredibile premura tutte le +giornate di posta qualche lettere di Salisburgo. Jeri fummo a S. +Lorenzo e sentimmo il Vespero, e oggi matina la messa cantata, e +la sera poi il secondo vespero, perche era la festa della Madonna +del Buonconsiglio. Questi giorni fummi nel Campidoglio e viddemmo +varie belle cose. Se io volessi scrivere tutto quel che viddi, +non bastarebbe questo foglietto. In due Accademie suonai, e +domani suonero anche in una.--Subito dopo pranzo giuochiamo a +Potsch [Boccia]. Questo e un giuoco che imparai qui, quando verro +a casa, ve l'imparero. Finita questa lettera finiro una sinfonia +mia, che comminciai. L'aria e finita, una sinfonia e dal copista +(il quale e il mio padre) perche noi non la vogliamo dar via per +copiarla; altrimente ella sarebbe rubata. + +WOLFGANGO in Germania. AMADEO MOZART in Italia. + +Roma caput mundi il 25 Aprile anno 1770 + nell' anno venture 1771. + +[Footnote: "DEAREST SISTER,--"I assure you that I always expect +with intense eagerness my letters from Salzburg on post-days. +Yesterday we were at S. Lorenzo and heard vespers, and to-day at +the chanted mass, and in the evening at the second vespers, +because it was the Feast of the Madonna del Buonconsiglio. A few +days ago we were at the Campidoglio, where we saw a great many +fine things. If I tried to write you an account of all I saw, +this sheet would not suffice. I played at two concerts, and to- +morrow I am to play at another. After dinner we played at Potsch +[Boccia]. This is a game I have learnt, and when I come home, I +will teach it to you. When I have finished this letter, I am +going to complete a symphony that I have begun. The aria is +finished. The copyist (who is my father) has the symphony, +because we do not choose it to be copied by any one else, or it +might be stolen. + +"WOLFGANGO in Germany. + +"AMADEO MOZART in Italy. + +"Rome, mistress of the world: April 25, 1770."] + + + +12. + +Naples, May 19, 1770. + +CARA SORELLA MIA,-- + +Vi prego di scrivermi presto e tutti i giorni di posta. Io vi +ringrazio di avermi mandata questi "Art of Ciphering," [FOOTNOTE: +"I beg you will write to me soon, indeed every post-day. I thank +you for having sent me the 'Art of Ciphering.'"] e vi prego, se +mai volete avere mal di testa, di mandarmi ancora un poco di +questi "books." [FOOTNOTE: "And I beg if you ever want to have a +headache, that you will send me some more."] Perdonate mi che +scrivo si malamente, ma la razione e perche anche io ebbi un poco +mal di testa. [FOOTNOTE: "of the same kind. Excuse my writing so +badly, but the reason is that I have a bit of a headache +myself."] + +Haydn's twelfth minuet, which you sent me, pleases me very much; +you have composed an inimitable bass for it, and without the +slightest fault. I do beg that you will often exercise yourself +in such things. Mamma must not forget to see that the guns are +both polished up. Tell me how Master Canary is? Does he still +sing? and still whistle? Do you know why I am thinking about the +canary? Because we have one in our ante-room that chirps out a G +sharp just like ours. [Footnote: Mozart was extremely fond of +animals, and later in life had always birds in his room.] A +propos, Herr Johannes [Hagenauer], no doubt, received the letter +of congratulation which we intended to write to him? But if he +has not got it, I will tell him myself, when we meet in Salzburg, +what ought to have been in it. Yesterday we wore our new clothes; +we were as handsome as angels. My kind regards to Nandl; she must +not fail to pray diligently for me. + +Jomelli's opera is to be given on the 30th. We saw the king and +queen at mass in the court chapel at Portici, and we also saw +Vesuvius. Naples is beautiful, but as crowded with people as +Vienna or Paris. As for London and Naples, I think that in point +of insolence on the part of the people Naples almost surpasses +London; because here the lazzaroni have their regular head or +leader, who receives twenty-five ducati d'argento monthly from +the king for keeping the lazzaroni in order. + +Madame de' Amicis sings in the opera--we were there. Caffaro is +to compose the second opera, Ciccio di Majo the third, but who is +to compose the fourth is not yet known. Be sure you go regularly +to Mirabell, to hear the Litanies, and listen to the "Regina +Coeli" or the "Salve Regina," and sleep sound, and take care to +have no evil dreams. My most transcendent regards to Herr von +Schiedenhofen--tralaliera! tralaliera! Tell him to learn the +repetition minuet on the piano, to be sure to DO so, and DO not +let him forget it. He must DO this in order to DO me the favor to +let me accompany him some day or other. DO give my best +compliments to all my friends, and DO continue to live happily, +and DO not die, but DO live on, that you may be able to DO +another letter for me, and I DO one for you, and thus we shall go +on DOING till we can DO something worth DOING; but I am one of +those who will go on DOING till all DOINGS are at an end. In the +mean time I DO subscribe myself + +Your W. M. + + + +13. + +Naples, May 29, 1770. + +Jeri l'altro fummo nella prova dell' opera del Sign. Jomelli, la +quale e una opera che e ben scritta e che me piace veramente. Il +Sign. Jomelli ci ha parlato ed era molto civile. E fummo anche in +una chiesa a sentir una Musica la quale fu del Sign. Ciccio di +Majo, ed era una bellissima Musica. Anche lui ci parlci ed era +molto compito. La Signora de' Amicis canto a meraviglia. Stiamo +Dio grazia assai bene di salute, particolarmente io, quando viene +una lettera di Salisburgo. Vi prego di scrivermi tutti giorni di +posta, e se anche non avete niente da scrivermi, solamente vorrei +averlo per aver qualche lettera tutti giorni di posta. Egli non +sarebbe mal fatto, se voi mi scriveste qualche volta una +letterina italiana. + +[FOOTNOTE: "The other day we attended the rehearsal of Signor +Jomelli's opera, which is well written and pleases me +exceedingly. Signor Jomelli spoke to us and was very civil. We +also went to a church to hear a mass by Signor Ciccio di Majo, +and it was most beautiful music. Signora de' Amicus sang +incomparably. We are, thank God, very well, and I feel +particularly so when a letter from Salzburg arrives. I beg you +will write to me every post-day, even if you have nothing to +write about, for I should like to have a letter by every post. It +would not be a bad idea to write me a little letter in Italian."] + + + +14. + +Naples, June 5, 1770. + +Vesuvius is smoking fiercely! Thunder and lightning and blazes! +Haid homa gfresa beim Herr Doll. Das is a deutscha Compositor, +und a browa Mo. [Footnote: "Today we dined with Herr Doll, he is +a good composer and a worthy man" [Vienna Patois]] Now I begin to +describe my course of life.--Alle 9 ore, qualche volta anche alle +dieci mi svelgio, e poi andiamo fuor di casa, e poi pranziamo da +un trattore, e dopo pranzo scriviamo, e poi sortiamo, e indi +ceniamo, ma che cosa? Al giorno di grasso, un mezzo pollo ovvero +un piccolo boccone d'arrosto; al giorno di magro un piccolo +pesce; e di poi andiamo a dormire. Est-ce que vous avez compris? +--Redma dafir Soisburgarisch, don as is gschaida. Wir sand Gottlob +gesund da Voda und i. [Footnote: "I rise generally every morning +at 9 o'clock, but sometimes not till 10, when we go out. We dine +at a restaurateur's, after dinner I write, and then we go out +again, and afterwards sup, but on what? on jours gras, half a +fowl, or a small slice of roast meat, on jours maigres a little +fish, and then we go to sleep. Do you understand? Let us talk +Salzburgisch, for that is more sensible. Thank God, my father and +I are well" [Patois]] I hope you and mamma are so also. Naples +and Rome are two drowsy cities. A scheni Schrift! +net wor? [Footnote: "Fine writing, is it not?" [Patois.]] Write +to me, and do not be so lazy. Altrimente avrete qualche bastonate +di me. Quel plaisir! Je te casserai la tete. [Footnote: +"Otherwise I will cudgel you soundly. What a pleasure--to break +your head!"] I am delighted with the thoughts of the portraits +[of his mother and sister, who had promised to have their +likenesses taken], und i bi korios wias da gleich sieht; wons ma +gfoin, so los i mi und den Vodan a so macho. Maidli, lass Da +saga, wo list dan gwesa he? [Footnote: "And I am anxious to see +what they are like, and then I will have my father and myself +also taken. Fair maiden, say, where have you been, eh?" +[Patois.]] The opera here is Jomelli's; it is fine, but too grave +and old-fashioned for this stage. Madame de' Amicis sings +incomparably, and so does Aprile, who used to sing at Milan. The +dancing is miserably pretentious. The theatre beautiful. The King +has been brought up in the rough Neapolitan fashion, and at the +opera always stands on a stool, so that he may look a little +taller than the Queen, who is beautiful and so gracious, for she +bowed to me in the most condescending manner no less than six +times on the Molo. + + + +15. + +Naples, June 16, 1770. + +I AM well and lively and happy as ever, and as glad to travel. I +made an excursion on the Mediterranean. I kiss mamma's hand and +Nannerl's a thousand times, and am your son, Steffl, and your +brother, Hansl. + + + +16. + +Rome, July 7, 1770. + +CARA SORELLA MIA,-- + +I am really surprised that you can compose so charmingly. In a +word, the song is beautiful. Often try something similar. Send me +soon the other six minuets of Haydn. Mademoiselle, j'ai l'honneur +d'etre votre tres-humble serviteur et frere, + +CHEVALIER DE MOZART. + +[He had received from the Pope the cross of the Order of the +Golden Spur.] + + + +17. + +Bologna, July 21, 1770. + +I WISH mamma joy of her name-day, and hope that she may live for +many hundred years to come and retain good health, which I always +ask of God, and pray to Him for you both every day. I cannot do +honor to the occasion except with some Loretto bells, and wax +tapers, and caps, and gauze when I return. In the mean time, +good-bye, mamma. I kiss your hand a thousand times, and remain, +till death, your attached son. + + + +18. + +Io vi auguro d'Iddio, vi dia sempre salute, e vi lasci vivere +ancora cent' anni e vi faccia morire quando avrete mille anni. +Spero che voi impararete meglio conoscermi ni avvenire e che poi +ne giudicherete come ch' egli vi piace. Il tempo non mi permette +di scriver motto. La penna non vale un corno, ne pure quello che +la dirigge. Il titolo dell' opera che ho da comporre a Milano, +non si sa ancora. + +[Footnote: "My prayer to God is, that He may grant you health, +and allow you to live to be a hundred, and not to die till you +are a thousand years old. I hope that you will learn to know me +better in future, and that you will then judge of me as you +please. Time does not permit me to write much. My pen is not +worth a pin, nor the hand that guides it. I don't yet know the +title of the opera that I am to compose at Milan."] + +My landlady at Rome made me a present of the "Thousand and One +Nights" in Italian; it is most amusing to read. + + + +19. + +Bologna, August 4, 1770. + +I GRIEVE from my heart to hear that Jungfrau Marthe is still so +ill, and I pray every day that she may recover. Tell her from me +that she must beware of much fatigue and eat only what is +strongly salted [she was consumptive]. A propos, did you give my +letter to Robinsiegerl? [Sigismund Robinig, a friend of his]. You +did not mention it when you wrote. I beg that when you see him +you will tell him he is not quite to forget me. I can't possibly +write better, for my pen is only fit to write music and not a +letter. My violin has been newly strung, and I play every day. I +only mention this because mamma wished to know whether I still +played the violin. I have had the honor to go at least six times +by myself into the churches to attend their splendid ceremonies. +In the mean time I have composed four Italian symphonies +[overtures], besides five or six arias, and also a motett. + +Does Herr Deibl often come to see you? Does he still honor you by +his amusing conversation? And the noble Herr Carl von Vogt, does +he still deign to listen to your tiresome voices? Herr von +Schiedenhofen must assist you often in writing minuets, otherwise +he shall have no sugar-plums. + +If time permitted, it would be my duty to trouble Herr von Molk +and Herr von Schiedenhofen with a few lines; but as that most +indispensable of all things is wanting, I hope they will forgive +my neglect, and consider me henceforth absolved from this honor. +I have begun various cassations [a kind of divertimento], so I +have thus responded to your desire. I don't think the piece in +question can be one of mine, for who would venture to publish as +his own composition what is, in reality, written by the son of +the Capellmeister, and whose mother and sister are in the same +town? Addio--farewell! My sole recreations consist in dancing +English hornpipes and cutting capers. Italy is a land of sleep; I +am always drowsy here. Addio--good-bye! + + + +20. + +Bologna, August 21, 1770. + +I AM not only still alive, but in capital spirits. To-day I took +a fancy to ride a donkey, for such is the custom in Italy, so I +thought that I too must give it a trial. We have the honor to +associate with a certain Dominican who is considered a very pious +ascetic. I somehow don't quite think so, for he constantly takes +a cup of chocolate for breakfast, and immediately afterwards a +large glass of strong Spanish wine; and I have myself had the +privilege of dining with this holy man, when he drank a lot of +wine at dinner and a full glass of very strong wine afterwards, +two large slices of melons, some peaches and pears for dessert, +five cups of coffee, a whole plateful of nuts, and two dishes of +milk and lemons. This he may perhaps do out of bravado, but I +don't think so--at all events, it is far too much; and he eats a +great deal also at his afternoon collation. + + + +21. + +Bologna, Sept. 8, 1770. + +NOT to fail in my duty, I must write a few words. I wish you +would tell me in your next letter to what brotherhoods I belong, +and also let me know the prayers I am bound to offer up for them. +I am now reading "Telemachus," and am already in the second +volume. Good-bye for the present! Love to mamma. + + + +22. + +I HOPE that mamma and you are both well, but I wish you would +answer my letters more punctually in time to come; indeed, it is +far easier to answer than to originate. I like these six minuets +far better than the first twelve; we often played them to the +Countess [Pallivicini, at whose country-seat, near Bologna, +father and son spent some months]. We only wish we could succeed +in introducing a taste for German minuets into Italy, as their +minuets last nearly as long as entire symphonies. Forgive my bad +writing; I could write better, but I am in such a hurry. + + + +23. + +Bologna, Sept. 29, 1770. + +IN order to fill up papa's letter, I intend to add a few words. I +grieve deeply to hear of Jungfrau Marthe's long-continued +illness, which the poor girl bears, too, with such patience. I +hope, please God, she may still recover. If not, we must not +grieve too much, for the will of God is always best, and God +certainly knows better than we do whether it is most for our good +to be in this world or in the next. But it will cheer her to +enjoy this fine weather once more after all the rain. + + + +24. + +Bologna, Oct. 6, 1770. + +I AM heartily glad that you have been so gay; I only wish I had +been with you. I hope Jungfrau Marthe is better. To-day I played +the organ at the Dominicans. Congratulate the .... from me, and +say that I sincerely wish they may live to see the fiftieth +anniversary of Father Dominikus's saying mass, and that we may +all once more have a happy meeting. + +[Footnote: Jahn observes that he probably alludes to their +intimate friends, the merchant Hagenauer's family, with whom old +Mozart had many pecuniary transactions for the purpose of his +travels, and whose son entered the church in 1764.] + +My best wishes to all Thereserls, and compliments to all my +friends in the house and out of the house. I wish I were likely +soon to hear the Berchtesgadner symphonies, and perhaps blow a +trumpet or play a fife in one myself. I saw and heard the great +festival of St. Petronius in Bologna. It was fine, but long. The +trumpeters came from Lucca to make the proper flourish of honor, +but their trumpeting was detestable. + + + +25. + +Milan, Oct. 20, 1770. + +MY DEAR MAMMA,-- + +I cannot write much, for my fingers ache from writing out such a +quantity of recitative. I hope you will pray for me that my opera +["Mitridate Re di Ponto"] may go off well, and that we soon may +have a joyful meeting. I kiss your hands a thousand times, and +have a great deal to say to my sister; but what? That is known +only to God and myself. Please God, I hope soon to be able to +confide it to her verbally; in the mean time, I send her a +thousand kisses. My compliments to all kind friends. We have lost +our good Martherl, but we hope that by the mercy of God she is +now in a state of blessedness. + + + +26. + +Milan, Oct. 27, 1770. + +MY VERY DEAREST SISTER,-- + +You know that I am a great talker, and was so when I left you. At +present I replace this very much by signs, for the son of this +family is deaf and dumb. I must now set to work at my opera. I +regret very much that I cannot send you the minuet you wish to +have, but, God willing, perhaps about Easter you may see both it +and me. I can write no more.--Farewell! and pray for me. + + + +27. + +Milan, Nov. 3, 1770. + +MY VERY DEARLY LOVED SISTER,-- + +I thank you and mamma for your sincere good wishes; my most +ardent desire is to see you both soon in Salzburg. In reference +to your congratulations, I may say that I believe Herr Martinelli +suggested your Italian project. My dear sister, you are always so +very clever, and contrived it all so charmingly that, just +underneath your congratulations in Italian, followed M. Martini's +compliments in the same style of penmanship, so that I could not +possibly find you out; nor did I do so, and I immediately said to +papa, "Oh! how I do wish I were as clever and witty as she is!" +Then papa answered, "Indeed, that is true enough." On which I +rejoined, "Oh! I am so sleepy;" so he merely replied, "Then stop +writing." Addio! Pray to God that my opera may be successful. I +am your brother, + +W. M., + +whose fingers are weary from writing. + + + +28. + +Milan, Dec. 1, 1770. + +DEAREST SISTER,-- + +As it is so long since I wrote to you, I thought that I might +perhaps pacify your just wrath and indignation by these lines. I +have now a great deal to work at, and to write for my opera. I +trust all will go well, with the help of God. Addio! As ever, +your faithful brother, + +WOLFGANG MOZART. + + + +29. + +MY DARLING SISTER,-- + +It is long since I have written to you, having been so much +occupied with my opera. As I have now more time, I shall attend +better to my duty. My opera, thank God, is popular, as the +theatre is full every evening, which causes great surprise, for +many say that during all the time they have lived in Milan they +never saw any first opera so crowded as on this occasion. I am +thankful to say that both papa and I are quite well, and I hope +at Easter to have an opportunity of relating everything to mamma +and you. Addio! A propos, the copyist was with us yesterday, and +said that he was at that moment engaged in transcribing my opera +for the Lisbon court. Good-bye, my dear Madlle. sister, + +Always and ever your attached brother. + + + +30. + +Venice, Feb 15, 1771 + +MY VERY DEAR SISTER,-- + +You have, no doubt, heard from papa that I am well. I have +nothing to write about, except my love and kisses to mamma. Give +the enclosed--Al sig. Giovanni. La signora perla ricono la +riverisce tanto come anche tutte le altre perle, e li assicuro +che tutte sono inamorata di lei, e che sperano che lei prendera +per moglie tutte, come i Turchi per contenar tutte sei. Questo +scrivo in casa di Sign. Wider, il quale e un galant' uomo come +lei melo scrisse, ed jeri abbiamo finito il carnavale da lui, +cenardo da lui e poi ballammo ed andammo colle perle in compagnie +nel ridotto nuovo, che mi piacque assai. Quando sto dal Sign. +Wider e guardando fuori della finestra vedo la casa dove lei +abito quando lei fu in Venezia. Il nuovo non so niente. Venezia +mi piace assai. Il mio complimento al Sign., suo padre e madre, +sorelle, fratelli, e a tutti i miei amici ed amiche. Addio! + +[Footnote: "To Herr Johannes [Hagenauer] The fair 'pearl' has the +same high opinion of you that all the other 'pearls' here have. I +assure you that they are all in love with you, and their hope is +that you will marry them all (like the Turks), and so please them +every one. I write this in the house of Signor Wider, who is an +excellent man and exactly what you wrote to me, yesterday we +finished the Carnival in his house. We supped there and then +danced, and went afterwards, in company with the 'pearls,' to the +new masquerade, which amused me immensely. When I look out of the +window at Signor Wider's, I see the house that you inhabited in +Venice. I have no news. I like Venice very well. My compliments +to your father and mother, brothers and sisters, and all my +friends. Adieu!"] + + + +31. + +Venice, Feb. 20, 1771. + +I AM still well, and, thank God, in the land of the living. +Madame de' Amicis has been singing at S. Benedetto. Say to Herr +Johannes that the Widerischen Berlein family are constantly +speaking of him (particularly Madlle. Catherine), so he must soon +return to Vienna to encounter the attacca--that is, in order to +become a true Venetian, you must allow yourself to be bumped down +on the ground. They wished to do this to me also, but though +seven women tried it, the whole seven together did not succeed in +throwing me down. Addio! + +The travellers arrived again at home towards the end of March, +1771. The marriage of the Archduke Ferdinand with the Princess of +Modena, which took place in the October of that year, was +attended with great festivities, and recalled the father and son +to Italy in the course of a few months, Wolfgang having received +a command from the Empress Maria Theresa to compose a dramatic +serenata in honor of these nuptials. + + + +32. + +Verona, August 18, 1771. + +DEAREST SISTER,-- + +I have not slept more than half an hour, for I don't like to +sleep after eating. You may hope, believe, think, be of opinion, +cherish the expectation, desire, imagine, conceive, and +confidently suppose, that we are in good health; but I can tell +you so to a certainty. Wish Herr von Heffner a happy journey from +me, and ask him if he has seen Annamindl? + +[Wolfgang, who was then fifteen, had taken advantage of his +leisure during their short stay in Salzburg to fall in love for +the first time. We shall find frequent allusions to this subject. +See also No. 25.] + + + +33. + +Milan, August 23, 1771. + +MY VERY DEAR SISTER,-- + +We suffered much from heat in the course of our journey, and the +dust constantly dried us up so impertinently that we should have +been choked, or died of thirst, if we had not been too sensible +for that. For a whole month past (say the Milanese) there has +been no rain here; to-day a slight drizzle began, but the sun has +now come out again, and it is once more very warm. What you +promised me (you well know my meaning, you kind creature!) don't +fail to perform, I entreat. I shall be indeed very grateful to +you. I am at this moment actually panting from the heat--I tear +open my waistcoat! Addio--good-bye! + +WOLFGANG. + +Above us we have a violinist, below us is another, next to us a +singing-master, who gives lessons, and, in the room opposite, a +hautboy-player. This is famous for a composer--it inspires so +many fine thoughts. + + + +34. + +Milan, August 31, 1771. + +MY DEAREST SISTER,-- + +We are quite well, thank God! I have been eating quantities of +fine pears, peaches, and melons in your place. My greatest +amusement is to talk by signs to the dumb, which I can do to +perfection. Herr Hasse [the celebrated opera composer] arrived +here yesterday, and to-day we are going to pay him a visit. We +only received the book of the Serenata last Thursday. [Footnote: +It was "Ascanio in Alba" that Wolfgang got to compose for Milan; +and it was this music which made Hasse exclaim, "This boy will +cause us all to be forgotten."] I have very little to write +about. Do not, I entreat, forget about THE ONE OTHER, where no +other can ever be. You understand me, I know. + + + +35. + +Milan, Sept. 13, 1771. + +DEAR SISTER,-- + +I write only for writing's sake. It is indeed very inconvenient, +because I have a severe cold. Say to Fraulein W. von Molk that I +rejoice at the thoughts of Salzburg, in the hope that I may again +receive the same kind of present for the minuets which was +bestowed on me at a similar concert. She knows all about it. + + + +36. + +Milan, Sept. 21, 1771. + +I AM well, God be praised! I can't write much. 1st, I have +nothing to say. 2d, my fingers ache from writing. I often whistle +an air, but no one responds. Only two arias of the Serenata are +still wanting, and then it will be finished. I have no longer any +fancy for Salzburg; I am afraid I might go mad too. [He had heard +that several persons there had lost their reason.] + + + +37. + +Milan, Oct. 5, 1771. + +I AM in good health, but always sleepy. Papa has snatched from my +pen all that I had to write about, which is, that he has already +written everything. Signora Gabrielli is here, and we are soon +going to see her, as we wish to become acquainted with all +distinguished singers. + + + +38. + +Milan, Oct. 26, 1771. + +MY work being now completed, I have more time to write, but have +nothing to say, as papa has written you all I could have said. I +am well, thank God! but have no news, except that in the lottery +the numbers 35, 59, 60, 61, and 62 have turned up prizes, so if +we had selected these we should have won; but as we did not put +in at all we neither won nor lost, but only laughed at those who +did the latter. The two arias encored in the Serenata were those +of Manzuoli, and Girelli, the prima donna, I hope you may be well +amused in Triebenbach with shooting, and (weather permitting) +with walking. + + + +39. + +Milan, Nov. 2, 1771. + +Papa says that Herr Kerschbaumer travels with profit and +observation, and we can testify that he conducts himself very +judiciously; at all events he can give a more satisfactory +account of his journey than some of his friends, one of whom said +that he could not see Paris properly because the houses there +were too high. To-day Hasse's opera is to be given; as papa, +however, is not going, I can't go either. [FOOTNOTE: Hasse had +also a festal opera to compose, but Leopold Mozart writes, "I am +sorry to say that Wolfgang's Serenata has totally eclipsed +Hasse's opera."] Fortunately I know all the airs thoroughly by +heart, so I can see and hear them in my own thoughts at home. + + + +40. + +Milan, Nov. 24, 1771. + +DEAREST SISTER,-- + +Herr Manzuoli, the musico, who has always been considered and +esteemed as the best of his class, has in his old age given a +proof of his folly and arrogance. He was engaged at the opera for +the sum of 500 gigliati (ducats), but as no mention was made in +the contract of the Serenata, he demanded 500 ducats more for +singing in it, making 1000. The court only sent him 700 and a +gold box, (and enough too, I think,) but he returned the 700 +ducats and the box, and went away without anything. I don't know +what the result of this history will be--a bad one, I fear! + + + +41. + +Milan, Nov. 30, 1771. + +That you may not suppose I am ill, I write you a few lines. I saw +four fellows hanged in the Dom Platz. They hang here just as they +do in Lyons. + +We now find the father and son once more in Salzburg, in the +middle of December, 1771. Archbishop Sigismund died, and on the +14th of March, 1772, Archbishop Hieronymus was elected, who was +destined to cause much sorrow to Mozart. Soon after, in honor of +the procession and homage of the new prince, he composed the +allegorical azione teatrale "Il sogno di Scipione." In October he +resumed his travels, having undertaken the scrittura for the +approaching Carnivals both at Milan and at Venice. + + + +42. + +Bologna, Oct. 28, 1772. + +We have got to Botzen already. Already? rather not till now. I am +hungry, thirsty, sleepy, and lazy, but I am quite well. We saw +the monastery in Hall, and I played the organ there. When you see +Nadernannerl, tell her I spoke to Herr Brindl (her lover), and he +charged me to give her his regards. I hope that you kept your +promise and went last Sunday to D----N----[in cipher]. Farewell! +write me some news. Botzen--a pig-sty! + + + +43. + +Milan, Nov. 7, 1772. + +Don't be startled at seeing my writing instead of papa's. These +are the reasons: first, we are at Herr von Oste's, and the Herr +Baron Christiani is also here, and they have so much to talk +about, that papa cannot possibly find time to write; and, +secondly, he is too lazy. We arrived here at 4 o'clock this +afternoon, and are both well. All our good friends are in the +country or at Mantua, except Herr von Taste and his wife, who +send you and my sister their compliments. Herr Misliweczeck [a +young composer of operas from Paris] is still here. There is not +a word of truth either in the Italian war, which is so eagerly +discussed in Germany, or in the castles here being fortified. +Forgive my bad writing. + +Address your letters direct to us, for it is not the custom here, +as in Germany, to carry the letters round; we are obliged to go +ourselves to fetch them on post-days. There is nothing new here; +we expect news from Salzburg. + +Not having a word more to say, I must conclude. Our kind regards +to all our friends. We kiss mamma 1,000,000,000 times (I have no +room for more noughts); and as for my sister, I would rather +embrace her in persona than in imagination. + + + +44. + +CARISSIMA SORELLA,-- + +Spero che voi sarete stata dalla Signora, che voi gia sapete. Vi +prego, se la videte di farla un Complimento da parte mia. Spero e +non dubito punto che voi starete bene di salute. Mi son scordato +di darvi nuova, che abbiamo qui trovato quel Sign. Belardo, +ballerina, che abbiamo conosciuto in Haye ed in Amsterdam, quello +che attaco colla spada il ballerino, il Sign. Neri, perche +credeva che lui fosse cagione che non ebbe la permission di +ballar in teatro. Addio, non scordarvi di me, io sono sempre il +vostro fidele fratello. + +[FOOTNOTE: "DEAREST SISTER,--"I hope you have been to see the +lady--you know who. I beg that when you see her you will give her +my compliments. I hope, and do not doubt, that you are in good +health. I forgot to tell you that we found Signor Belardo here, a +dancer whom we knew at the Hague and at Amsterdam--the same +person who attacked Signor Neri with a sword, because he thought +he was the cause of his not obtaining permission to dance in the +theatre. Adieu! Do not forget me, always your faithful brother."] + + + +45. + +Milan, Nov. 21, 1772. + +I thank you exceedingly--you know for what. I cannot possibly +write to Herr von Heffner. When you see him, make him read aloud +what follows. I hope he will be satisfied with it:-- + +"I am not to take it amiss that my unworthy friend has not +answered my letter; as soon as he has more leisure, he will +certainly, beyond all doubt, positively and punctually send me a +reply." + + + +46. + +Milan, Nov. 28, 1772. + +We both send our congratulations to Herr von Aman; tell him from +me that, owing to his having all along made a mystery of the +affair, I feel much annoyed, for I fear I may have said more than +I ought about his bride. I thought he had been more +straightforward. One thing more. Say to Herr von Aman that, if he +wishes to have a right merry wedding, he must be so kind as to +wait till we return, so that what he promised me may come to +pass, namely, that I was to dance at his wedding. Tell Herr +Leitgeb [a horn-player in the Archbishop's orchestra] that he +must come straight to Milan, for he is sure to succeed well here; +but he must come soon. Pray let him know this, for I am anxious +about it. + + + +47. + +Milan, Dec. 5, 1772. + +I have now about fourteen pieces to write, and then I shall have +finished. [Footnote: He alludes to his Milan opera, "Lucio +Silla."] Indeed, the trio and the duet may be considered as four. +I cannot possibly write much, for I have no news, and in the next +place I scarcely know what I am writing, as all my thoughts are +absorbed in my opera, so there is some danger of my writing you a +whole aria instead of a letter. I have learned a new game here, +called mercanti in fiera. As soon as I come home we can play at +it together. I have also learned a new language from Frau von +Taste, which is easy to speak, though troublesome to write, but +still useful. It is, I own, rather a little childish, but will do +capitally for Salzburg. My kind regards to pretty Nandl and to +the canary, for these two and yourself are the most innocent +creatures in our house. Fischietti [the Archbishop's +Capellmeister] will no doubt soon begin to work at his opera +buffa (translated into German, his CRAZY opera!). Addio! + +The following letter of Wolfgang's shows the sparkling state of +his spirits, caused by the completion of his opera. At each line +he turns the page, so that one line stands, as it were, on the +head of the other. The father, too, in the joy of his heart that +the arduous work was drawing to a close, and with it his long +journey, writes four lines, one above another, round the edge of +the page, so that the whole forms a framework for a sketch of a +burning heart and four triangles (symbols of fidelity), and a +bird on the wing from whose beak a distich is streaming:-- + +Oh! fly to seek my child so fair Here, and there, and everywhere! + +Wolfgang adds:-- + + + +48. + +Milan, Dec. 18, 1772. + +I HOPE, dear sister, that you are well, dear sister. When this +letter reaches you, dear sister, my opera will be in scena, dear +sister. Think of me, dear sister, and try, dear sister, to +imagine with all your might that my dear sister sees and hears it +also. In truth, it is hard to say, as it is now eleven o'clock at +night, but I do believe, and don't at all doubt, that in the +daytime it is brighter than at Easter. My dear sister, to-morrow +we dine with Herr von Mayer; and do you know why? Guess! Because +he invited us. The rehearsal to-morrow is to be in the theatre. +The impresario, Signor Cassiglioni, has entreated me not to say a +word of this to a soul, as all kinds of people would come +crowding in, and that we don't wish. So, my child, I beg, my +child, that you won't say one syllable to any one on the subject, +or too many people would come crowding in, my child. Approposito, +do you know the history that occurred here? Well, I will relate +it to you. We were going home straight from Count Firmiani's, and +when we came into our street we opened our door, and what do you +think happened? We went in. Good-bye, my pet. Your unworthy +brother (frater), + +WOLFGANG. + + + +On the 26th of December "an incomparable performance" of "Lucio +Silla" took place; it was eminently successful, and continued to +fill the house night after night in the most surprising way. The +father writes home regularly, and Wolfgang subjoins the usual +postscripts, which, however, at this time contain nothing worth +quoting. We give only part of an Italian letter which he writes +for practice:-- + + + +49. + +.... Vi prego di dire al Sig. Giovanni Hagenauer da parte mia, +che non dubiti, che andro a veder sicuramente in quella bottega +delle armi, se ci sono quei nomi [?] che lui desidera, e che +senza dubbio doppo averlo trovato le portero meco a Salisburgo. +Mi dispiace che il Sig. Leitgeb e partito tanto tardi da +Salisburgo [see No. 46] che non trovera piu in scena la mia opera +e forte non ci trovera nemeno, se non in viaggio. + +Hieri sera era la prima prova coi stromenti della seconda opera, +ma ho sentito solamente il primo atto, perche a secondo mene +andiedi essendo gia tardi. In quest' opera saranno sopra il balco +24 cavalli e . . . mondo di gente, che saro miracolo se non +succede qualche disgrazia. La musica mi piace; se piace al +replico non so, perche alle prime prove non e lecito l' andarci +che alle personne che sono del Teatro. Io spero che domani il mio +padre potra uscir di casa. Sta sera fa cativissimo tempo. La +Signora Teyber e adesso a Bologna e il carnevale venturo recitera +a Turino e l'anno sussiquente poi va a cantare a Napoli. + +[Footnote: "Pray say from me to Johannes Hagenauer, that he may +entirely rely on my going to the armorer's shop, to see if I can +procure what he desires, and after getting it I will not fail to +bring it with me to Salzburg. I regret that Herr Leitgeb delayed +so long leaving Salzburg [see No. 46], for he will no longer find +my opera in scena, nor will he find us either unless we meet on +our travels. Yesterday evening was our first rehearsal of the +second opera with instruments, but I only heard the first act, +for I went away at the second, because it was so very late. In +this opera there are to be twenty-four horses and a crowd of +people on the stage at the same time, so it will be surprising if +no accident happens. The music pleases me; whether it will please +others I cannot tell, for no persons but those belonging to the +theatre are permitted to attend the first rehearsals. I hope that +papa will be able to leave the house to-morrow. The weather is +detestable this evening. Madame Teyber is now at Bologna; she is +to act at Turin in the ensuing Carnival, and the year following +she is to sing at Naples."] + +After enjoying some more of the amusements of the Carnival, they +arrived again in Salzburg about the middle of March. This place, +or rather their position at court there, was in the highest +degree repugnant to both; so the father, in the course of his +travels, applied to the Grand-Duke of Tuscany for an appointment +for his son. As, however, nothing was to be got in that quarter, +he directed his views to the Imperial capital itself; and thus, +at the end of three months, we find him again with his son in +Vienna. From thence Wolfgang often wrote to his loved ones at +home. + + + +50. + +Vienna, August 14, 1773. + +I HOPE that your Majesty [Footnote 1: O. Jahn remarks that this +epithet is a reminiscence of a fantastic game that often amused +the boy on his journeys. He imagined a kingdom, the inhabitants +of which were endowed with every gift that could make them good +and happy.] enjoys the best state of health; and yet that now and +then--or rather sometimes--or, better still, from time to time-- +or, still better, qualche volta, as the Italians say--your +Majesty will impart to me some of your grave and important +thoughts (emanating from that most admirable and solid judgment +which, in addition to beauty, your Majesty so eminently +possesses; and thus, although in such tender years, my Queen +casts into the shade not only the generality of men but even the +gray-haired). + +P. S. This is a most sensible production. + + + +51. + +Vienna, August 21, 1773. + +When we contemplate the benefit of time, and yet are not entirely +oblivious of the estimation in which we ought to hold the sun, +then it is quite certain, Heaven be praised! that I am quite +well. My second proposition is of a very different character. +Instead of sun, let us put moon, and instead of benefit, science; +then any one, gifted with a certain amount of reasoning powers, +will at once draw the conclusion that--I am a fool because you +are my sister. How is Miss Bimbles? [the dog.] I beg you will +convey all sorts of amiable messages from me to her. I also send +my kind remembrances to M. Kreibich [conductor of the Imperial +chamber-music], whom we knew at Presburg and also at Vienna; and +very best regards from Her Majesty the Empress, Frau Fischerin, +and Prince Kaunitz. Oidda! + +GNAGFLOW TRAZOM. + + + +52. + +Vienna, Sept. 15, 1773. + +WE are quite well, thank God; on this occasion we have contrived +to make time to write to you, although we have so much business +to do. We hope you also are well. Dr. Niderl's death grieved us +very much. I assure you we cried a good deal, and moaned and +groaned. Our kind regards to "Alle gute Geister loben Gott den +Herrn" [to all good spirits who praise the Lord], and to all our +friends. We graciously remain + +Yours, WOLFGANG. + +Given from our capital of Vienna. + + + +The travellers returned home the end of September, for no +situation was to be found in Vienna either; indeed, they did not +even give a public concert there. Wolfgang remained in his native +town during the whole of the ensuing year, writing instrumental +and church music. At length he received a commission from the +Elector of Bavaria, Maximilian III., to write an opera buffa for +the Carnival of 1775,--"La finta Giardiniera." + + + +53. + +Munich, Dec. 28, 1774. + +My Dearest Sister, + +I entreat you not to forget, before your journey, [FOOTNOTE: +Nannerl had also the most eager desire to see the new opera, and +the father at last succeeded in getting a lodging for her in the +large market place, in the house of a widow, "a black-eyed +brunette," Frau von Durst.] to perform your promise, that is, to +make a certain visit. I have my reasons for this. Pray present my +kind regards in that quarter, but in the most impressive and +tender manner--the most tender; and, oh!----but I need not be in +such anxiety on the subject, for I know my sister and her +peculiarly loving nature, and I feel quite convinced that she +will do all she can to give me pleasure--and from self-interest, +too--rather a spiteful hit that! [Nannerl was considered a little +selfish by her family.] + + + +54. + +Munich, Dec. 30, 1774. + +I BEG my compliments to Roxalana, who is to drink tea this +evening with the Sultan, All sorts of pretty speeches to Madlle. +Mizerl; she must not doubt my love. I have her constantly before +my eyes in her fascinating neglige. I have seen many pretty girls +here, but not one whose beauty can be compared with hers. Do not +forget to bring the variations on Ekart's menuet d'exaude, and +also those on Fischer's minuet. I was at the theatre last night. +The play was "Der Mode nach der Haushaltung," which was admirably +acted. My kind regards to all my friends. I trust that you will +not fail to--Farewell! I hope to see you soon in Munich. Frau von +Durst sends you her remembrances. Is it true that Hagenauer is +become a professor of sculpture in Vienna? Kiss mamma's hand for +me, and now I stop for to-day. Wrap yourself up warmly on your +journey, I entreat, or else you may chance to pass the fourteen +days of your visit in the house, stifling beside a stove, unable +once to move. I see the vivid lightning flash, and fear there +soon will be a crash! + +Your brother. + + + +55. + +To HIS MOTHER. + +Munich, Jan. 11, 1775. + +WE are all three well, Heaven be praised! I cannot possibly write +much, for I must go forthwith to the rehearsal. Tomorrow the +grand rehearsal takes place, and on the 13th my opera is to be in +scena. I am much vexed that you should cast any slight on Count +Seeau [Intendant of the Munich Theatre], for no one can be more +kind or courteous, and he has more good breeding than many of his +degree in Munich. Herr von Molk was in such a state of wonder and +admiration at the opera seria when he heard it, that we felt +quite ashamed of him, for it clearly showed every one that he had +never in his life seen anything but Salzburg and Innspruck. +Addio! + + + +56. + +To HIS MOTHER. + +Munich, Jan. 14, 1775. + +GOD be praised! My opera was given yesterday, the 13th, and +proved so successful that I cannot possibly describe all the +tumult. In the first place, the whole theatre was so crammed that +many people were obliged to go away. After each aria there was +invariably a tremendous uproar and clapping of hands, and cries +of Viva Maestro! Her Serene Highness the Electress and the +Dowager (who were opposite me) also called out Bravo! When the +opera was over, during the interval when all is usually quiet +till the ballet begins, the applause and shouts of Bravo! were +renewed; sometimes there was a lull, but only to recommence +afresh, and so forth. I afterwards went with papa to a room +through which the Elector and the whole court were to pass. I +kissed the hands of the Elector and the Electress and the other +royalties, who were all very gracious. At an early hour this +morning the Prince Bishop of Chiemsee [who had most probably +procured the scrittura for his young friend Wolfgang] sent to +congratulate me that the opera had proved such a brilliant +success in every respect. As to our return home, it is not likely +to be soon, nor should mamma wish it, for she must know well what +a good thing it is to have a little breathing time. We shall come +quite soon enough to----. One most just and undeniable reason is, +that my opera is to be given again on Friday next, and I am very +necessary at the performance, or it might be difficult to +recognize it again. There are very odd ways here. 1000 kisses to +Miss Bimberl [the dog]. + +The Archbishop of Salzburg, who was very reluctant to admit the +merits of his Concertmeister, was an involuntary witness of the +universal approbation bestowed on Wolfgang's opera, although he +would not go to hear it himself. On the 18th of January, 1775, +Wolfgang added the following lines to his father's letter:-- + + + +57. + +MY DEAR SISTER, + +[FOOTNOTE: Nannerl had not yet gone home, but was enjoying the +Carnival in various masks.] + +How can I help the clock choosing at this moment to strike a +quarter after seven o'clock? It is not papa's fault either. Mamma +will hear all the rest from you. At present there is no fair +sailing for me, as the Archbishop is staying here, though not for +long. It is currently reported that he is to remain till he sets +off again! I only regret that he is not to see the first masked +ball. + +Your faithful FRANZ v. NASENBLUT. + +Milan, May 5, 1756. + + +Immediately after Ash Wednesday the trio returned to Salzburg, +where Mozart remained uninterruptedly for another year and a +half, actively engaged in the duties of his situation. He wrote +the following letter on the 4th of September, 1776, to the +celebrated Pater Martini in Bologna:-- + + + +58. + +MOLTO REVDO PADE MAESTRO, PADRONE MIO STIMATISSIMO,- + +La venerazione, la stima e il rispetto, che porto verso la di lei +degnissima persona mi spinse di incommodarla colle presente e di +mandargli un debole pezzo di mia musica, rimmettendola alla di +lei maestrale giudicatura. Scrissi l'anno scorso il Carnevale una +opera buffa ("La finta Giardiniera") a Monaco in Baviera. Pochi +giorni avanti la mia partenza di la desiderava S. A. Elletorale +di sentire qualche mia musica in contrapunto: era adunque +obligato di scriver questo Motetto in fretta per dar tempo a +copiar il spartito per Sua Altezza ed a cavar le parti per poter +produrlo la prossima domenica sotto la Messa grande in tempo del +Offertorio. Carissimo e stimatissimo Sigr. P. Maestro! Lei e +ardentemente pregato di dirmi francamente e senza riserva il di +lei parere. Viviamo in questo mondo per imparare sempre +industriosamente, e per mezzo dei raggionamenti di illuminarsi +l'un l'altro e d'affatigarsi di portar via sempre avanti le +scienze e le belle arti. Oh quante e quante volte desidero +d'esser piu vicino per poter parlar e raggionar con Vostra +Paternita molto Revda. Vivo in una paese dove la musica fa +pocchissimo fortuna, benche oltre di quelli che ci hanno +abandonati, ne abbiamo ancora bravissimi professori e +particolarmente compositori di gran fondo, sapere e gusto. Per il +teatro stiamo male per mancanza dei recitanti. Non abbiamo Musici +e non gli averemo si facilmente, giache vogliono esser ben +pagati: e la generosita, non e il nostro difetto. Io mi diverto +intanto a scrivere per la camera e per la chiesa: e ne son quivi +altri due bravissimi contrapuntisti, cioe il Sgr. Haydn e +Adlgasser. Il mio padre e maestro della chiesa Metropolitana, che +mi da l'occasione di scrivere per la chiesa, quanto che ne +voglio. Per altro il mio padre gia 36 anni in servizio di questa +Corte e sapendo, che questo Arcivescovo non puo e non vuol vedere +gente avanzata in eta, non lo se ne prende a core, si e messo +alla letteratura per altro gia suo studio favorito. La nostra +musica di chiesa e assai differente di quella d'Italia e sempre +piu, che una Messa con tutto il Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, la Sonata +all' Epistola, l'Offertorio osia Motetto, Sanctus ed Agnus Dei, +ed anche la piu solenne, quando dice la Messa il Principe stesso, +non ha da durare che al piu longo 3 quarti d'ora. Ci vuole un +studio particolare per queste sorte di compositione, e che deve +pero essere una Messa con tutti stromenti--Trombe di guerra, +Tympani ecc. Ah! che siamo si lontani Carissmo Sgr. P. Maestro, +quante cose che avrai a dirgli!--Reverisco devotamente tutti i +Sgri. Filarmonici: mi raccommando via sempre nelle grazie di lei +e non cesso d'affligermi nel vedermi lontano dalla persona del +mondo che maggiormente amo, venero e stimo, e di cui +inviolabilmente mi protesto di V. Pta molto Rda + +umilissmo e devotssmo servitore, + +WOLFGANGO AMADEO MOZART. + +Salisburgo, 4 Settembre, 1776. + +[FOOTNOTE: + +To Father Martini. + +"Salzburg, Sept. 4, 1776. + +"MOST REVEREND AND ESTEEMED FATHER AND MAESTRO,-- + +"The veneration, the esteem, and the respect I feel for your +illustrious person, induce me to intrude on you with this letter, +and also to send you a small portion of my music, which I venture +to submit to your masterly judgment. Last year, at Monaco, in +Bavaria, I wrote an opera buffa ("La finta Giardiniera") for the +Carnival. A few days previous to my departure from thence, his +Electoral Highness wished to hear some of my contrapuntal music; +I was therefore obliged to write this motett in haste, to allow +time for the score to be copied for his Highness, and to arrange +the parts so that it might be produced on the following Sunday at +grand mass at the offertory. Most dear and highly esteemed +Maestro, I do entreat you to give me unreservedly your candid +opinion of the motett. We live in this world in order always to +learn industriously, and to enlighten each other by means of +discussion, and to strive vigorously to promote the progress of +science and the fine arts. Oh, how many and many a time have I +desired to be nearer you, that I might converse and discuss with +your Reverence! I live in a country where music has very little +success, though, exclusive of those who have forsaken us, we have +still admirable professors, and more particularly composers of +great solidity, knowledge, and taste. We are rather badly off at +the theatre from the want of actors. We have no MUSICI, nor shall +we find it very easy to get any, because they insist upon being +well paid, and generosity is not a failing of ours. I amuse +myself in the mean time by writing church and chamber music, and +we have two excellent contrapuntists here, Haydn and Adlgasser. +My father is maestro at the Metropolitan church, which gives me +an opportunity to write for the church as much as I please. +Moreover, my father has been thirty-six years in the service of +this court, and knowing that our present Archbishop neither can +nor will endure the sight of elderly people, he does not take it +to heart, but devotes himself to literature, which was always his +favorite pursuit Our church music is rather different from that +of Italy, and the more so, as a mass including the Kyne, Gloria, +Credo, the Sonata all Epistola, the Offertory or Motett, Sanctus, +and Agnus Dei, and even a solemn mass, when the Prince himself +officiates, must never last more than three-quarters of an hour. +A particular course of study is required for this class of +composition. And what must such a mass be, scored with all the +instruments, war-drums, cymbals, &c, &c! Oh! why are we so far +apart, dearest Signor Maestro? for how many things I have to say +to you! I devoutly revere all the Signori Filarmonici. I venture +to recommend myself to your good opinion, I shall never cease +regretting being so distant from the person in the world whom I +most love, venerate, and esteem. I beg to subscribe myself, +reverend Father, always your most humble and devoted servant, + +"WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART" + + + +SECOND PART. +MUNICH, AUGSBURG, MANNHEIM. +SEPTEMBER 1771 TO MARCH 1778. + + + +PART II. + + + +On the 22d of December, 1777, Mozart's father wrote as follows to +Padre Martini in Bologna:--"My son has been now five years in the +service of our Prince, at a mere nominal salary, hoping that by +degrees his earnest endeavors and any talents he may possess, +combined with the utmost industry and most unremitting study, +would be rewarded; but in this hope we find ourselves deceived. I +forbear all allusion to our Prince's mode of thinking and acting; +but he was not ashamed to declare that my son knew nothing, and +that he ought to go to the musical training school in Naples to +learn music. And why did he say all this? In order to intimate +that a young man should not be so absurd as to believe that he +deserved a rather higher salary after such a decisive verdict had +issued from the lips of a prince. This has induced me to sanction +my son giving up his present situation. He therefore left +Salzburg on the 23d of September" [with his mother]. + + + +59. + +Wasserburg, Sept. 23, 1777. + +Mon Tres-Cher Pere,-- + +God be praised! we reached Waging, Stain, Ferbertshaim, and +Wasserburg safely. Now for a brief report of our journey. When we +arrived at the city gates, we were kept waiting for nearly a +quarter of an hour till they could be thrown open for us, as they +were under repair. Near Schinn we met a drove of cows, and one of +these very remarkable, for each side was a different color, which +we never before saw. When at last we got to Schinn, we met a +carriage, which stopped, and ecce, our postilion called out we +must change. "I don't care," said I. Mamma and I were parleying, +when a portly gentleman came up, whose physiognomy I at once +recognized; he was a Memmingen merchant. He stared at me for some +time, and at last said, "You surely are Herr Mozart?" "At your +service," said I; "I know you, too, by sight, but not your name. +I saw you, a year ago, at Mirabell's [the palace garden in +Salzburg] at a concert." He then told me his name, which, thank +God! I have forgotten; but I retained one of probably more +importance to me. When I saw this gentleman in Salzburg, he was +accompanied by a young man whose brother was now with him, and +who lives in Memmingen. His name is Herr Unhold, and he pressed +me very much to come to Memmingen if possible. We sent a hundred +thousand loves to papa by them, and to my sister, the madcap, +which they promised to deliver without fail. This change of +carriages was a great bore to me, for I wished to send a letter +back from Waging by the postilion. We then (after a slight meal) +had the honor of being conveyed as far as Stain, by the aforesaid +post-horses, in an hour and a half. At Waging I was alone for a +few minutes with the clergyman, who looked quite amazed, knowing +nothing of our history. From Stain we were driven by a most +tiresome phlegmatic postilion--N. B., in driving I mean; we +thought we never were to arrive at the next stage. At last we did +arrive, as you may see from my writing this letter. (Mamma is +half asleep.) From Ferbertshaim to Wasserburg all went on well. +Viviamo come i principi; we want nothing except you, dear papa. +Well, this is the will of God; no doubt all will go on right. I +hope to hear that papa is as well as I am and as happy. Nothing +comes amiss to me; I am quite a second papa, and look after +everything.[Footnote: The father had been very uneasy at the idea +of allowing the inexperienced youth, whose unsuspicious good- +nature exposed him still more to danger, to travel alone; for the +mother also was not very expert in travelling.] I settled from +the first to pay the postilions, for I can talk to such fellows +better than mamma. At the Stern, in Wasserburg, we are capitally +served; I am treated here like a prince. About half an hour ago +(mamma being engaged at the time) the Boots knocked at the door +to take my orders about various things, and I gave them to him +with the same grave air that I have in my portrait. Mamma is just +going to bed. We both beg that papa will be careful of his +health, not go out too early, nor fret, [Footnote: The Father was +strongly disposed to hypochondria.] but laugh and be merry and in +good spirits. We think the Mufti H. C. [the Archbishop Hieronymus +Colloredo] a MUFF, but we know God to be compassionate, merciful, +and loving. I kiss papa's hands a thousand times, and embrace my +SISTER MADCAP as often as I have to-day taken snuff. I think I +have left my diplomas at home? [his appointment at court.] I beg +you will send them to me soon. My pen is rude, and I am not +refined. + + + +60. + +Munich, Sept. 26, 1777. + +WE arrived safely in Munich on the afternoon of the 24th, at +half-past four o'clock. A complete novelty to me was being +obliged to drive to the Custom House, escorted by a grenadier +with a fixed bayonet. The first person we knew, who met us when +driving, was Signor Consoli; he recognized me at once, and showed +the utmost joy at seeing me again. Next day he called on us. I +cannot attempt to describe the delight of Herr Albert [the +"learned landlord" of the Black Eagle, on the Kaufinger Gasse, +now Hotel Detzer]; he is indeed a truly honest man, and a very +good friend of ours. On my arrival I went to the piano, and did +not leave it till dinner-time. Herr Albert was not at home, but +he soon came in, and we went down to dinner together. There I met +M. Sfeer and a certain secretary, an intimate friend of his; both +send their compliments to you. Though tired by our journey, we +did not go to bed till late; we, however, rose next morning at +seven o'clock. My hair was in such disorder that I could not go +to Count Seeau's till half-past ten o'clock. When I got there I +was told that he had driven out to the chasse. Patience! In the +mean time I wished to call on Chorus-master Bernard, but he had +gone to the country with Baron Schmid. I found Herr von Belvall +deeply engaged in business; he sent you a thousand compliments. +Rossi came to dinner, and at two o'clock Consoli, and at three +arrived Becke [a friend of Mozart's and an admirable flute- +player], and also Herr von Belvall. I paid a visit to Frau von +Durst [with whom Nannerl had lived], who now lodges with the +Franciscans. At six o'clock I took a short walk with Herr Becke. +There is a Professor Huber here, whom you may perhaps remember +better than I do; he says that the last time he either saw or +heard me was at Vienna, at Herr von Mesmer's, junior. He is +neither tall nor short, pale, with silvery-gray hair, and his +physiognomy rather like that of Herr Unterbereiter. This +gentleman is vice-intendant of the theatre; his occupation is to +read through all the comedies to be acted, to improve or to +spoil, to add to or to put them aside. He comes every evening to +Albert's, and often talks to me. To-day, Friday, the 26th, I +called on Count Seeau at half-past eight o'clock. This was what +passed. As I was going into the house I met Madame Niesser, the +actress, just coming out, who said, "I suppose you wish to see +the Count?" "Yes!" "He is still in his garden, and Heaven knows +when he may come!" I asked her where the garden was. "As I must +see him also," said she, "let us go together." We had scarcely +left the house when we saw the Count coming towards us about +twelve paces off; he recognized and instantly named me. He was +very polite, and seemed already to know all that had taken place +about me. We went up the steps together slowly and alone; I told +him briefly the whole affair. He said that I ought at once to +request an audience of his Highness the Elector, but that, if I +failed in obtaining it, I must make a written statement. I +entreated him to keep this all quite private, and he agreed to do +so. When I remarked to him that there really was room for a +genuine composer here, he said, "I know that well." I afterwards +went to the Bishop of Chiemsee, and was with him for half an +hour. I told him everything, and he promised to do all he could +for me in the matter. At one o'clock he drove to Nymphenburg, and +declared positively he would speak to the Electress. On Sunday +the Count comes here. Herr Joannes Kronner has been appointed +Vice-Concertmeister, which he owes to a blunt speech of his. He +has produced two symphonies--Deo mene liberi [God preserve me +from such]--of his own composition. The Elector asked him, "Did +you really compose these?" "Yes, your Royal Highness!" "From whom +did you learn?" "From a schoolmaster in Switzerland, where so +much importance is attached to the study of composition. This +schoolmaster taught me more than all your composers here, put +together, could teach me." Count Schonborn and his Countess, a +sister of the Archbishop [of Salzburg], passed through here to- +day. I chanced to be at the play at the time. Herr Albert, in the +course of conversation, told them that I was here, and that I had +given up my situation. They were all astonishment, and positively +refused to believe him when he said that my salary, of blessed +memory, was only twelve florins thirty kreuzers! They merely +changed horses, and would gladly have spoken with me, but I was +too late to meet them. Now I must inquire what you are doing, and +how you are. Mamma and I hope that you are quite well. I am still +in my very happiest humor; my head feels as light as a feather +since I got away from that chicanery. I have grown fatter +already. + + + +61. + +Munich, Sept. 29, 1777. + +TRUE enough, a great many kind friends, but unluckily most of +them have little or nothing in their power. I was with Count +Seeau yesterday, at half-past ten o'clock, and found him graver +and less natural than the first time; but it was only in +appearance, for to-day I was at Prince Zeill's [Bishop of +Chiemsee--No. 56], who, with all courtesy, said to me, "I don't +think we shall effect much here. During dinner, at Nymphenburg, I +spoke privately to the Elector, who replied: 'It is too soon at +this moment; he must leave this and go to Italy and become +famous. I do not actually reject him, but these are too early +days as yet.'" There it is! Most of these grandees have such +paroxysms of enthusiasm for Italy. Still, he advised me to go to +the Elector, and to place my case before him as I had previously +intended. I spoke confidentially at dinner to-day with Herr +Woschitka [violoncellist in the Munich court orchestra, and a +member of the Elector's private band], and he appointed me to +come to-morrow at nine o'clock, when he will certainly procure me +an audience. We are very good friends now. He insisted on knowing +the name of my informant; but I said to him, "Rest assured that I +am your friend and shall continue to be so; I am in turn equally +convinced of your friendship, so you must be satisfied with +this." But to return to my narrative. The Bishop of Chiemsee also +spoke to the Electress when tete-a-tete with her. She shrugged +her shoulders, and said she would do her best, but was very +doubtful as to her success. I now return to Count Seeau, who +asked Prince Zeill (after he had told him everything). "Do you +know whether Mozart has not enough from his family to enable him +to remain here with a little assistance? I should really like to +keep him." Prince Zeill answered: "I don't know, but I doubt it +much; all you have to do is to speak to himself on the subject." +This, then, was the cause of Count Seeau being so thoughtful on +the following day. I like being here, and I am of the same +opinion with many of my friends, that if I could only remain here +for a year or two, I might acquire both money and fame by my +works, and then more probably be sought by the court than be +obliged to seek it myself. Since my return here Herr Albert has a +project in his head, the fulfilment of which does not seem to me +impossible. It is this: He wishes to form an association of ten +kind friends, each of these to subscribe 1 ducat (50 gulden) +monthly, 600 florins a year. If in addition to this I had even +200 florins per annum from Count Seeau, this would make 800 +florins altogether. How does papa like this idea? Is it not +friendly? Ought not I to accept it if they are in earnest? I am +perfectly satisfied with it; for I should be near Salzburg, and +if you, dearest papa, were seized with a fancy to leave Salzburg +(which from my heart I wish you were) and to pass your life in +Munich, how easy and pleasant would it be! For if we are obliged +to live in Salzburg with 504 florins, surely we might live in +Munich with 800. + +To-day, the 30th, after a conversation with Herr Woschitka, I +went to court by appointment. Every one was in hunting-costume. +Baron Kern was the chamberlain on service. I might have gone +there last night, but I could not offend M. Woschitka, who +himself offered to find me an opportunity of speaking to the +Elector. At 10 o'clock he took me into a narrow little room, +through which his Royal Highness was to pass on his way to hear +mass, before going to hunt. Count Seeau went by, and greeted me +very kindly: "How are you, dear Mozart?" When the Elector came up +to me, I said, "Will your Royal Highness permit me to pay my +homage and to offer your Royal Highness my services?" "So you +have finally left Salzburg?" "I have left it forever, your Royal +Highness. I only asked leave to make a journey, and being +refused, I was obliged to take this step, although I have long +intended to leave Salzburg, which is no place for me, I feel +sure." "Good heavens! you are quite a young man. But your father +is still in Salzburg?" "Yes, your Royal Highness; he humbly lays +his homage at your feet, &c., &c. I have already been three times +in Italy. I have written three operas, and am a member of the +Bologna Academy; I underwent a trial where several maestri toiled +and labored for four or five hours, whereas I finished my work in +one. This is a sufficient testimony that I have abilities to +serve any court. My greatest wish is to be appointed by your +Royal Highness, who is himself such a great &c., &c." "But, my +good young friend, I regret that there is not a single vacancy. +If there were only a vacancy!" "I can assure your Royal Highness +that I would do credit to Munich." "Yes, but what does that avail +when there is no vacancy?" This he said as he was moving on; so I +bowed and took leave of his Royal Highness. Herr Woschitka +advises me to place myself often in the way of the Elector. This +afternoon I went to Count Salern's. His daughter is a maid of +honor, and was one of the hunting-party. Ravani and I were in the +street when the whole procession passed. The Elector and the +Electress noticed me very kindly. Young Countess Salern +recognized me at once, and waved her hand to me repeatedly. Baron +Rumling, whom I had previously seen in the antechamber, never was +so courteous to me as on this occasion. I will soon write to you +what passed with Salern. He was very kind, polite, and +straightforward.--P. S. Ma tres-chere soeur, next time I mean to +write you a letter all for yourself. My remembrances to B. C. M. +R. and various other letters of the alphabet. Adieu! A man built +a house here and inscribed on it: "Building is beyond all doubt +an immense pleasure, but I little thought that it would cost so +much treasure." During the night some one wrote underneath, "You +ought first to have counted the cost." + + + +62. + +Munich, Oct. 2, 1777. + +YESTERDAY, October 1st, I was again at Count Salern's, and to-day +I even dined with him. I have played a great deal during the last +three days, and with right good will too. Papa must not, however, +imagine that I like to be at Count Salern's on account of the +young lady; by no means, for she is unhappily in waiting, and +therefore never at home, but I am to see her at court to-morrow +morning, at ten o'clock, in company with Madame Hepp, formerly +Madlle. Tosson. On Saturday the court leaves this, and does not +return till the 20th. To-morrow I am to dine with Madame and +Madlle. de Branca, the latter being a kind of half pupil of mine, +for Sigl seldom comes, and Becke, who usually accompanies her on +the flute, is not here. On the three days that I was at Count +Salern's I played a great many things extempore--two Cassations +[Divertimentos] for the Countess, and the finale and Rondo, and +the latter by heart. You cannot imagine the delight this causes +Count Salern. He understands music, for he was constantly saying +Bravo! while other gentlemen were taking snuff, humming and +hawing, and clearing their throats, or holding forth. I said to +him, "How I do wish the Elector were only here, that he might +hear me play! He knows nothing of me--he does not know what I can +do. How sad it is that these great gentlemen should believe what +any one tells them, and do not choose to judge for themselves! +BUT IT IS ALWAYS SO. Let him put me to the test. He may assemble +all the composers in Munich, and also send in quest of some from +Italy and France, Germany, and England and Spain, and I will +undertake to write against them all." I related to him all that +had occurred to me in Italy, and begged him, if the conversation +turned on me, to bring in these things. He said, "I have very +little influence, but the little that is in my power I will do +with pleasure." He is also decidedly of opinion that if I could +only remain here, the affair would come right of itself. It would +not be impossible for me to contrive to live, were I alone here, +for I should get at least 300 florins from Count Seeau. My board +would cost little, for I should be often invited out; and even +were it not so, Albert would always be charmed to see me at +dinner in his house. I eat little, drink water, and for dessert +take only a little fruit and a small glass of wine. Subject to +the advice of my kind friends, I would make the following +contract with Count Seeau:--I would engage to produce every year +four German operas, partly buffe and partly serie; from each of +these I should claim the profits of one performance, for such is +the custom here. This alone would bring me in 500 florins, which +along with my salary would make up 800 florins, but in all +probability more; for Reiner, an actor and singer, cleared 200 +florins by his benefit, and I am VERY MUCH BELOVED HERE, and how +much more so should I be if I contributed to the elevation of +the national theatre of Germany in music! And this would +certainly be the case with me, for I was inspired with the most +eager desire to write when I heard the German operettas. The name +of the first singer here is Keiserin; her father is cook to a +count here; she is a very pleasing girl, and pretty on the stage; +I have not yet seen her near. She is a native of this place. When +I heard her it was only her third appearance on the stage. She +has a fine voice, not powerful, though by no means weak, very +pure, and a good intonation. Her instructor is Valesi; and her +style of singing shows that her master knows how to sing as well +as how to teach. When she sustains her voice for a couple of +bars, I am quite surprised at the beauty of her crescendo and +decrescendo. She as yet takes her shakes slowly, and this I +highly approve of, for it will be all the more pure and clear if +she ever wishes to take it quicker; besides, it is easier when +quick. She is a great favorite with the people here, and with me. + +Mamma was in the pit; she went as early as half-past four o'clock +to get a place. I, however, did not go till half-past six +o'clock, for I can go to any box I please, being pretty well +known. I was in the Brancas' box; I looked at Keiserin with my +opera-glass, and at times she drew tears from my eyes. I often +called out bravo, bravissimo, for I always remembered that it was +only her third appearance. The piece was Das Fischermadchen, a +very good translation of Piccini's opera, with his music. As yet +they have no original pieces, but are now anxious soon to give a +German opera seria, and a strong wish prevails that I should +compose it. The aforesaid Professor Huber is one of those who +wish this. I shall now go to bed, for I can sit up no longer. It +is just ten o'clock. Baron Rumling lately paid me the following +compliment: "The theatre is my delight--good actors and +actresses, good singers, and a clever composer, such as +yourself." This is indeed only talk, and words are not of much +value, but he never before spoke to me in this way. + +I write this on the 3d of October. To-morrow the court departs, +and does not return till the 20th. If it had remained here, I +would have taken the step I intended, and stayed on here for a +time; but as it is, I hope to resume my journey with mamma next +Tuesday. But meanwhile the project of the associated friends, +which I lately wrote to you about, may be realized, so that when +we no longer care to travel we shall have a resource to fall back +upon. Herr von Krimmel was to-day with the Bishop of Chiemsee, +with whom he has a good deal to do on the subject of salt. He is +a strange man; here he is called "your Grace,"--that is, THE +LACKEYS do so. Having a great desire that I should remain here, +he spoke very zealously to the Prince in my favor. He said to me, +"Only let me alone; I will speak to the Prince, and I have a +right to do so, for I have done many things to oblige him." The +Prince promised him that I should POSITIVELY be appointed, but +the affair cannot be so quickly settled. On the return of the +court he is to speak to the Elector with all possible earnestness +and zeal. At eight o'clock this morning I called on Count Seeau. +I was very brief, and merely said, "I have only come, your +Excellency, to explain my case clearly. I have been told that I +ought to go to Italy, which is casting a reproach on me. I was +sixteen months in Italy, I have written three operas, and all +this is notorious enough. What further occurred, your Excellency +will see from these papers." And after showing him the diplomata, +I added, "I only show these and say this to your Excellency that, +in the event of my being spoken of, and any injustice done me, +your Excellency may with good grounds take my part." He asked me +if I was now going to France. I said I intended to remain in +Germany; by this, however, he supposed I meant Munich, and said, +with a merry laugh, "So you are to stay here after all?" I +replied, "No! to tell you the truth, I should like to have +stayed, if the Elector had favored me with a small sum, so that I +might then have offered my compositions to your Excellency devoid +of all interested motives. It would have been a pleasure to me to +do this." At these words he half lifted his skull-cap. + +At ten o'clock I went to court to call on Countess Salern. I +dined afterwards with the Brancas. Herr Geheimrath von Branca, +having been invited by the French Ambassador, was not at home. He +is called "your Excellency." Countess Salern is a Frenchwoman, +and scarcely knows a word of German; so I have always been in the +habit of talking French to her. I do so quite boldly, and she +says that I don't speak at all badly, and that I have the good +habit of speaking slowly, which makes me more easily understood. +She is a most excellent person, and very well-bred. The daughter +plays nicely, but fails in time. I thought this arose from want +of ear on her part, but I find I can blame no one but her +teacher, who is too indulgent and too easily satisfied. I +practised with her to-day, and I could pledge myself that if she +were to learn from me for a couple of months, she would play both +well and accurately. + +At four o'clock I went to Frau von Tosson's, where I found mamma +and also Frau von Hepp. I played there till eight o'clock, and +after that we went home; and at half-past nine a small band of +music arrived, consisting of five persons--two clarionet-players, +two horns, and one bassoon. Herr Albert (whose name-day is to- +morrow) arranged this music in honor of me and himself. They +played rather well together, and were the same people whom we +hear during dinner at Albert's, but it is well known that they +are trained by Fiala. They played some of his pieces, and I must +say they are very pretty: he has some excellent ideas. To-morrow +we are to have a small musical party together, where I am to +play. (Nota bene, on that miserable piano! oh, dear! oh, dear! +oh, dear!) I beg you will excuse my horrid writing, but ink, +haste, sleep, and dreams are all against me. I am now and forever +amen, your dutiful son, + +A. W. MOZART. + + + +63. + +Munich, Oct. 6, 1777. + +Mamma cannot write; in the first place, she is not inclined, and, +secondly, she has a headache. So I must hold the pen for her and +keep faith with her. I am just going with the Professor to call +on Madlle. Keiserin. Yesterday we had in our house a clerical +wedding, or altum tempus ecclesiasticum. There was dancing, but I +only danced four minuets, and was in my own room again by eleven +o'clock, for, out of fifty young ladies, there was only one who +danced in time--Madlle. Kaser, a sister of Count Perusa's +secretary. The Professor thought fit to leave me in the lurch, so +I did not go to Madlle. Keiserin, because I don't know where she +lives. Last Saturday, the 4th, on the stately and solemn occasion +of the name-day of his Royal Highness the Archduke Albert, we had +a select music-party at home, which commenced at half-past three +o'clock and finished at eight. M. Dubreil, whom papa no doubt +remembers, was also present; he is a pupil of Tartini's. In the +forenoon he gave a lesson on the violin to the youngest son, +Carl, and I chanced to come in at the time, I never gave him +credit for much talent, but I saw that he took great pains in +giving his lesson; and when we entered into conversation about +violin, concert, and orchestral playing, he reasoned very well, +and was always of my opinion, so I retracted my former sentiments +with regard to him, and was persuaded that I should find him play +well in time, and a correct violinist in the orchestra. I, +therefore, invited him to be so kind as to attend our little +music rehearsal that afternoon. We played, first of all, the two +quintets of Haydn, but to my dismay I could scarcely hear +Dubreil, who could not play four continuous bars without a +mistake. He could never find the positions, and he was no good +friend to the sospirs [short pauses]. The only good thing was +that he spoke politely and praised the quintets; otherwise--As it +was, I said nothing to him, but he kept constantly saying +himself, "I beg your pardon, but really I am out again! the thing +is puzzling, but fine!" I invariably replied, "It does not in the +least signify; we are only among ourselves." I then played the +concertos in C, in B, and in E flat, and after that a trio of +mine. This was finely accompanied, truly! In the adagio I was +obliged to play six bars of his part. As a finale, I played my +last divertimento in B; they all pricked up their ears. I played +as if I had been the greatest violin-player in all Europe. + +The Sunday after, at three o'clock, we were at a certain Herr von +Hamm's. The Bishop of Chiemsee set off to-day for Salzburg. N. +B.--I send my sister, by him, "6 duetti a clavicembalo e +violino," by Schuster. I have often played them here; they are by +no means bad. If I remain long enough, I intend to compose six in +this style, for it is much liked here. + + + +64. + +Munich, Oct. 11, 1777. + +WHY have I not as yet written anything about Misliweczeck? [See +No. 43.] Because I was only too glad not to think of him; for +when he is spoken of I invariably hear how highly he praises me, +and what a kind and true friend he is of mine; but then follow +pity and lamentation. He was described to me, and deeply was I +distressed. How could I bear that Misliweczeck, my intimate +friend, should be in the same town, nay, even in the same +corner of the world with me, and neither see him nor speak to +him? Impossible! so I resolved to go to visit him. On the +previous day, I called on the manager of the Duke's Hospital to +ask if I might see my friend in the garden, which I thought best, +though the doctors assured me there was no longer any risk of +infection. The manager agreed to my proposal, and said I should +find him in the garden between eleven and twelve o'clock, and, if +he was not there when I came, to send for him. Next day I went +with Herr von Hamm, secretary in the Crown Office, (of whom I +shall speak presently,) and mamma to the Duke's Hospital. Mamma +went into the Hospital church, and we into the garden. +Misliweczeck was not there, so we sent him a message. I saw him +coming across, and knew him at once from his manner of walking. I +must tell you that he had already sent me his remembrances by +Herr Heller, a violoncello-player, and begged me to visit him +before I left Munich. When he came up to me, we shook hands +cordially. "You see," said he, "how unfortunate I am." These +words and his appearance, which papa is already aware of from +description, so went to my heart that I could only say, with +tears in my eyes, "I pity you from my heart, my dear friend." He +saw how deeply I was affected, so rejoined quite cheerfully, "Now +tell me what you are doing; when I heard that you were in Munich, +I could scarcely believe it; how could Mozart be here and not +long ago have come to see me?" "I hope you will forgive me, but I +had such a number of visits to make, and I have so many kind +friends here." "I feel quite sure that you have indeed many kind +friends, but a truer friend than myself you cannot have." He +asked me whether papa had told me anything of a letter he had +received. I said, "Yes, he did write to me," (I was quite +confused, and trembled so much in every limb that I could +scarcely speak,) "but he gave me no details." He then told me +that Signor Gaetano Santoro, the Neapolitan impresario, was +obliged, owing to impegni and protezione, to give the composition +of the opera for this Carnival to a certain Maestro Valentini; +but he added, "Next year he has three at liberty, one of which is +to be at my service. But as I have already composed six times for +Naples, I don't in the least mind undertaking the less promising +one, and making over to you the best libretto, viz. the one for +the Carnival. God knows whether I shall be able to travel by that +time, but if not, I shall send back the scrittura. The company +for next year is good, being all people whom I have recommended. +You must know that I have such influence in Naples that, when I +say engage such a one, they do so at once." Marquesi is the primo +uomo, whom he, and indeed all Munich too, praises very highly; +Marchiani is a good prima donna; and there is a tenor, whose name +I cannot recall, but Misliweczeck says he is the best in all +Italy. He also said, "I do beg of you to go to Italy; there one +is esteemed and highly prized." And in truth he is right. When I +come to reflect on the subject, in no country have I received +such honors, or been so esteemed, as in Italy, and nothing +contributes more to a man's fame than to have written Italian +operas, and especially for Naples. He said he would write a +letter for me to Santoro, which I was to copy out when I went to +see him next day; but finding it impossible to return, he sent me +a sketch of the letter to-day. I was told that when Misliweczeck +heard people here speaking of Becke, or other performers on the +piano, he invariably said, "Let no one deceive himself; none can +play like Mozart; in Italy, where the greatest masters are, they +speak of no one but Mozart; when his name is mentioned, not a +word is said of others." I can now write the letter to Naples +when I please; but, indeed, the sooner the better. I should, +however, first like to have the opinion of that highly discreet +Hofcapellmeister, Herr von Mozart. I have the most ardent desire +to write another opera. The distance is certainly great, but the +period is still a long way off when I am to write this opera, and +there may be many changes before then. I think I might at all +events undertake it. If, in the mean time, I get no situation, +eh, bien! I shall then have a resource in Italy. I am at all +events certain to receive 100 ducats in the Carnival; and when I +have once written for Naples I shall be sought for everywhere. As +papa well knows, there is an opera buffa in Naples in spring, +summer, and autumn, for which I might write for the sake of +practice, not to be quite idle. It is true that there is not much +to be got by this, but still there is something, and it would be +the means of gaining more honor and reputation than by giving a +hundred concerts in Germany, and I am far happier when I have +something to compose, which is my chief delight and passion; and +if I get a situation anywhere, or have hopes of one, the +scrittura would be a great recommendation to me, and excite a +sensation, and cause me to be more thought of. This is mere talk, +but still I say what is in my heart. If papa gives me any good +grounds to show that I am wrong, then I will give it up, though, +I own, reluctantly. Even when I hear an opera discussed, or am in +a theatre myself and hear voices, oh! I really am beside myself! + +To-morrow, mamma and I are to meet Misliweczeck in the Hospital +garden to take leave of him; for he wished me last time to fetch +mamma out of church, as he said he should like to see the mother +of so great a virtuoso. My dear papa, do write to him as often as +you have time to do so; you cannot confer a greater pleasure on +him, for the man is quite forsaken. Sometimes he sees no one for +a whole week, and he said to me, "I do assure you it does seem so +strange to me to see so few people; in Italy I had company every +day." He looks thin, of course, but is still full of fire and +life and genius, and the same kind, animated person he always +was. People talk much of his oratorio of "Abraham and Isaac," +which he produced here. He has just completed (with the exception +of a few arias) a Cantata, or Serenata, for Lent; and when he was +at the worst he wrote an opera for Padua. Herr Heller is just +come from him. When I wrote to him yesterday I sent him the +Serenata that I wrote in Salzburg: for the Archduke Maximilian +["Il Re Pastore"]. + +Now to turn to something else. Yesterday I went with mamma +immediately after dinner to take coffee with the two Fraulein von +Freysinger. Mamma, however, took none, but drank two bottles of +Tyrolese wine. At three o'clock she went home again to make +preparations for our journey. I, however, went with the two +ladies to Herr von Hamm's, whose three young ladies each played a +concerto, and I one of Aichner's prima vista, and then went on +extemporizing. The teacher of these little simpletons, the +Demoiselles Hamm, is a certain clerical gentleman of the name of +Schreier. He is a good organ-player, but no pianist. He kept +staring at me with an eye-glass. He is a reserved kind of man who +does not talk much; he patted me on the shoulder, sighed, and +said, "Yes--you are--you understand--yes--it is true--you are an +out-and-outer!" By the by, can you recall the name of Freysingen +--the papa of the two pretty girls I mentioned? He says he knows +you well, and that he studied with you. He particularly remembers +Messenbrunn, where papa (this was quite new to me) played most +incomparably on the organ. He said, "It was quite startling to +see the pace at which both hands and feet went, but quite +inimitable; a thorough master indeed; my father thought a great +deal of him; and how he humbugged the priests about entering the +Church! You are just what he was then, as like as possible; only +he was a degree shorter when I knew him." A propos, a certain +Hofrath Effeln sends you his kind regards; he is one of the best +Hofraths here, and would long ago have been made chancellor but +for one defect--TIPPLING. When we saw him for the first time at +Albert's, both mamma and I thought, "What an odd-looking fish!" +Just imagine a very tall man, stout and corpulent, and a +ridiculous face. When he crosses the room to another table, he +folds both hands on his stomach, stoops very low, and then draws +himself up again, and makes little nods; and when this is over he +draws back his right foot, and does this to each individual +separately. He says that he knows papa intimately. I am now going +for a little to the play. Next time I will write more fully, but +I can't possibly go on to-day, for my fingers do ache uncommonly. + +Munich, October 11th, at 1/4 to 12 at night, I write as +follows:--I have been at the Drittl comedy, but only went in time +for the ballet, or rather the pantomime, which I had not before +seen. It is called "Das von der fur +Girigaricanarimanarischaribari verfertigte Ei." It was very good +and funny. We are going to-morrow to Augsburg on account of +Prince Taxis not being at Ratisbon but at Teschingen. He is, in +fact, at present at his country-seat, which is, however, only an +hour from Teschingen. I send my sister, with this, four preludes; +she will see and hear for herself the different keys into which +they lead. My compliments to all my kind friends, particularly to +young Count Arco, to Madlle. Sallerl, and to my best of all +friends, Herr Bullinger; I do beg that next Sunday at the usual +eleven-o'clock music he will be so good as to make an +authoritative oration in my name, and present my regards to all +the members of the orchestra and exhort them to industry, that I +may not one day be accused of being a humbug, for I have +everywhere extolled their orchestra, and I intend always to do +so. + + + +65. + +Augsburg, Oct. 14, 1777. + +I HAVE made no mistake in my date, for I write before dinner, and +I think that next Friday, the day after to-morrow, we shall be +off again. Pray hear how generous the gentlemen of Augsburg are. +In no place was I ever so overwhelmed with marks of distinction +as here. My first visit was to the Stadtpfleger Longo Tabarro +[Burgomaster Langenmantl]. My cousin, [Footnote: Leopold Mozart +had a brother in Augsburg, a bookbinder, whose daughter, "das +Basle" (the cousin), was two years younger than Mozart.] a good, +kind, honest man and worthy citizen, went with me, and had the +honor to wait in the hall like a footman till my interview with +the high and mighty Stadtpfleger was over. I did not fail first +of all to present papa's respectful compliments. He deigned +graciously to remember you, and said, "And pray how have things +gone with him?" "Vastly well, God be praised!" I instantly +rejoined, "and I hope things have also gone well with you?" He +then became more civil, and addressed me in the third person, so +I called him "Sir"; though, indeed, I had done so from the first. +He gave me no peace till I went up with him to see his son-in-law +(on the second floor), my cousin meanwhile having the pleasure of +waiting in the staircase-hall. I was obliged to control myself +with all my might, or I must have given some polite hint about +this. On going upstairs I had the satisfaction of playing for +nearly three-quarters of an hour on a good clavichord of Stein's, +in the presence of the stuck-up young son, and his prim +condescending wife, and the simple old lady. I first +extemporized, and then played all the music he had, prima, vista, +and among others some very pretty pieces of Edlmann's. Nothing +could be more polite than they all were, and I was equally so, +for my rule is to behave to people just as they behave to me; I +find this to be the best plan. I said that I meant to go to +Stein's after dinner, so the young man offered to take me there +himself. I thanked him for his kindness, and promised to return +at two o'clock. I did so, and we went together in company with +his brother-in-law, who looks a genuine student. Although I had +begged that my name should not be mentioned, Herr von Langenmantl +was so incautious as to say, with a simper, to Herr Stein, "I +have the honor to present to you a virtuoso on the piano." I +instantly protested against this, saying that I was only an +indifferent pupil of Herr Sigl in Munich, who had charged me with +a thousand compliments to him. Stein shook his head dubiously, +and at length said, "Surely I have the honor of seeing M. +Mozart?" "Oh, no," said I; "my name is Trazom, and I have a +letter for you." He took the letter and was about to break the +seal instantly, but I gave him no time for that, saying, "What is +the use of reading the letter just now? Pray open the door of +your saloon at once, for I am so very anxious to see your +pianofortes." "With all my heart," said he, "just as you please; +but for all that I believe I am not mistaken." He opened the +door, and I ran straight up to one of the three pianos that stood +in the room. I began to play, and he scarcely gave himself time +to glance at the letter, so anxious was he to ascertain the +truth; so he only read the signature. "Oh!" cried he, embracing +me, and crossing himself and making all sorts of grimaces from +intense delight. I will write to you another day about his +pianos. He then took me to a coffee-house, but when we went in I +really thought I must bolt, there was such a stench of tobacco- +smoke, but for all that I was obliged to bear it for a good hour. +I submitted to it all with a good grace, though I could have +fancied that I was in Turkey. He made a great fuss to me about a +certain Graf, a composer (of flute concertos only); and said, "He +is something quite extraordinary," and every other possible +exaggeration. I became first hot and then cold from nervousness. +This Graf is a brother of the two who are in Harz and Zurich. He +would not give up his intention, but took me straight to him--a +dignified gentleman indeed; he wore a dressing-gown that I would +not be ashamed to wear in the street. All his words are on +stilts, and he has a habit of opening his mouth before knowing +what he is going to say; so he often shuts it again without +having said anything. After a great deal of ceremony he produced +a concerto for two flutes; I was to play first violin. The +concerto is confused, not natural, too abrupt in its modulations, +and devoid of all genius. When it was over I praised it highly, +for, indeed, he deserves this. The poor man must have had labor +and study enough to write it. At last they brought a clavichord +of Stein's out of the next room, a very good one, but inch-thick +with dust. Herr Graf, who is director here, stood there looking +like a man who had hitherto believed his own modulations to be +something very clever, but all at once discovers that others may +be still more so, and without grating on the ear. In a word, they +all seemed lost in astonishment. + + + +66. + +Augsburg, Oct. 17, 1777. + +WITH regard to the daughter of Hamm, the Secretary of War, I can +only say that there can be no doubt she has a decided talent for +music, for she has only learned three years, and can play a +number of pieces very well. I find it difficult, however, to +explain distinctly the impression she makes on me while she is +playing; she seems to me so curiously constrained, and she has +such an odd way of stalking over the keys with her long bony +fingers! To be sure, she has had no really good master, and if +she remains in Munich she will never become what her father +wishes and hopes, for he is eager beyond measure that she should +one day be a distinguished pianiste. If she goes to papa at +Salzburg, it will be a twofold benefit to her, both as to music +and common sense, of which she certainly has no great share. She +has often made me laugh very much, and you would have amusement +enough for your trouble. She is too absent to think of eating +much. You say I ought to have practised with her? I really could +not for laughing, for when I occasionally played something with +the right hand, she instantly said bravissimo, and that in the +voice of a little mouse. + +I will now relate to you as briefly as possible the Augsburg +history to which I have already alluded. Herr von Fingerle, who +sent his compliments to you, was also at Herr Graf's. The people +were very civil, and discussed the concert I proposed to give, +all saying, "It will be one of the most brilliant concerts ever +given in Augsburg. You have a great advantage in having made the +acquaintance of our Stadtpfleger Langenmantl; besides, the name +of Mozart has much influence here." So we separated mutually +pleased. I must now tell you that Herr von Langenmantl, junior, +when at Herr Stein's, said that he would pledge himself to +arrange a concert in the Stube, [Footnote: The Bauernstube, the +Patrician Casino.] (as something very select, and complimentary +to me,) for the nobility alone. You can't think with what zeal he +spoke, and promised to undertake it. We agreed that I should call +on him the next morning for the answer; accordingly I went; this +was on the 13th. He was very polite, but said that as yet he +could not say anything decided. I played there again for an hour, +and he invited me next day, the 14th, to dinner. In the forenoon +he sent to beg that I would come to him at eleven o'clock, and +bring some pieces with me, as he had asked some of the +professional musicians, and they intended to have some music. I +immediately sent some music, and went myself at eleven, when, +with many lame excuses, he coolly said, "By the by, I could do +nothing about the concert; oh, I was in such a rage yesterday on +your account. The patrician members of the Casino said that their +cashbox was at a very low ebb, and that you were not the kind of +virtuoso who could expect a souverain d'or." I merely smiled, and +said, "I quite agree with them." N. B.--He is Intendant of Music +in the Casino, and the old father a magistrate! but I cared very +little about it. We sat down to dinner; the old gentleman also +dined up-stairs with us, and was very civil, but did not say a +word about the concert. After dinner I played two concertos, +something out of my head, and then a trio of Hafeneder's on the +violin. I would gladly have played more, but I was so badly +accompanied that it gave me the colic. He said to me, good- +naturedly, "Don't let us part company to-day; go to the play with +us, and return here to supper." We were all very merry. When we +came back from the theatre, I played again till we went to +supper. Young Langenmantl had already questioned me in the +forenoon about my cross, [Footnote: Mozart, by his father's +desire, wore the "Order of the Golden Spur," conferred on him by +the Pope.] and I told him exactly how I got it, and what it was. +He and his brother-in-law said over and over again, "Let us order +a cross, too, that we may be on a par with Herr Mozart." I took +no notice of this. They also repeatedly said, "Hallo! you sir! +Knight of the Spur!" I said not a word; but during supper it +became really too bad. "What may it have cost? three ducats? must +you have permission to wear it? Do you pay extra for leave to do +so? We really must get one just like it." An officer there of the +name of Bach, said, "For shame! what would you do with the +cross?" That young ass, Kurzen Mantl, winked at him, but I saw +him, and he knew that I did. A pause ensued, and then he offered +me snuff, saying, "There, show that you don't care a pinch of +snuff for it." I still said nothing. At length he began once more +in a sneering tone: "I may then send to you to-morrow, and you +will be so good as to lend me the cross for a few minutes, and I +will return it immediately after I have spoken to the goldsmith +about it. I know that when I ask him its value (for he is a queer +kind of man) he will say a Bavarian thaler; it can't be worth +more, for it is not gold, only copper, ha! ha!" I said, "By no +means--it is lead, ha! ha!" I was burning with anger and rage. "I +say," rejoined he, "I suppose I may, if need be, leave out the +spur?" "Oh, yes," said I, "for you have one already in your head; +I, too, have one in mine, but of a very different kind, and I +should be sorry to exchange mine for yours; so there, take a +pinch of snuff on that!" and I offered him snuff. He became pale +with rage, but began again: "Just now that order looked so well +on that grand waistcoat of yours." I made no reply, so he called +the servant and said "Hallo! you must have greater respect for my +brother-in-law and myself when we wear the same cross as Herr +Mozart; take a pinch of snuff on that!" I started up; all did the +same, and showed great embarrassment. I took my hat and my sword, +and said, "I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you to-morrow." +"To-morrow I shall not be here." "Well, then, the next morning, +when I shall still be here." "Ho, ho! you surely don't mean to"-- +"I mean nothing; you are a set of boors, so good-night," and off +I went. + +Next day I told the whole story to Herr Stein, Herr Geniaulx, and +to Herr Director Graf--I don't mean about the cross, but how +highly disgusted I was at their having bragged so much about a +concert, and now it had come to nothing. "I call this making a +fool of a person and leaving him in the lurch. I am very sorry +that I ever came here. I could not possibly have believed that in +Augsburg, my papa's native town, such an insult could have been +offered to his son." You cannot imagine, dear papa, how angry and +indignant these three gentlemen were, saying, "Oh, you must +positively give a concert here; we don't stand in need of the +patricians." I, however, adhered to my resolution and said, "I am +willing to give a small farewell concert at Herr Stein's, for my +few kind friends here who are connoisseurs." The Director was +quite distressed, and exclaimed, "It is abominable--shameful; who +could have believed such a thing of Langenmantl! Par Dieu! if he +really wished it, no doubt it would have been carried through." +We then separated. The Director went down-stairs with me in his +dressing-gown as far as the door, and Herr Stein and Geniaulx +walked home with me. They urged us to make up our mind to stay +here for a time, but we remained firm. I must not forget to say +that, when young Langenmantl lisped out to me, in his usual cool +indifferent way, the pleasant news as to my concert, he added, +that the patricians invited me to their concert next Thursday. I +said, "I will come as one of the audience." "Oh, we hope you will +give us the pleasure of hearing you play also." "Well, perhaps I +may; why not?" But having received so grievous an insult the next +evening, I resolved not to go near him again, to steer clear of +the whole set of patricians, and to leave Augsburg. During +dinner, on the 16th, I was called out by a servant-maid of +Langenmantl's, who wished to know whether he might expect me to +go with him to the concert? and he begged I would come to him +immediately after dinner. I sent my compliments in return, that I +had no intention of going to the concert; nor could I come to +him, as I was already engaged (which was quite true); but that I +would call next morning to take leave of him, as on Saturday +next, at furthest, I was to leave Augsburg. In the meantime Herr +Stein had been to see the other patricians of the Evangelical +party, and spoke so strongly to them that these gentlemen were +quite excited. "What!" said they, "shall we permit a man who does +us so much honor to leave this without even hearing him? Herr von +Langenmantl, having already heard him, thinks that is enough." + +At last they became so excited that Herr Kurzenmantl, the +excellent youth, was obliged to go to Herr Stein himself to +entreat him, in the name of the patricians, to do all in his +power to persuade me to attend the concert, but to say that I +must not expect great things. At last I went with him, though +with considerable reluctance. The principal gentlemen were very +polite, particularly Baron Belling, who is a director or some +such animal; he opened my music-portfolio himself. I brought a +symphony with me, which they played, and I took a violin part. +The orchestra is enough to throw any one into fits. That young +puppy Langenmantl was all courtesy, but his face looked as +impertinent as ever; he said to me, "I was rather afraid you +might have escaped us, or been offended by our jokes the other +evening." "By no means," said I coolly; "you are still very +young; but I advise you to be more cautious in future, for I am +not accustomed to such jokes. The subject on which you were so +facetious did you no credit, nor did it answer your purpose, for +you see I still wear the order; you had better have chosen some +other topic for your wit." "I assure you," said he, "it was only +my brother-in-law who"--"Let us say no more about it," said I. +"We had nearly been deprived of the pleasure of seeing you +altogether," he rejoined. "Yes; had it not been for Herr Stein, I +certainly should not have come; and, to tell you the truth, I am +only here now to prevent you Augsburg gentlemen being the +laughing-stock of other countries, which would have been the case +if I had told them that I was eight days in the city where my +father was born, without any one there taking the trouble to hear +me!" I played a concerto, and all went off well except the +accompaniment; and as a finale I played a sonata. At the close, +Baron Belling thanked me in the warmest manner in the name of all +the company; and, begging me to consider only their good will, +presented me with two ducats. + +They give me no peace here till I agree to give a public concert +next Saturday. Perhaps--but I own I am heartily sick of it all. I +shall be indeed glad when I arrive at a place where there is a +court. I may with truth say that, were it not for my kind +cousins, my regrets would be as numberless as the hairs on my +head for ever having come to Augsburg. I must write you some +account of my fair cousin, but you must excuse my deferring this +till to-morrow, for one ought to be quite fresh to praise her as +highly as she deserves. + +The 17th.--I now write early in the morning to say that my cousin +is pretty, intelligent, lovable, clever, and gay, probably +because she has lived so much in society; she was also some time +at Munich. We do, indeed, exactly suit each other, for she too is +rather inclined to be satirical, so we banter our friends most +merrily together. [The Mozart family were both well known and +dreaded for their somewhat sharp tongues.] + + + +67. + +Augsburg, Oct. 17, 1777. + +I must now tell you about the Stein pianos. Before seeing these, +Spath's pianos were my favorites; but I must own that I give the +preference to those of Stein, for they damp much better than +those in Ratisbon. If I strike hard, whether I let my fingers +rest on the notes or lift them, the tone dies away at the same +instant that it is heard. Strike the keys as I choose, the tone +always remains even, never either jarring or failing to sound. It +is true that a piano of this kind is not to be had for less than +three hundred florins, but the pains and skill which Stein +bestows on them cannot be sufficiently repaid. His instruments +have a feature of their own; they are supplied with a peculiar +escapement. Not one in a hundred makers attends to this; but, +without it, it is impossible that a piano should not buzz and +jar. His hammers fall as soon as they touch the strings, whether +the keys be held down by the fingers or not. When he has +completed an instrument of this class, (which he told me +himself,) he tries all kinds of passages and runs on it, and +works away at it, testing its powers till it is capable of doing +anything, for he labors not for his own benefit alone, (or he +might be saved much trouble,) but for that of music. He often +says, "If I were not such a passionate lover of music, playing +also myself a little on the piano, I should long ago have lost +patience with my work, but I like my instruments to respond to +the player, and to be durable." His pianos do really last well. +He warrants the sounding-board neither breaking nor cracking; +when he has finished one, he exposes it in the air to rain, snow, +sun, and every kind of devilry, that it may give way, and then +inserts slips of wood which he glues in, making it quite strong +and solid. He is very glad when it does crack, for then he is +pretty sure nothing further can happen to it. He frequently makes +cuts into them himself, and then glues them up, thus making them +doubly strong. He has three of these pianos at this moment +finished, and I played on them again to-day. + +We dined to-day with young Herr Gassner, who is the handsome +widower of a lovely young wife; they were only married two years. +He is an excellent and kind young man; he gave us a capital +dinner. A colleague of the Abbe Henri Bullinger, and Wishofer +also dined there, and an ex-Jesuit, who is at present +Capellmeister in the cathedral here. He knows Herr Schachtner +well [court-trumpeter at Salzburg], and was leader of his band in +Ingolstadt; he is called Father Gerbl. Herr Gassner, and one of +his wife's unmarried sisters, mamma, our cousin, and I went after +dinner to Herr Stein's. At four o'clock came the Capellmeister +and Herr Schmittbauer, the organist of St. Ulrich, a worthy good +old man. I played at sight a sonata of Becke's, which was rather +difficult, but very poor, al solito. The astonishment of the +Capellmeister and the organist was indescribable. I have played +my six sonatas by heart repeatedly, both here and in Munich. The +fifth in G, I played at the distinguished Casino concert, and the +last in D, which has an incomparable effect on Stein's pianos. +The pedals, pressed by the knees, are also better made by him +than by any one else; you scarcely require to touch them to make +them act, and as soon as the pressure is removed not the +slightest vibration is perceptible. + +To-morrow perhaps I shall come to his organs, that is, write to +you about them, and I reserve for the last the subject of his +little daughter. When I said to Herr Stein that I should like to +play on one of his organs, as the organ was my passion, he seemed +surprised, and said, "What! such a man as you, so great a +pianist, like to play on an instrument devoid of sweetness and +expression, with no gradations from piano to forte, but always +going on the same?" "That does not signify; the organ always was, +both in my eyes and ears, the king of all instruments." "Well, +just as you please." So we went together. I could readily +perceive from his conversation that he did not expect me to do +great things on his organ, evidently thinking that I should +handle it in the style of a piano. He told me that by Schobert's +own desire he had taken him also to the organ, "and very nervous +it made me," said he, "for Schobert had told everybody, and the +church was nearly full. I did not doubt the man's spirit, fire, +and execution; still, this does not much suit the organ. But the +moment he began my opinion was entirely changed." I only said in +reply, "Do you then think, Herr Stein, that I am likely to run +wild on the organ?" "Oh! you!"--When we came to the organ-loft, I +began a prelude, when he laughed. A fugue followed. "I can now +quite understand why you like to play the organ," said he, "when +you can play in this manner." At first the pedal was a little +awkward for me, as it was without the breaks, beginning with C, +then D E in one row, whereas with us D and E are above, just +where E flat and F sharp are here; but I quickly mastered it. + +I went also to try the old organ at St. Ulrich's. The stair that +leads to it is really dreadful. I requested that some other +person might play the organ for me, that I might go down and +listen to it, for above the organ has no effect; but I profited +very little by this, for the young leader of the choir, a priest, +made such reckless runs on the organ that it was impossible to +understand them, and when he attempted harmonies they proved only +discords, being always false. Afterwards they would insist on our +going to a coffee-room, for mamma and my cousin were with us. A +certain Father Emilian, a conceited jackass and a sorry witling, +was very sweet on my cousin, and wished to have his jest with +her, but she made a jest of him. At last, when rather tipsy, +(which soon occurred,) he began to talk about music, and sang a +canon, saying, "I never in my life heard anything finer." I said, +"I regret that I can't sing it with you, for nature has not given +me the power of intoning." "No matter," said he. So he began. I +made the third, but I sang different words--thus: "Pater Emilian, +oh! thou numskull"--sotto voce to my cousin; then we laughed on +for at least half an hour. The Pater said to me, "If we only +could be longer together, we could discuss the art of musical +composition." "In that case," said I, "our discussion would soon +come to an end." A famous rap on the knuckles for him! TO BE +CONTINUED. + + + +68. + +Augsburg, Oct. 23, 1777. + +MY concert took place yesterday. Count Wolfeck interested himself +much in it, and brought some chanoinesses with him. I went to his +lodgings the very day I arrived, but he was not here at that +time. A few days ago he returned, and on hearing that I was still +in Augsburg, he did not wait for a visit from me, but at the very +moment when I was taking my hat and sword to go to call on him he +walked in. I must now give you a description of the last few days +before my concert. Last Saturday I was at St. Ulrich's, as I +already told you. Some days before my cousin took me with him to +present me to the Prelate of the Holy Cross, a kind excellent old +man. Previous to going to St. Ulrich's last Saturday, I went with +my cousin to the Monastery of the Holy Cross, as the first time I +was there neither the Deacon nor the Procurator was at home, and +my cousin told me that the Procurator was very jolly. [Here mamma +inserts a few lines--which frequently occurs in the letters. She +says at the close:] "I am quite surprised that Schuster's duets +[see No. 63] are still"--Wolfgang: "Oh, he has got them." Mamma: +"No, indeed; he always writes that he has not got them." +Wolfgang: "I hate arguing; I am sure he has got them, so there's +an end of it." Mamma: "You are mistaken." Wolfgang: "No; I am +right. I will show it to mamma in his own writing." Mamma: "Well, +where is it?" Wolfgang: "Here; read it." She is reading it at +this moment. + +Last Sunday I attended service at the Holy Cross, and at ten +o'clock we went to Herr Stein's, where we tried over a couple of +symphonies for the concert. Afterwards I dined with my cousin at +the Holy Cross, where a band played during dinner. Badly as they +play in the monastery, I prefer it to the Augsburg orchestra. I +played a symphony, and a concerto in B of Vanhall's, on the +violin, with unanimous applause. The Dean is a kind, jovial man, +a cousin of Eberlin [deceased Capellmeister of Salzburg]. His +name is Zeschinger. He knows papa well. At night, after supper, I +played the Strassburg concerto; it went as smooth as oil; every +one praised the fine pure tone. A small clavichord was then +brought in, on which I preluded, and played a sonata and the +Fischer variations. Some of those present whispered to the Dean +that he ought to hear me play in the organ style. I asked him to +give me a theme, which he declined, but one of the monks did so. +I handled it quite leisurely, and all at once (the fugue being in +G minor) I brought in a lively movement in the major key, but in +the same tempo, and then at the end the original subject, only +reversed. At last it occurred to me to employ the lively movement +for the subject of the fugue also, I did not hesitate long, but +did so at once, and it went as accurately as if Daser [a Salzburg +tailor] had taken its measure. The Dean was in a state of great +excitement. "It is over," said he, "and it's no use talking about +it, but I could scarcely have believed what I have just heard; +you are indeed an able man. My prelate told me beforehand that in +his life he never heard any one play the organ in a more finished +and solid style" (he having heard me some days previously when +the Dean was not here). At last some one brought me a fugued +sonata, and asked me to play it. But I said, "Gentlemen, I really +must say this is asking rather too much, for it is not likely I +shall be able to play such a sonata at sight." "Indeed, I think +so too; it is too much; no one could do it," said the Dean +eagerly, being all in my favor. "At all events," said I, "I can +but try." I heard the Dean muttering all the time behind me, "Oh, +you rogue! oh, you knave!" I played till 11 o'clock, bombarded +and besieged, as it were, by fugue themes. + +Lately, at Stein's, he brought me a sonata of Becke's, but I +think I already told you this. A propos, as to his little girl, +[Footnote: Nanette, at that time eight years old; afterwards the +admirable wife of Andreas Streicher, the friend of Schiller's +youth, and one of Beethoven's best friends in Vienna.] any one +who can see and hear her play without laughing must be Stein +[stone] like her father. She perches herself exactly opposite the +treble, avoiding the centre, that she may have more room to throw +herself about and make grimaces. She rolls her eyes and smirks; +when a passage comes twice she always plays it slower the second +time, and if three times, slower still. She raises her arms in +playing a passage, and if it is to be played with emphasis she +seems to give it with her elbows and not her fingers, as +awkwardly and heavily as possible. The finest thing is, that if a +passage occurs (which ought to flow like oil) where the fingers +must necessarily be changed, she does not pay much heed to that, +but lifts her hands, and quite coolly goes on again. This, +moreover, puts her in a fair way to get hold of a wrong note, +which often produces a curious effect. I only write this in order +to give you some idea of pianoforte-playing and teaching here, so +that you may in turn derive some benefit from it. Herr Stein is +quite infatuated about his daughter. She is eight years old, and +learns everything by heart. She may one day be clever, for she +has genius, but on this system she will never improve, nor will +she ever acquire much velocity of finger, for her present method +is sure to make her hand heavy. She will never master what is the +most difficult and necessary, and in fact the principal thing in +music, namely, time; because from her infancy she has never been +in the habit of playing in correct time. Herr Stein and I +discussed this point together for at least two hours. I have, +however, in some degree converted him; he asks my advice now on +every subject. He was quite devoted to Becke, and now he sees and +hears that I can do more than Becke, that I make no grimaces, and +yet play with so much expression that he himself acknowledges +none of his acquaintances have ever handled his pianos as I do. +My keeping so accurately in time causes them all much surprise. +The left hand being quite independent in the tempo rubato of an +adagio, they cannot at all comprehend. With them the left hand +always yields to the right. Count Wolfeck and others, who have a +passionate admiration for Becke, said lately publicly in a +concert that I beat Becke hollow. Count Wolfeck went round the +room saying, "In my life I never heard anything like this." He +said to me, "I must tell you that I never heard you play as you +did to-day, and I mean to say so to your father as soon as I go +to Salzburg." What do you think was the first piece after the +symphony? The concerto for three pianos. Herr Demmler took the +first part, I the second, and Herr Stein the third. I then played +a solo, my last sonata in D, for Durnitz, and afterwards my +concerto in B; then again a solo in the organ style, namely, a +fugue in C minor, then all of a sudden a splendid sonata in C +major, finishing with a rondo, all extempore. What a noise and +commotion there was! Herr Stein did nothing but make faces and +grimaces of astonishment. Herr Demmler was seized with fits of +laughter, for he is a queer creature, and when anything pleases +him exceedingly, he can't help laughing heartily; indeed, on this +occasion he actually began to swear! Addio! + + + +69. + +Augsburg, Oct. 25, 1777. + +The receipts of the concert were 90 florins, without deducting +the expenses. Including, therefore, the two ducats we took in the +Casino concert, we had 100 florins. The expenses of the concert +did not exceed 16 florins 30 kreutzers; the room I had gratis. I +believe most of the musicians will make no charge. We have now +ALTOGETHER lost about 26 or 27 florins. This is not of much +moment. I am writing this on Saturday the 25th. This morning +early I received the letter with the sad news of Frau +Oberbereiterin's death. Madlle. Tonerl can now purse up her +mouth, or perhaps open it wide, and shut it again as empty as +ever. As to the baker's daughter, I have no objection to make; I +foresaw all this long ago. This was the cause of my reluctance to +leave home, and finding it so difficult to go. I hope the affair +is not by this time known all over Salzburg? I beg you, dear +papa, most urgently to keep the matter quiet as long as possible, +and in the mean time to pay her father on my account any expenses +he may have incurred by her entrance into the convent, which I +will repay gladly when I return to Salzburg. + +I thank you most truly, dear papa, for your good wishes on my +name-day. Do not be uneasy on my account, for I have always God +before my eyes, I acknowledge His omnipotence, I dread His wrath; +but I also know His love, His compassion and mercy towards His +creatures, and that He will never forsake His servants. When His +will is done I am resigned; so I never can fail to be happy and +contented. I shall certainly also strive to live as strictly as +possible in accordance with your injunctions and advice. Thank +Herr Bullinger a thousand times for his congratulations. I mean +to write to him soon and thank him myself, but I may in the mean +time assure him that I neither know nor have any better, more +sincere, or truer friend than himself. I beg also humbly to thank +Madlle. Sallerl; pray tell her I mean to enclose some verses to +show my gratitude to her in my letter to Herr Bullinger. Thank my +sister also; she is to keep the Schuster duets, and give herself +no further trouble on the subject. + + +In your first letter, dear papa, you write that I lowered myself +by my conduct to that lad Langenmantl. Anything but that! I was +only straightforward, no more. I see you think he is still a boy; +he is one or two and twenty, and a married man. Can any one be +considered a boy who is married? I have never gone near him +since. I left two cards for him to-day, and excused myself for +not going in, having so many indispensable calls to make. I must +now conclude, for mamma insists absolument on going to dinner, +and then to pack. To-morrow we go straight to Wallerstein. My +dear little cousin, who sends you her regards, is anything but a +prude. She dressed a la Francaise to please me yesterday. She +looked at least 5 per cent, prettier in consequence. Now, Addio! + +On the 26th of October the mother and son set off to Mannheim. +The mother writes that Wolfgang intended to write to Augsburg, +"but he will scarcely be able to do so to-day, for he is now at +the rehearsal of the oratorio; so I must beg you to accept my +humble self instead." Wolfgang then adds:-- + + + +70. + +Mannheim, Oct. 30, 1777. + +I must beg you also to accept my insignificancy. I went to-day +with Herr Danner to M. Cannabich's [Director of the Elector's +orchestra]. He was uncommonly polite, and I played something for +him on his piano, which is a very good one. We went together to +the rehearsal. I could scarcely help laughing when I was +presented to the musicians, because, though some who knew me by +renomme were very civil and courteous, the rest, who knew nothing +whatever about me, stared in such a ludicrous way, evidently +thinking that because I am little and young nothing great or +mature is to be found in me; but they shall soon find it out. +Herr Cannabich is to take me himself to-morrow to Count Savioli, +the Intendant of Music. One good thing is that the Elector's +name-day is close at hand. The oratorio they are rehearsing is +Handel's, but I did not stay to hear it, for they first rehearsed +a Psalm Magnificat of the Vice-Capellmeister here, [Abbe] Vogler, +which lasted a good hour. I must now conclude, for I have still +to write to my cousin. + + + +71. + +Mannheim, Nov. 4, 1777. + +I am at Cannabich's every day, and mamma went with me there to- +day. He is a very different man from what he formerly was, +[FOOTNOTE: Mozart had been at his house, when a boy, with his +father.] and the whole orchestra say the same. He is very fond of +me. He has a daughter who plays the piano very nicely, and in +order to make him still more friendly towards me I am working +just now at a sonata for her, which is finished all but the +Rondo. When I had completed the first allegro and andante, I took +it to him myself and played it over; you can't think what +applause this sonata receives. There chanced to be some of the +musicians there at the moment--young Danner, Lang, who plays the +French horn, and the hautboy-player, whose name I forget, but who +plays remarkably well, and has a pleasing delicate tone [Ramm]. I +made him a present of a concerto for the hautboy; it is being +copied in Cannabich's room. The man is wild with delight. I +played him the concerto to-day at Cannabich's, and THOUGH KNOWN +TO BE MINE it pleased very much. No one said that it was NOT WELL +COMPOSED, because people here don't understand these things. They +ought to apply to the Archbishop; he would soon put them on the +right scent. [FOOTNOTE: The Archbishop never was satisfied with +any of the compositions that Mozart wrote for his concerts, but +invariably had some fault to find with them.] I played all my six +sonatas to-day at Cannabich's. Herr Kapellmeister Holzbauer went +with me to-day to Count Savioli's. Cannabich was there at the +time. Herr Holzbauer said to the Count in Italian that I wished +to have the honor of playing before his Serene Highness the +Elector. "I was here fifteen years ago," said I, "but now I am +older and more advanced, and I may say in music also"--"Oh!" said +the Count, "you are"--I have no idea whom he took me for, as +Cannabich interrupted him, but I affected not to hear, and +entered into conversation with the others. Still I observed that +he was speaking of me very earnestly. The Count then said to me, +"I hear that you play the piano very tolerably?" I bowed. + +I must now tell you about the music here. On Saturday, All- +Saints' day, I attended high mass. The orchestra is very good and +numerous. On each side ten or eleven violins, four tenors, two +hautboys, two flutes, and two clarionets, two corni, four +violoncellos, four bassoons, and four double basses, besides +trumpets and kettle-drums. This should give fine music, but I +would not venture to produce one of my masses here. Why? From +their being short? No, everything is liked short. From their +church style? By no means; but solely because NOW in Mannheim, +under present circumstances, it is necessary to write chiefly for +the instruments, for nothing can possibly be conceived worse than +the voices here. Six soprani, six alti, six tenori, and six +bassi, to twenty violins and twelve bassi, are in the same +proportion as 0 to 1. Is it not so, Herr Bullinger? It proceeds +from this:--The Italians are miserably represented: they have +only two musici here, and they are already old. This race is +dying out. These soprano singers, too, would prefer singing +counter-tenor; for they can no longer take the high notes. The +few boys they have are wretched. The tenor and bass just like our +singers at funerals. Vogler, who lately conducted the mass, is +barren and frivolous--a man who imagines he can do a great deal, +and does very little. The whole orchestra dislike him. To-day, +Sunday, I heard a mass of Holzbauer's, which is now twenty-six +years old, but excellent. He writes very well, and has a good +church style, arranges the vocal parts as well as the +instrumental, and writes good fugues. They have two organists +here; it would be worth while to come to Mannheim on purpose to +hear them--which I had a famous opportunity of doing, as it is +the custom here for the organist to play during the whole of the +Benedictus. I heard the second organist first, and then the +other. In my opinion the second is preferable to the first; for +when I heard the former, I asked, "Who is that playing on the +organ?" "Our second organist." "He plays miserably." When the +other began, I said, "Who may that be?" "Our first organist." +"Why, he plays more miserably still." I believe if they were +pounded together, something even worse would be the result. It is +enough to kill one with laughing to look at these gentlemen. The +second at the organ is like a child trying to lift a millstone. +You can see his anguish in his face. The first wears spectacles. +I stood beside him at the organ and watched him with the +intention of learning something from him; at each note he lifts +his hands entirely off the keys. What he believes to be his forte +is to play in six parts, but he mostly makes fifths and octaves. +He often chooses to dispense altogether with his right hand when +there is not the slightest need to do so, and plays with the left +alone; in short, he fancies that he can do as he will, and that +he is a thorough master of his organ. + +Mamma sends her love to you all; she cannot possibly write, for +she has still to say her officium. We came home very late from +the grand opera rehearsal. I must go to-morrow after high mass to +the illustrious Electress; she is resolved absolument to teach me +to knit filee. I am very eager about this, as she and the Elector +wish that I should knit in public next Thursday at the great gala +concert. The young Princess here, who is a child compared with +the Electress, knits very prettily. The Zweenbruck and his +Zwobrucken (Deux Ponts) arrived here at eight o'clock. A propos, +mamma and I earnestly beg you, dear papa, to send our charming +cousin a souvenir; we both regretted so much having nothing with +us, but we promised to write to you to send her something. We +wish two things to be sent--a double neckerchief in mamma's name, +like the one she wears, and in mine some ornament; a box, or +etui, or anything you like, only it must be pretty, for she +deserves it. [FOOTNOTE: The father was still in possession of +many of the ornaments and jewels presented to these children +during their artistic tours.] She and her father took a great +deal of trouble on our account, and wasted much time on us. My +cousin took the receipts for me at my concert. Addio! + + + +72. + +Mannheim, Nov. 5, 1777. + +My dear Coz--Buzz,-- + +I have safely received your precious epistle--thistle, and from +it I perceive--achieve, that my aunt--gaunt, and you--shoe, are +quite well--bell. I have to-day a letter--setter, from my papa-- +ah-ha, safe in my hands--sands. I hope you also got--trot, my +Mannheim letter--setter. Now for a little sense--pence. The +prelate's seizure--leisure, grieves me much--touch, but he will, +I hope, get well--sell. You write--blight, you will keep--cheap, +your promise to write to me--he-he, to Augsburg soon--spoon. +Well, I shall be very glad--mad. You further write, indeed you +declare, you pretend, you hint, you vow, you explain, you +distinctly say, you long, you wish, you desire, you choose, +command, and point out, you let me know and inform me that I must +send you my portrait soon--moon. Eh, bien! you shall have it +before long--song. Now I wish you good night--tight. + +The 5th.--Yesterday I conversed with the illustrious Electress; +and to-morrow, the 6th, I am to play in the gala concert, and +afterwards, by desire of the Princess, in their private +apartments. Now for something rational! I beg of you--why not?--I +beg of you, my very dear cousin--why not?--when you write to +Madame Tavernier in Munich, to convey a message from me to the +two Demoiselles Freysinger--why not? odd enough! but why not?-- +and I humbly ask pardon of Madlle. Josepha--I mean the youngest, +and pray why not? why should I not ask her pardon? strange! but I +don't know why I should not, so I do ask her pardon very humbly-- +for not having yet sent the sonata I promised her, but I mean to +do so as soon as possible. Why not? I don't know why not. I can +now write no more--which makes my heart sore. To all my kind +friends much love--dove. Addio! Your old young, till death-- +breath, + +WOLFGANG AMADE ROSENCRANZ. + +Miennham, eht ht5 rebotoc, 7771. + + + +73. + +Mannheim, Nov. 8, 1777. + +This forenoon, at Herr Cannabich's, I wrote the Rondo of the +sonata for his daughter; so they would not let me leave them all +day. The Elector and the Electress, and the whole court, are very +much pleased with me. Both times I played at the concert, the +Elector and she stood close beside me at the piano. After the +music was at an end, Cannabich managed that I should be noticed +by the court. I kissed the Elector's hand, who said, "I think it +is now fifteen years since you were here?" "Yes, your Highness, +it is fifteen years since I had that honor." "You play +inimitably." The Princess, when I kissed her hand, said, +"Monsieur, je vous assure, on ne peut pas jouer mieux." + +Yesterday I went with Cannabich to pay the visit mamma already +wrote to you about [to Duke Carl Theodor's children], and there I +conversed with the Elector as if he had been some kind friend. He +is a most gracious and good Prince. He said to me, "I hear you +wrote an opera at Munich" ["La finta Giardiniera"]? "Yes, your +Highness, and, with your gracious permission, my most anxious +wish is to write an opera here; I entreat you will not quite +forget me. I could also write a German one, God be praised!" said +I, smiling. "That may easily be arranged." He has one son and +three daughters, the eldest of whom and the young Count play the +piano. The Elector questioned me confidentially about his +children. I spoke quite honestly, but without detracting from +their master. Cannabich was entirely of my opinion. The Elector, +on going away, took leave of me with much courtesy. + +After dinner to-day I went, at two o'clock, with Cannabich to +Wendling's, the flute-player, where they were all complaisance. +The daughter, who was formerly the Elector's favorite, plays the +piano very prettily; afterwards I played. I cannot describe to +you the happy mood I was in. I played extempore, and then three +duets with the violin, which I had never in my life seen, nor do +I now know the name of the author. They were all so delighted +that I--was desired to embrace the ladies. No hard task with the +daughter, for she is very pretty. + +We then went again to the Elector's children; I played three +times, and from my heart too,--the Elector himself each time +asking me to play. He seated himself each time close to me and +never stirred. I also asked a certain Professor there to give me +a theme for a fugue, and worked it out. + +Now for my congratulations! + +My very dearest papa,--I cannot write poetically, for I am no +poet. I cannot make fine artistic phrases that cast light and +shadow, for I am no painter; I can neither by signs nor by +pantomime express my thoughts and feelings, for I am no dancer; +but I can by tones, for I am a musician. So to-morrow, at +Cannabich's, I intend to play my congratulations both for your +name-day and birthday. Mon tres-cher pere, I can only on this day +wish for you, what from my whole heart I wish for you every day +and every night--health, long life, and a cheerful spirit. I +would fain hope, too, that you have now less annoyance than when +I was in Salzburg; for I must admit that I was the chief cause of +this. They treated me badly, which I did not deserve, and you +naturally took my part, only too lovingly. I can tell you this +was indeed one of the principal and most urgent reasons for my +leaving Salzburg in such haste. I hope, therefore, that my wish +is fulfilled. I must now close by a musical congratulation. I +wish that you may live as many years as must elapse before no +more new music can be composed. Farewell! I earnestly beg you to +go on loving me a little, and, in the mean time, to excuse these +very poor congratulations till I open new shelves in my small and +confined knowledge-box, where I can stow away the good sense +which I have every intention to acquire. + + + +74. + +Mannheim, Nov. 13, 1777. + +We received your last two letters, and now I must answer them in +detail. Your letter desiring me to inquire about Becke's parents +[in Wallerstein, No. 68] I did not get till I had gone to +Mannheim, so too late to comply with your wish; but it never +would have occurred to me to do so, for, in truth, I care very +little about him. Would you like to know how I was received by +him? Well and civilly; that is, he asked where I was going. I +said, most probably to Paris. He then gave me a vast deal of +advice, saying he had recently been there, and adding, "You will +make a great deal by giving lessons, for the piano is highly +prized in Paris." He also arranged that I should dine at the +officers' table, and promised to put me in the way of speaking to +the Prince. He regretted very much having at that moment a sore +throat, (which was indeed quite true,) so that he could not go +out with me himself to procure me some amusement. He was also +sorry that he could have no music in honor of me, because most of +the musical people had gone that very day on some pedestrian +excursion to--Heaven knows where! At his request I tried his +piano, which is very good. He often said Bravo! I extemporized, +and also played the sonatas in B and D. In short, he was very +polite, and I was also polite, but grave. We conversed on a +variety of topics--among others, about Vienna, and more +particularly that the Emperor [Joseph II.] was no great lover of +music. He said, "It is true he has some knowledge of composition, +but of nothing else. I can still recall (and he rubbed his +forehead) that when I was to play before him I had no idea what +to play; so I began with some fugues and trifles of that kind, +which in my own mind I only laughed at." I could scarcely resist +saying, "I can quite fancy your laughing, but scarcely so loud as +I must have done had I heard you!" He further said (what is the +fact) that the music in the Emperor's private apartments is +enough to frighten the crows. I replied, that whenever I heard +such music, if I did not quickly leave the room it gave me a +headache. "Oh! no; it has no such effect on me; bad music does +not affect my nerves, but fine music never fails to give me a +headache." I thought to myself again, such a shallow head as +yours is sure to suffer when listening to what is beyond its +comprehension. + +Now for some of our news here. I was desired to go yesterday with +Cannabich to the Intendant, Count Savioli, to receive my present. +It was just what I had anticipated--a handsome gold watch. Ten +Carolins would have pleased me better just now, though the watch +and chain, with its appendages, are valued at twenty Carolins. +Money is what is most needed on a journey; and, by your leave, I +have now five watches. Indeed, I have serious thoughts of having +a second watch-pocket made, and, when I visit a grandee, to wear +two watches, (which is indeed the fashion here,) that no one may +ever again think of giving me another. I see from your letter +that you have not yet read Vogler's book. [FOOTNOTE: Ton +Wissenschaft und Ton Kunst.] I have just finished it, having +borrowed it from Cannabich. His history is very short. He came +here in a miserable condition, performed on the piano, and +composed a ballet. This excited the Elector's compassion, who +sent him to Italy. When the Elector was in Bologna, he questioned +Father Valoti about Vogler. "Oh! your Highness, he is a great +man," &c., &c. He then asked Father Martini the same question. +"Your Highness, he has talent; and by degrees, when he is older +and more solid, he will no doubt improve, though he must first +change considerably." When Vogler came back he entered the +Church, was immediately appointed Court Chaplain, and composed a +Miserere which all the world declares to be detestable, being +full of false harmony. Hearing; that it was not much commended, +he went to the Elector and complained that the orchestra played +badly on purpose to vex and annoy him; in short, he knew so well +how to make his game (entering into so many petty intrigues with +women) that he became Vice-Capellmeister. He is a fool, who +fancies that no one can be better or more perfect than himself. +The whole orchestra, from the first to the last, detest him. He +has been the cause of much annoyance to Holzbauer. His book is +more fit to teach arithmetic than composition. He says that he +can make a composer in three weeks, and a singer in six months; +but we have not yet seen any proof of this. He despises the +greatest masters. To myself he spoke with contempt of Bach +[Johann Christian, J. Sebastian's youngest son, called the London +Bach], who wrote two operas here, the first of which pleased more +than the second, Lucio Silla. As I had composed the same opera in +Milan, I was anxious to see it, and hearing from Holzbauer that +Vogler had it, I asked him to lend it to me. "With all my heart," +said he; "I will send it to you to-morrow without fail, but you +won't find much talent in it." Some days after, when he saw me, he +said with a sneer, "Well, did you discover anything very fine-- +did you learn anything from it? One air is rather good. What are +the words?" asked he of some person standing near. "What air do +you mean?" "Why, that odious air of Bach's, that vile--oh! yes, +pupille amate. He must have written it after a carouse of punch." +I really thought I must have laid hold of his pigtail; I +affected, however, not to hear him, said nothing, and went away. +He has now served out his time with the Elector. + +The sonata for Madlle. Rosa Cannabich is finished. Last Sunday I +played the organ in the chapel for my amusement. I came in while +the Kyrie was going on, played the last part, and when the priest +intoned the Gloria I made a cadence, so different, however, from +what is usually heard here, that every one looked round in +surprise, and above all Holzbauer. He said to me, "If I had known +you were coming, I would have put out another mass for you." +"Oh!" said I, "to puzzle me, I suppose?" Old Toeschi and Wendling +stood all the time close beside me. I gave them enough to laugh +at. Every now and then came a pizzicato, when I rattled the keys +well; I was in my best humor. Instead of the Benedictus here, +there is always a voluntary, so I took the ideas of the Sanctus +and worked them out in a fugue. There they all stood making +faces. At the close, after Ita missa est, I played a fugue. Their +pedal is different from ours, which at first rather puzzled me, +but I soon got used to it. I must now conclude. Pray write to us +still at Mannheim. I know all about Misliweczeck's sonatas [see +No. 64], and played them lately at Munich; they are very easy and +agreeable to listen to. My advice is that my sister, to whom I +humbly commend myself, should play them with much expression, +taste, and fire, and learn them by heart. For these are sonatas +which cannot fail to please every one, are not difficult to +commit to memory, and produce a good effect when played with +precision. + + + +75. + +Mannheim, Nov. 13, 1777. + +Potz Himmel! Croatians, demons, witches, hags, and cross +batteries! Potz Element! air, earth, fire, and water! Europe, +Asia, Africa, and America! Jesuits, Augustines, Benedictines, +Capucins, Minorites, Franciscans, Dominicans, Carthusians, and +Knights of the Cross! privateers, canons regular and irregular, +sluggards, rascals, scoundrels, imps, and villains all! donkeys, +buffaloes, oxen, fools, blockheads, numskulls, and foxes! What +means this? Four soldiers and three shoulder-belts! Such a thick +packet and no portrait! [FOOTNOTE: The "Basle" (his cousin) had +promised him her portrait. She sent it subsequently to Salzburg, +where it still hangs in the Mozarteum.] I was so anxious about +it--indeed, I felt sure of getting it, having yourself written +long ago to say that I should have it soon, very soon. Perhaps +you doubt my keeping my promise [about the ornaments--see No. +71], but I cannot think this either. So pray let me have the +likeness as quickly as you can; and I trust it is taken as I +entreated--in French costume. + +How do I like Mannheim? As well as I can any place where my +cousin is not. I hope, on the other hand, that you have at all +events received my two letters--one from Hohenaltheim, and one +from Mannheim--this, such as it is, being the third from here, +but making the fourth in all. I must conclude, for we are just +going to dinner, and I am not yet dressed. Love me as I love you, +and then we shall never cease loving each other. Adieu! J'espere +que vous aurez deja pris quelque lection dans la langue +francaise, et je ne doute point que--ecoutez!--que vous aurez +bientot le francais mieux que moi; car il y a certainement deux +ans que je n'ai pas ecrit un mot de cette langue. Encore adieu! +Je vous baise les mains. + + + +76. + +Mannheim, Nov. 14-16, 1777. + +I, Johannes, Chrysostomus, Amadeus, Wolfgangus, Sigismundus, +Mozart, plead guilty to having both yesterday and the day before +(and very often besides) stayed away from home till twelve +o'clock at night, from ten o'clock till the aforesaid hour, I +being in the presence and company of M. Cannabich, his wife and +daughter, the Herrn Schatzmeister, Ramm, and Lang, making +doggerel rhymes with the utmost facility, in thought and word, +but not in deed. I should not, however, have conducted myself in +so reckless a manner if our ringleader, namely, the so-called +Lisel (Elisabeth Cannabich), had not inveigled and instigated me +to mischief, and I am bound to admit that I took great pleasure +in it myself. I confess all these my sins and shortcomings from +the depths of my heart; and in the hope of often having similar +ones to confess, I firmly resolve to amend my present sinful +life. I therefore beg for a dispensation if it can be granted; +but, if not, it is a matter of indifference to me, for the game +will go on all the same. Lusus enim suum habet ambitum, says the +pious singer Meissner, (chap. 9, p. 24,) and also the pious +Ascenditor, patron of singed coffee, musty lemonade, milk of +almonds with no almonds in it, and, above all, strawberry ice +full of lumps of ice, being himself a great connoisseur and +artist in these delicacies. + +The sonata I composed for Madlle. Cannabich I intend to write out +as soon as possible on small paper, and to send it to my sister. +I began to teach it to Madlle. Rose three days ago, and she has +learned the allegro. The andante will give us most trouble, for +it is full of expression, and must be played with accuracy and +taste, and the fortes and pianos given just as they are marked. +She is very clever, and learns with facility. Her right hand is +very good, but the left is unhappily quite ruined. I must say +that I do really feel very sorry for her, when I see her laboring +away till she is actually panting for breath; and this not from +natural awkwardness on her part, but because, being so accustomed +to this method, she cannot play in any other way, never having +been shown the right one. I said, both to her mother and herself, +that if I were her regular master I would lock up all her music, +cover the keys of the piano with a handkerchief, and make her +exercise her right and left hand, at first quite slowly in +nothing but passages and shakes, &c., until her hands were +thoroughly trained; and after that I should feel confident of +making her a genuine pianiste. They both acknowledged that I was +right. It is a sad pity; for she has so much genius, reads very +tolerably, has great natural aptitude, and plays with great +feeling. + +Now about the opera briefly. Holzbauer's music [for the first +great German operetta, "Gunther von Schwarzburg"] is very +beautiful, but the poetry is not worthy of such music. What +surprises me most is, that so old a man as Holzbauer should still +have so much spirit, for the opera is incredibly full of fire. +The prima donna was Madame Elisabeth Wendling, not the wife of +the flute-player, but of the violinist. She is in very delicate +health; and, besides, this opera was not written for her, but for +a certain Madame Danzi, who is now in England; so it does not +suit her voice, and is too high for her. Herr Raaff, in four +arias of somewhere about 450 bars, sang in a manner which gave +rise to the remark that his want of voice was the principal cause +of his singing so badly. When he begins an air, unless at the +same moment it recurs to your mind that this is Raaff, the old +but once so renowned tenor, I defy any one not to burst out +laughing. It is a fact, that in my own case I thought, if I did +not know that this is the celebrated Raaff, I should be bent +double from laughing, but as it is--I only take out my +handkerchief to hide a smile. They tell me here that he never was +a good actor; that people went to hear, but not to see him. He +has by no means a pleasing exterior. In this opera he was to die, +singing in a long, long, slow air; and he died laughing! and +towards the end of the aria his voice failed him so entirely that +it was impossible to stand it! I was in the orchestra next +Wendling the flute-player, and as he had previously criticized +the song, saying it was unnatural to sing so long before dying, +adding, "I do think he will never die!" I said in return, "Have a +little patience; it will soon be all over with him, for I can +hear he is at the last gasp!" "And I too," said he, laughing. The +second singer, Madlle. Strasserin, sang very well, and is an +admirable actress. + +There is a national stage here, which is permanent like that at +Munich; German operettas are sometimes given, but the singers in +them are wretched. Yesterday I dined with the Baron and Baroness +von Hagen, Oberstjagermeister here. Three days ago I called on +Herr Schmalz, a banker, to whom Herr Herzog, or rather Nocker and +Schidl, had given me a letter. I expected to have found a very +civil good sort of man. When I gave him the letter he read it +through, made me a slight bow, and said nothing. At last, after +many apologies for not having sooner waited on him, I told him +that I had played before the Elector. "Really!" Altum silentium. +I said nothing, he said nothing. At last I began again: "I will +no longer intrude on you. I have the honor to"--Here he +interrupted me. "If I can be of any service to you, I beg"-- +"Before I leave this I must take the liberty to ask you"--"Not +for money?" "Yes, if you will be so good as to"--"Oh! that I +can't do; there is nothing in the letter about money. I cannot +give you any money, but anything else"--"There is nothing else in +which you can serve me--nothing whatever. I have the honor to +take my leave." I wrote the whole history yesterday to Herr +Herzog in Augsburg. We must now wait here for the answer, so you +may still write to us at Mannheim. I kiss your hand, and am your +young brother and father, as in your last letter you say "I am +the old man and son." To-day is the 16th when I finish this, or +else you will not know when it was sent off. "Is the letter +ready?" "Yes, mamma, here it is!" + + + +77. + +Mannheim, Nov. 20, 1777. + +The gala began again yesterday [in honor of the Elector's name- +day]. I went to hear the mass, which was a spick-and-span new +composition of Vogler's. Two days ago I was present at the +rehearsal in the afternoon, but came away immediately after the +Kyrie. I never in my life heard anything like it; there is often +false harmony, and he rambles into the different keys as if he +wished to drag you into them by the hair of your head; but it +neither repays the trouble, nor does it possess any originality, +but is only quite abrupt. I shall say nothing of the way in which +he carries out his ideas. I only say that no mass of Vogler's can +possibly please any composer (who deserves the name). For +example, I suddenly hear an idea which is NOT BAD. Well, instead +of remaining NOT BAD, no doubt it soon becomes good? Not at all! +it becomes not only BAD, but VERY BAD, and this in two or three +different ways: namely, scarcely has the thought arisen when +something else interferes to destroy it; or he does not finish it +naturally, so that it may remain good; or it is not introduced in +the right place; or it is finally ruined by bad instrumentation. +Such is Vogler's music. + +Cannabich composes far better than when we knew him in Paris, but +what both mamma and I remarked here at once in the symphonies is, +that one begins just like another, always slow and unisono. I +must now, dear papa, write you something about the Holy Cross in +Augsburg, which I have always forgotten to do. I met with a great +many civilities there, and the Prelate is the most good-natured +man in the world--a kind, worthy old simpleton, who may be +carried off at any moment, for his breath fails sadly. He +recently--in fact, the very day we left--had an attack of +paralysis. He, and the Dean and Procurator, begged us when we +came back to Augsburg to drive straight to the Holy Cross. The +Procurator is as jolly as Father Leopold at Seeon. [FOOTNOTE: A +cloister in Lower Bavaria, that Wolfgang often visited with his +father, as they had a dear friend there, Father Johannes.] My +cousin told me beforehand what kind of man he was, so we soon +became as well acquainted as if we had known each other for +twenty years. I lent him the mass in F, and the first of the +short masses in C, and the offertorium in counterpoint in D +minor. My fair cousin has undertaken to be custodian of these. I +got back the offertorium punctually, having desired that it +should be returned first. They all, and even the Prelate, plagued +me to give them a litany, De venerabili. I said I had not got it +with me. I really was by no means sure; so I searched, but did +not find it. They gave me no peace, evidently thinking that I +only wished to evade their request; so I said, "I really have not +the litany with me; it is at Salzburg. Write to my father; it is +his affair. If he chooses to give it to you, well and good; if +not, I have nothing to do with it." A letter from the Deacon to +you will therefore probably soon make its appearance. Do just as +you please, but if you do send him one, let it be the last in E +flat; they have voices enough for anything, and a great many +people will be assembled at that time; they even write for them +to come from a distance, for it is their greatest festival. +Adieu! + + + +78. + +Mannheim, Nov. 22, 1777. + +THE first piece of information that I have to give you is, that +my truthful letter to Herr Herzog in Augsburg, puncto Schmalzii, +has had a capital effect. He wrote me a very polite letter in +return, expressing his annoyance that I should have been received +so uncourteously by detto Schmalz [melted butter]; so he herewith +sent me a sealed letter to detto Herr Milk, with a bill of +exchange for 150 florins on detto Herr Cheese. You must know +that, though I only saw Herr Herzog once, I could not resist +asking him to send me a draft on Herr Schmalz, or to Herrn +Butter, Milk, and Cheese, or whom he would--a ca! This joke has +succeeded; it is no good making a poor mouth! + +We received this forenoon (the 21st) your letter of the 17th. I +was not at home, but at Cannabich's, where Wendling was +rehearsing a concerto for which I have written the orchestral +accompaniments. To-day at six o'clock the gala concert took +place. I had the pleasure of hearing Herr Franzl (who married a +sister of Madame Cannabich's) play a concerto on the violin; he +pleased me very much. You know that I am no lover of mere +difficulties. He plays difficult music, but it does not appear to +be so; indeed, it seems as if one could easily do the same, and +this is real talent. He has a very fine round tone, not a note +wanting, and everything distinct and well accentuated. He has +also a beautiful staccato in bowing, both up and down, and I +never heard such a double shake as his. In short, though in my +opinion no WIZARD, he is a very solid violin-player.--I do wish I +could conquer my confounded habit of writing crooked. + +I am sorry I was not at Salzburg when that unhappy occurrence +took place about Madame Adlgasserin, so that I might have +comforted her; and that I would have done--particularly being so +handsome a woman. [Footnote: Adlgasser was the organist of the +cathedral. His wife was thought very stupid. See the letter of +August 26, 1781.] I know already all that you write to me about +Mannheim, but I never wish to say anything prematurely; all in +good time. Perhaps in my next letter I may tell you of something +VERY GOOD in your eyes, but only GOOD in mine; or something you +will think VERY BAD, but I TOLERABLE; possibly, too, something +only TOLERABLE for you, but VERY GOOD, PRECIOUS, and DELIGHTFUL +for me! This sounds rather oracular, does it not? It is +ambiguous, but still may be divined. + +My regards to Herr Bullinger; every time that I get a letter from +you, usually containing a few lines from him, I feel ashamed, as +it reminds me that I have never once written to my best and +truest friend, from whom I have received so much kindness and +civility. But I cannot try to excuse myself. I only beg of him to +do so for me as far as possible, and to believe that, as soon as +I have a little leisure, I will write to him--as yet I have had +none; for from the moment I know that it is even possible or +probable that I may leave a place, I have no longer a single hour +I can call my own, and though I have now a glimmer of hope, still +I shall not be at rest till I know how things are. One of the +oracle's sayings must come to pass. I think it will be the middle +one or the last--I care not which, for at all events it will be +something settled. + +I no doubt wrote to you that Holzbauer's grand opera is in +German. If not, I write it now. The title is "Gunther von +Schwarzburg," but not our worshipful Herr Gunther, barber and +councillor at Salzburg! "Rosamunde" is to be given during the +ensuing Carnival, the libretto being a recent composition of +Wieland's, and the music also a new composition of Herr +Schweitzer. Both are to come here. I have already seen some parts +of the opera and tried it over on the piano, but I say nothing +about it as yet. The target you have had painted for me, to be +given in my name to the shooting-match, is first-rate, and the +verses inimitable. [Footnote: For cross-bow practice, attended +weekly by a circle of his Salzburg friends. On the target was +represented "the melancholy farewell of two persons dissolved in +tears, Wolfgang and the 'Basle.'"] I have now no more to write, +except that I wish you all a good night's rest, and that you may +all sleep soundly till this letter comes to wake you. Adieu! I +embrace from my heart--cart, my dear sister--blister, and am your +dutiful and attached son, + +WOLFGANG AMADE MOZART, + +Knight of the Golden Spur, Member of the great Verona Academy, +Bologna--oui, mon ami! + + + +79. + +Mannheim, Nov. 26, 1777. + +--MOREOVER, every one acquainted with Mannheim, even the +nobility, advised me to come here. The reason why we are still in +this place is that I have some thoughts of remaining the winter +here, and I am only waiting for an answer from the Elector to +decide my plans. The Intendant, Count Savioli, is a very worthy +gentleman, and I told him to inform the Elector that, this being +such severe weather for travelling, I am willing to remain here +to teach the young Count [Carl Theodor's son]. He promised me to +do his best for me, but said that I must have patience till the +gala days were over. All this took place with the consent and at +the SUGGESTION of Cannabich. When I told him that I had spoken to +Savioli and what I had said, he replied he really thought it was +more likely to be brought about than not. Indeed, Cannabich spoke +to the Elector on the subject before the Count did so; and now I +must wait to hear the result. I am going to call on Herr Schmalz +to draw my 150 florins, for my landlord would no doubt prefer the +sound of gold to that of music. I little thought that I should +have the gift of a watch here, [see No. 74,] but such is again +the case. I would have been off long ago, but every one says to +me, "Where do you intend to go for the winter? Travelling is +detestable in such weather; stay here." Cannabich also wishes it +very much; so now I have taken steps to do so, and as such an +affair cannot be hurried, I must wait with patience, and I hope +soon to be able to send you good news. I have already two pupils +certain, besides the ARCH ones, who certainly won't give me less +than a louis each monthly. Without these I could not indeed +manage to remain. Now let the matter rest as it is, or as it may +be, what avail useless speculations? What is to occur we do not +know; still in so far we do! what God wills! + +Now for a cheerful allegro--non siete si pegro. [Footnote: "Don't +be so desponding."] If we do leave this, we shall go straight +to--where? To Weilburg, or whatever the name of the place may be, to +the Princess, sister of the Prince of Orange, whom we knew so +well at the Hague. There we shall stay--N. B., so long as we like +the officers' table, and no doubt receive at least six louis- +d'or. + +A few days ago Herr Sterkel came here from Wurzburg. The day +before yesterday, the 24th, I dined with Cannabich's, and again +at Oberstjager von Hagen's, and spent the evening al solito with +Cannabich, where Sterkel joined us, [Footnote: Abbe Sterkel, a +favorite composer and virtuoso on the piano, whom Beethoven, +along with Simrock, Ries, and the two Rombergs, visited in the +autumn of 1791, in Aschaffenberg.] and played five duets [sonatas +with violin], but so quick that it was difficult to follow the +music, and neither distinctly nor in time. Every one said the +same. Madlle. Cannabich played my six sonatas, and in fact better +than Sterkel. I must now conclude, for I cannot write in bed, and +I am too sleepy to sit up any longer. + + + +80. + +Mannheim, Nov. 29, 1777. + +I RECEIVED this morning your letter of the 24th, and perceive +that you cannot reconcile yourself to the chances of good or bad +fortune, if, indeed, the latter is to befall us. Hitherto, we +four have neither been very lucky nor very unlucky, for which I +thank God. You make us many reproaches which we do not deserve. +We spend nothing but what is absolutely necessary, and as to what +is required on a journey, you know that as well or better than we +do. No one BUT MYSELF has been the cause of our remaining so long +in Munich; and had I been alone I should have stayed there +altogether. Why were we fourteen days in Augsburg? Surely you +cannot have got my letters from there? I wished to give a +concert. They played me false, so I thus lost eight days. I was +absolument determined to go away, but was not allowed, so strong +was the wish that I should give a concert. I wished to be urged +to do so, and I was urged. I gave the concert; this accounts for +the fourteen days. Why did we go direct to Mannheim? This I +answered in my last letter. Why are we still here? How can you +suppose that I would stay here without good cause? But my father, +at all events, should--Well! you shall hear my reasons and the +whole course of the affair; but I had quite resolved not to write +to you on the subject until I could say something decided, (which +even yet I cannot do,) on purpose to avoid causing you care and +anxiety, which I always strive to do, for I knew that uncertain +intelligence would only fret you. But when you ascribe this to my +negligence, thoughtlessness, and indolence, I can only regret +your having such an opinion of me, and from my heart grieve that +you so little know your son. I am not careless, I am only +prepared for the worst; so I can wait and bear everything +patiently, so long as my honor and my good name of Mozart remain +uninjured. But if it must be so, so let it be. I only beg that +you will neither rejoice nor lament prematurely; for whatever may +happen, all will be well if we only have health; for happiness +exists--merely in the imagination. + +Last Thursday week I went in the forenoon to wait on Count +Savioli, and asked him if it were possible to induce the Elector +to keep me here this winter, as I was anxious to give lessons to +his children. His answer was, "I will suggest it to the Elector, +and if it depends on me, the thing will certainly be done." In +the afternoon I went to Cannabich's, and as I had gone to Savioli +by his advice, he immediately asked me if I had been there. I +told him everything, on which he said, "I should like you very +much to spend the winter with us, but still more to see you in +some permanent situation." I replied, "I could wish nothing +better than to be settled near you, but I don't see how it is +possible. You have already two Capellmeisters, so I don't know +what I could have, for I would not be subordinate to Vogler." +"That you would never be," said he. "Here not one of the +orchestra is under the Capellmeister, nor even under the +Intendant. The Elector might appoint you Chamber Court composer; +only wait a little, and I will speak to Count Savioli on the +subject." On the Thursday after there was a grand concert. When +the Count saw me, he apologized for not having yet spoken to the +Elector, these being still gala days; but as soon as they were +over (next Monday) he would certainly speak to his Royal +Highness. I let three days pass, and, still hearing nothing +whatever, I went to him to make inquiries. He said, "My good M. +Mozart, (this was yesterday, Friday,) today there was a chasse, +so it was impossible for me to ask the Elector, but to-morrow at +this hour I will certainly give you an answer." I begged him not +to forget it. To tell you the truth, when I left him I felt +rather indignant, so I resolved to take with me the easiest of my +six variations of the Fischer minuet, (which I wrote here for +this express purpose,) to present to the young Count, in order to +have an opportunity to speak to the Elector myself. When I went +there, you cannot conceive the delight of the governess, by whom +I was most politely received. When I produced the variations, and +said that they were intended for the young Count, she said, "Oh! +that is charming, but I hope you have something for the Countess +also." "Nothing as yet," said I, "but if I stay here long enough +to have time to write something I will do so." "A propos," said +she, "I am so glad that you stay the winter here." "I? I have not +heard a word of it." "That does surprise me; how very odd! for +the Elector told me so himself lately; he said, 'By the by, +Mozart remains here all winter.'" "Well, when he said so, he was +the only man who could say so, for without the Elector I of +course cannot remain here;" and then I told her the whole story. +We agreed that I should come the next day (that is, to-day) at +four o'clock, and bring some piece of music for the Countess. She +was to speak to the Elector before I came; and I should be +certain to meet him. I went today, but he had not been there at +all; but I shall go again to-morrow. I have written a Rondo for +the Countess. Have I not then sufficient cause to stay here and +await the result? As this important step is finally taken, ought +I at this moment to set off? I have now an opportunity of +speaking to the Elector myself. I shall most probably spend the +winter here, for I am a favorite with his Royal Highness, who +thinks highly of me, and knows what I can do. I hope to be able +to give you good news in my next letter. I entreat you once more +neither to rejoice nor to be uneasy too soon, and not to confide +the affair to any one except Herr Bullinger and my sister. I send +my sister the allegro and the andante of the sonata I wrote for +Madlle. Cannabich. The Rondo will follow shortly; the packet +would have been too heavy had I sent it with the others. You must +be satisfied with the original, for you can more easily get it +copied for six kreutzers a sheet than I for twenty-four. Is not +that dear? Adieu! Possibly you have heard some stray bits of this +sonata; for at Cannabich's it is sung three times a day at least, +played on the piano and violin, or whistled--only sotto voce, to +be sure. + + + +81. + +Mannheim, Dec. 3, 1777. + +I CAN still write nothing certain about my fate here. Last +Monday, after going three days in succession to my ARCH pupils, +morning and afternoon, I had the good fortune at last to meet the +Elector. We all, indeed, thought that I had again come in vain, +as it was so late in the day, but at length we saw him coming. +The governess made the Countess seat herself at the piano, and I +placed myself beside her to give her a lesson, and it was thus +the Elector found us on entering. We rose, but he desired us to +continue the lesson. When she had finished playing, the governess +addressed him, saying that I had written a beautiful Rondo. I +played it, and it pleased him exceedingly. At last he said, "Do +you think that she will be able to learn it?" "Oh! yes," said I; +"I only wish I had the good fortune to teach it to her myself." +He smiled, and said, "I should also like it; but would it not be +prejudicial to her to have two masters?" "Oh, no! your Highness," +said I; "it all depends on whether she has a good or a bad one. I +hope your Highness will place trust and confidence in me." "Oh, +assuredly," said he. The governess then said, "M. Mozart has also +written these variations on the Fischer minuet for the young +Count." I played them, and he seemed to like them much. He now +began to jest with the Countess. I thanked him for his present of +a watch. He said, "I must reflect on your wish; how long do you +intend to remain here?" My answer was, "As long as your Highness +commands me to do so;" and then the interview was at an end. I +went there again this morning, and was told that the Elector had +repeated yesterday, "Mozart stays here this winter." Now I am +fairly in for it; so you see I must wait. + +I dined to-day (for the fourth time) with Wendling. Before +dinner, Count Savioli came in with Capellmeister Schweitzer, who +arrived yesterday evening. Savioli said to me, "I spoke again +yesterday to the Elector, but he has not yet made up his mind." I +answered, "I wish to say a few words to you privately;" so we +went to the window. I told him the doubt the Elector had +expressed, and complained of the affair dragging on so long, and +said how much I had already spent here, entreating him to +persuade the Elector to engage me permanently; for I fear that he +will give me so little during the winter that it will be +impossible for me to remain. "Let him give me work; for I like +work." He said he would certainly suggest it to him, but this +evening it was out of the question, as he was not to go to court; +to-morrow, however, he promised me a decided answer. Now, let +what will happen. If he does not engage me, I shall, at all +events, apply for a sum of money for my travelling expenses, as I +have no intention to make him a present of the Rondo and the +variations. I assure you I am very easy on the subject, because I +feel quite certain that, come what may, all will go right. I am +entirely submissive to the will of God. + +Your letter of the 27th arrived yesterday, and I hope you +received the allegro and andante of the sonata. I now enclose the +Rondo. Schweitzer is a good, worthy, upright man, dry and candid +like our Haydn; only his mode of speaking is more polished. There +are some very beautiful things in his new opera, and I don't +doubt that it will prove a great success. "Alceste" is much +liked, and yet it is not half so fine as "Rosamunde." Being the +first German operetta no doubt contributed very much to its +popularity; but now--N. B., on minds chiefly attracted by +novelty--it scarcely makes the same impression. Herr Wieland, +whose poetry it is, is also to come here this winter. That is a +man I should indeed like to see. Who knows? Perhaps I may. When +you read this, dear papa, please God, all will be settled. + +If I do stay here, I am going to Paris during Lent with Herr +Wendling, Herr Ramm, the hautboy-player, who plays admirably, and +Ballet-master Cauchery. Wendling assures me I shall never regret +it; he has been twice in Paris, and has only just returned from +there. He says, "It is, in fact, the only place where either real +fame or money is to be acquired. You are a man of genius; I will +put you on the right path. You must write an opera seria and +comique, an oratorio, and every kind of thing. Any one who +composes a couple of operas in Paris receives a certain sum +yearly. There is also the Concert Spirituel and the Academie des +Amateurs, where you get five louis-d'or for a symphony. If you +teach, the custom is three louis-d'or for twelve lessons; and +then you get your sonatas, trios, and quartets published by +subscription. Cannabich and Toeschi send a great part of their +music to Paris." Wendling is a man who understands travelling. +Write me your opinion of this scheme, I beg; it seems to me both +wise and profitable. I shall travel with a man who knows all the +ins and outs of Paris (as it now is) by heart, for it is very +much changed. I should spend very little--indeed, I believe not +one half of what I do at present, for I should only have to pay +for myself, as mamma would stay here, and probably with the +Wendlings. + +On the 12th of this month, Herr Ritter, who plays the bassoon +beautifully, sets off for Paris. If I had been alone, this would +have been a famous opportunity for me; indeed, he spoke to me +himself about it. Ramm (hautboy-player) is a good, jolly, worthy +man, about thirty-five, who has travelled a great deal, so has +much experience. The first and best musicians here like me very +much, and respect me too. They always call me Herr Capellmeister. +I cannot say how much I regret not having at least the copy of a +mass with me, for I should certainly have had it performed, +having lately heard one of Holzbauer's, which is also in our +style. If I had only a copy of the Misericordias! But so it is, +and it can't be helped now. I would have had one transcribed +here, but copying does cost so much. Perhaps I should not have +got as much for the mass itself as I must have paid for the copy. +People here are by no means so very liberal. + + + +82. + +Mannheim, Dec. 6, 1777. + +I CAN tell you nothing certain yet. I begin to be rather tired of +this joke; I am only curious to know the result. Count Savioli +has spoken three times to the Elector, and the answer was +invariably a shrug of the shoulders, and "I will give you an +answer presently, but--I have not yet made up my mind." My kind +friends here quite agree with me in thinking that this hesitation +and reserve are rather a favorable omen than the reverse. For if +the Elector was resolved not to engage me, he would have said so +at once; so I attribute the delay to Denari siamo un poco +scrocconi [we are a little stingy of our money]. Besides, I know +for certain that the Prince likes me; a buon canto, so we must +wait. I may now say that it will be very welcome to me if the +affair turns out well; if not, I shall much regret having +lingered here so long and spent so much money. At all events, +whatever the issue may be, it cannot be an evil one if it be the +will of God; and my daily prayer is that the result may be in +accordance with it. You have indeed, dear papa, rightly guessed +the chief cause of Herr Cannabich's friendship for me. There is, +however, another small matter in which he can make use of me-- +namely, he is obliged to publish a collection of all his ballets +arranged for the piano. Now, he cannot possibly write these out +himself in such a manner that the work may be correct and yet +easy. For this purpose I am very welcome to him; (this was the +case already with one of his contredanses.) He has been out +shooting for the last week, and is not to return till next +Tuesday. Such things contribute, indeed, very much to our good +friendship; but, independent of this, he would at least never be +inimical to me, for he is very much changed. When a man comes to +a certain age, and sees his children grown up, he then no doubt +thinks a little differently. His daughter, who is fifteen, and +his eldest child, is a very pretty, pleasing girl. She has great +good sense for her age, and an engaging demeanor; she is rather +grave and does not talk much, but what she does say is always +amiable and good-natured. She caused me most indescribable +pleasure yesterday, by playing my sonata in the most admirable +manner. The andante (which must not be played QUICK) she executed +with the greatest possible feeling; and she likes to play it. You +know that I finished the first allegro when I had been only two +days here, and that I had then only seen Madlle. Cannabich once. +Young Danner asked me how I intended to compose the andante. +"Entirely in accordance with Madlle. Rose's character," said I. +When I played it, it seemed to please much. Danner mentioned +afterwards what I had said. And it is really so; she is just what +the andante is. To-day I dined for the sixth time with Wendling, +and for the second time in the company of Herr Schweitzer. To- +morrow, by way of a change, I dine there again; I actually have +my board there. I must now go to bed, so I wish you good-night. + +I have this moment returned from Wendling's, and as soon as I +have posted this letter I am going back there, for the opera is +to be rehearsed in camera caritatis, as it were. I am going to +Cannabich's afterwards, at half-past six o'clock, to give my +usual daily music-lesson. A propos, I must correct a statement of +mine. I said yesterday that Madlle. Cannabich was fifteen; it +seems, however, that she is only just thirteen. Our kind regards +to all our friends, especially to Herr Bullinger. + + + +83. + +Mannheim, Dec. 10, 1777. + +ALL is at an end, for the present, with the Elector. I went to +the court concert the day before yesterday, in the hope of +getting an answer. Count Savioli evidently wished to avoid me; +but I went up to him. When he saw me he shrugged his shoulders. +"What!" said I, "still no answer?" "Pardon me!" said he, "but I +grieve to say nothing can be done." "Eh, bien!" said I, "the +Elector might have told me so sooner!" "True," said he, "but he +would not even now have made up his mind, if I had not driven him +to it by saying that you had already stayed here too long, +spending your money in a hotel." "Truly, that is what vexes me +most of all," I replied; "it is very far from pleasant. But, at +all events, I am very much indebted to you, Count, (for he is not +called "your Excellency,") for having taken my part so zealously, +and I beg you will thank the Elector from me for his gracious, +though somewhat tardy information; and I can assure him that, had +he accepted my services, he never would have had cause to regret +it." "Oh!" said he, "I feel more convinced of that than perhaps +you think." When I told Herr Wendling of the final decision, he +colored and said, quite indignantly, "Then we must find the +means; you must, at least, remain here for the next two months, +and after that we can go together to Paris. To-morrow Cannabich +returns from shooting, and then we can talk further on the +subject." I left the concert immediately, and went straight to +Madame Cannabich. On my way thither, Herr Schatzmeister having +come away from the concert with me, I told him all about it, as +he is a good worthy man and a kind friend of mine. You cannot +conceive how angry he was. When we went into Madame Cannabich's +house, he spoke first, saying, "I bring you a man who shares the +usual happy fate of those who have to do with courts." "What!" +said Madame, "so it has all come to nothing?" I told her the +whole, and in return they related to me numbers of similar things +which had occurred here. When Madlle. Rose (who was in the third +room from us, busy with the linen) had finished, she came in and +said to me, "Do you wish me to begin now?" as it was the hour for +her lesson. "I am at your orders," said I. "Do you know," said +she, "that I mean to be very attentive to-day?" "I am sure you +will," answered I, "for the lessons will not continue much +longer." "How so? What do you mean?--Why?" She turned to her +mamma, who told her. "What!" said she, "is this quite certain? I +cannot believe it." "Yes--yes; quite certain," said I. She then +played my sonata, but looked very grave. Do you know, I really +could not suppress my tears; and at last they had all tears in +their eyes--mother, daughter, and Schatzmeister, for she was +playing the sonata at the moment, which is the favorite of the +whole family. "Indeed," said Schatzmeister, "if the Herr +Capellmeister (I am never called anything else here) leaves us, +it will make us all weep." I must say that I have very kind +friends here, for it is under such circumstances that we learn to +know them; for they are so, not only in words but in deeds. +Listen to this! The other day I went, as usual, to dine with +Wendling, when he said to me, "Our Indian friend (a Dutchman, who +lives on his own means, and is an amateur of all the fine arts, +and a great friend and admirer of mine) is certainly an excellent +fellow. He will give you twenty florins to write for him three +little easy short concertos, and a couple of quattros for a +leading flute. Cannabich can get you at least two pupils, who +will play well; and you could write duets for the piano and +violin, and publish them by subscription. Dinner and supper you +will always have with us, and lodgings you have at the Herr +Hofkammerrath's; so all this will cost you nothing. As for your +mother, we can easily find her a cheap lodging for these two +months, till you have had time to write about the matter to your +father, when she will leave this for Salzburg and we for Paris." +Mamma is quite satisfied; so all that is yet wanting is your +consent, of which I feel so sure that, if the time for our +journey were now come, I would set off for Paris without waiting +for your reply; for I could expect nothing else from a sensible +father, hitherto so anxious for the welfare of his children. Herr +Wendling, who sends you his compliments, is very intimate with +our dear friend Grimm, who, when he was here, spoke a great deal +about me to Wendling; this was when he had just come from us at +Salzburg. As soon as I receive your answer to this letter, I mean +to write to him, for a stranger whom I met at dinner to-day told +me that Grimm was now in Paris. As we don't leave this till the +8th of March, I beg you, if possible, to try to procure for me, +either through Herr Mesmer at Vienna, or some one else, a letter +to the Queen of France, if it can be done without much +difficulty; if not, it does not much matter. It would be better +if I could have one--of that there is no doubt; this is also the +advice of Herr Wendling. I suppose what I am now writing must +appear very strange to you, because you are in a city where there +are only stupid enemies, and weak and simple friends, whose +dreary daily bread at Salzburg is so essential to them, that they +become flatterers, and are not to be depended on from day to day. +Indeed, this was why I wrote you nothing but childish nonsense, +and jokes, and folly; I wished to await the event here, to save +you from vexation, and my good friends from blame; for you very +unwarrantably accuse them of working against me in an underhand +way, which they certainly never did. Your letters obliged me to +relate the whole affair to you. I entreat you most earnestly not +to distress yourself on the subject; God has willed it so. +Reflect also on this most undoubted truth, that we cannot do all +we wish. We often think that such and such a thing would be very +good, and another equally bad and evil, and yet if these things +came to pass, we should sometimes learn that the very reverse was +the case. + +I must now go to bed. I shall have plenty of work to do during +the two months of my stay,--three concertos, two quartets, five +or six duets for the piano, and I also have thoughts of composing +a new grand mass, and dedicating it to the Elector. Adieu! I will +write to Prince Zeill next post-day to press forward matters in +Munich; if you would also write to him, I should be very glad. +But short and to the point--no cringing! for that I cannot bear. +It is quite certain that he can do it if he likes, for all Munich +told me so [see Nos. 56 and 60]. + + + +84. + +Mannheim, Dec. 14, 1777. + +I CAN only write a few words, as I did not get home till four +o'clock, when I had a lesson to give to the young lady of the +house. It is now nearly half-past five, so time to close my +letter. I will ask mamma to write a few days beforehand, so that +all our news may not be of the same date, for I can't easily do +this. The little time that I have for writing must be devoted to +composition, for I have a great deal of work before me. I entreat +you to answer me very soon as to my journey to Paris. I played +over my concertone on the piano to Herr Wendling, who said it was +just the thing for Paris; if I were to play that to Baron Bach, +he would be in ecstasies. Adieu! + + + +85. + +[A P.S. TO A LETTER FROM HIS MOTHER.] + +Mannheim, Dec. 18, 1777. + +IN the greatest haste and hurry! The organ that was tried to-day +in the Lutheran church is very good, not only in certain +registers, but in its whole compass. [Footnote: The mother +writes: "A Lutheran of degree called on us to-day, and invited +Wolfgang, with all due politeness, to try their new organ."] +Vogler played on it. He is only a juggler, so to speak; as soon +as he wishes to play in a majestic style, he becomes dull. +Happily this seems equally tedious to himself, so it does not +last long; but then, what follows? only an incomprehensible +scramble. I listened to him from a distance. He began a fugue, in +chords of six notes, and presto. I then went up to him, for I +would far rather see than hear him. There were a great many +people present, and among the musicians Holzbauer, Cannabich, +Toeschi, &c. + +A quartet for the Indian Dutchman, that true benefactor of man, +will soon be finished. A propos, Herr told me that he had written +to you by the last post. Addio! I was lately obliged to direct +the opera with some violins at Wendling's, Schweitzer being +unwell. + + + +86. + +Mannheim, Dec. 20, 1777. + +I WISH you, dearest papa, a very happy new-year, and that your +health, so precious in my eyes, may daily improve, for the +benefit and happiness of your wife and children, the satisfaction +of your true friends, and for the annoyance and vexation of your +enemies. I hope also that in the coming year you will love me +with the same fatherly tenderness you have hitherto shown me. I +on my part will strive, and honestly strive, to deserve still +more the love of such an admirable father. I was cordially +delighted with your last letter of the 15th of December, for, +thank God! I could gather from it that you are very well indeed. +We, too, are in perfect health, God be praised! Mine is not +likely to fail if constant work can preserve it. I am writing +this at eleven at night, because I have no other leisure time. We +cannot very well rise before eight o'clock, for in our rooms (on +the ground-floor) it is not light till half-past eight. I then +dress quickly; at ten o'clock I sit down to compose till twelve +or half-past twelve, when I go to Wendling's, where I generally +write till half-past one; we then dine. At three o'clock I go to +the Mainzer Hof (an hotel) to a Dutch officer, to give him +lessons in galanterie playing and thorough bass, for which, if I +mistake not, he gives me four ducats for twelve lessons. At four +o'clock I go home to teach the daughter of the house. We never +begin till half past four, as we wait for lights. At six o'clock +I go to Cannabich's to instruct Madlle. Rose. I stay to supper +there, when we converse and sometimes play; I then invariably +take a book out of my pocket and read, as I used to do at +Salzburg. I have already written to you the pleasure your last +letter caused me, which is quite true; only one thing rather +vexed me, the inquiry whether I had not perchance forgotten to go +to confession. I shall not say anything further on this. Only +allow me to make you one request, which is, not to think so badly +of me. I like to be merry, but rest assured that I can be as +serious as any one. Since I quitted Salzburg (and even in +Salzburg) I have met with people who spoke and acted in a way +that I should have felt ashamed to do, though they were ten, +twenty, and thirty years older than myself. I implore of you +therefore once more, and most earnestly, to have a better opinion +of me. + + + +87. + +Mannheim, Dec. 27, 1777. + +A PRETTY sort of paper this! I only wish I could make it better; +but it is now too late to send for any other. You know, from our +previous letters, that mamma and I have a capital lodging. It +never was my intention that she should live apart from me; in +fact, when the Hofkammerrath Serrarius so kindly offered me his +house, I only expressed my thanks, which is by no means saying +yes. The next day I went to see him with Herr Wendling and M. de +Jean (our worthy Dutchman), and only waited till he should +himself begin the subject. At length he renewed his offer, and I +thanked him in these words: "I feel that it is a true proof of +friendship on your part to do me the honor to invite me to live +in your house; but I regret that unfortunately I cannot accept +your most kind proposal. I am sure you will not take it amiss +when I say that I am unwilling to allow my mother to leave me +without sufficient cause; and I certainly know no reason why +mamma should live in one part of the town and I in another. When +I go to Paris, her not going with me would be a considerable +pecuniary advantage to me, but here for a couple of months a few +gulden more or less do not signify." + +By this speech my wish was entirely fulfilled,--that is, that our +board and lodging do not at all events make us poorer. I must go +up-stairs to supper, for we have now chatted till half-past ten +o'clock. I lately went with my scholar, the Dutch officer, M. de +la Pottrie, into the Reformed church, where I played for an hour +and a half on the organ. It came right from my heart too. We-- +that is, the Cannabichs, Wendlings, Serrariuses, and Mozarts--are +going to the Lutheran Church, where I shall amuse myself +gloriously on the organ. I tried its tone at the same rehearsal +that I wrote to you about, but played very little, only a prelude +and a fugue. + +I have made acquaintance with Herr Wieland. He does not, however, +know me as I know him, for he has heard nothing of me as yet. I +had not at all imagined him to be what I find him. He speaks in +rather a constrained way, and has a childish voice, his eyes very +watery, and a certain pedantic uncouthness, and yet at times +provokingly condescending. I am not, however, surprised that he +should choose to behave in this way at Mannheim, though no doubt +very differently at Weimar and elsewhere, for here he is stared +at as if he had fallen from the skies. People seem to be so +ceremonious in his presence, no one speaks, all are as still as +possible, striving to catch every word he utters. It is unlucky +that they are kept so long in expectation, for he has some +impediment in his speech which causes him to speak very slowly, +and he cannot say six words without pausing. Otherwise he is, as +we all know, a man of excellent parts. His face is downright ugly +and seamed with the small-pox, and he has a long nose. His height +is rather beyond that of papa. + +You need have no misgivings as to the Dutchman's 200 florins. I +must now conclude, as I should like to compose for a little time. +One thing more: I suppose I had better not write to Prince Zeill +at present. The reason you no doubt already know, (Munich being +nearer to Salzburg than to Mannheim,) that the Elector is at the +point of death from small-pox. This is certain, so there will be +a struggle there. Farewell! As for mamma's journey home, I think +it could be managed best during Lent, by her joining some +merchants. This is only my own idea; but what I do feel quite +sure of is, that whatever you think right will be best, for you +are not only the Herr Hofcapellmeister, but the most rational of +all rational beings. If you know such a person as papa, tell him +I kiss his hands 1000 times, and embrace my sister from my heart, +and in spite of all this scribbling I am your dutiful son and +affectionate brother. + + + +88. + +Mannheim, Jan. 7, 1778. + +I HOPE you are both well. I am, thank God! in good health and +spirits. You may easily conceive my sorrow at the death of the +Elector of Bavaria. My sole wish is that our Elector here may +have the whole of Bavaria, and transfer himself to Munich. I +think you also would like this. This forenoon at twelve o'clock, +Carl Theodor was proclaimed at court Duke of Bavaria. At Munich, +Count Daun, Oberststallmeister, immediately on the death of the +Prince, received homage in the name of the Elector, and sent the +dragoons to ride all round the environs of the city with trumpets +and kettledrums, and to shout "Long live our Elector, Carl +Theodor!" If all goes well, as I hope it may, Count Daun will +receive a very handsome present. His aid-de-camp, whom he +dispatched here with the tidings, (his name is Lilienau,) got +3000 florins from the Elector. + + + +89. + +Mannheim, Jan 10, 1778 + +YES, indeed! I also wish that from my heart. [Footnote: In the +mother's letter, she had written, "May God grant us the blessing +of peace'" for there was much talk about the invasion of Bavaria +by the Prussians and Austrians, on account of the succession.] +You have already learned my true desire from my last letter. It +is really high time that we should think of mamma's journey home, +for though we have had various rehearsals of the opera, still its +being performed is by no means certain, and if it is not given, +we shall probably leave this on the 15th of February. When that +time arrives, (after receiving your advice on the subject,) I +mean to follow the opinions and habits of my fellow-travellers, +and, like them, order a suit of black clothes, reserving the +laced suit for Germany, as it is no longer the fashion in Paris. +In the first place, it is an economy, (which is my chief object +in my Paris journey,) and, secondly, it wears well and suits both +country and town. You can go anywhere with a black coat. To-day +the tailor brought Herr Wendling his suit. The clothes I think of +taking with me are my puce-brown spagnolet coat, and the two +waistcoats. + +Now for something else. Herr Wieland, after meeting me twice, +seems quite enchanted with me. The last time, after every sort of +eulogium, he said, "It is really fortunate for me having met you +here," and pressed my hand. To-day "Rosamunde" has been rehearsed +in the theatre; it is well enough, but nothing more, for if it +were positively bad it could not be performed, I suppose,--just +as some people cannot sleep without lying in a bed! But there is +no rule without an exception, and I have seen an instance of +this; so good night! Now for something more to the purpose. I +know for certain that the Emperor intends to establish a German +opera in Vienna, and is eagerly looking out for a young +Capellmeister who understands the German language, and has +genius, and is capable of bringing something new into the world. +Benda at Gotha has applied, but Schweitzer is determined to +succeed. I think it would be just the thing for me, but well paid +of course. If the Emperor gives me 1000 gulden, I will write a +German opera for him, and if he does not choose to give me a +permanent engagement, it is all the same to me. Pray write to +every kind friend you can think of in Vienna, that I am capable +of doing credit to the Emperor. If he will do nothing else, he +may at least try me with an opera, and as to what may occur +hereafter I care not. Adieu! I hope you will put the thing in +train at once, or some one may forestall me. + + + +90. + +Mannheim, Jan. 17, 1778. + +NEXT Wednesday I am going for some days to Kirchheim-Boland, the +residence of the Princess of Orange. I have heard so much praise +of her here, that at last I have resolved to go. A Dutch officer, +a particular friend of mine, [M. de la Pottrie,] was much +upbraided by her for not bringing me with him when he went to +offer his new-year's congratulations. I expect to receive at +least eight louis-d'or, for as she has a passionate admiration of +singing, I have had four arias copied out for her. I will also +present her with a symphony, for she has a very nice orchestra +and gives a concert every day. Besides, the copying of the airs +will not cost me much, for a M. Weber who is going there with me +has copied them. He has a daughter who sings admirably, and has a +lovely pure voice; she is only fifteen. [Footnote: Aloysia, +second daughter of the prompter and theatrical copyist, Weber, a +brother of Carl Maria von Weber's father.] She fails in nothing +but in stage action; were it not for that, she might be the prima +donna of any theatre. Her father is a downright honest German who +brings up his children well, for which very reason the girl is +persecuted here. He has six children,--five girls and a son. He +and his wife and children have been obliged to live for the last +fourteen years on an income of 200 florins, but as he has always +done his duty well, and has lately provided a very accomplished +singer for the Elector, he has now actually 400 florins. My aria +for De' Amicis she sings to perfection with all its tremendous +passages: she is to sing it at Kirchheim-Boland. + +Now for another subject. Last Wednesday there was a great feast +in our house, [at Hofkammerrath Serrarius's,] to which I was also +invited. There were fifteen guests, and the young lady of the +house [Pierron, the "House Nymph"] was to play in the evening the +concerto I had taught her at eleven o'clock in the forenoon. The +Herr Kammerrath and Herr Vogler called on me. Herr Vogler seems +quite determined to become acquainted with me, as he often +importuned me to go to see him, but he has overcome his pride and +paid me the first visit. Besides, people tell me that he is now +very different, being no longer so much admired; for at first he +was made quite an idol of here. We went up-stairs together, when +by degrees the guests assembled, and there was no end to talking. +After dinner, Vogler sent for two pianos of his, which were tuned +alike, and also his wearisome engraved sonatas. I had to play +them, while he accompanied me on the other piano. At his urgent +request I sent for my sonatas also. N. B.--Before dinner he had +scrambled through my sonata at sight, (the Litzau one which the +young lady of the house plays.) He took the first part +prestissimo--the Andante allegro--and the Rondo more prestissimo +still. He played great part of the bass very differently from the +way in which it is written, inventing at times quite another +harmony and melody. It is impossible to do otherwise in playing +at such a pace, for the eyes cannot see the notes, nor the hands +get hold of them. What merit is there in this? The listeners (I +mean those worthy of the name) can only say that they have SEEN +music and piano-playing. All this makes them hear, and think, and +feel as little--as he does. You may easily believe that this was +beyond all endurance, because I could not venture to say to him +MUCH TOO QUICK! besides, it is far easier to play a thing quickly +than slowly; some notes may then be dropped without being +observed. But is this genuine music? In rapid playing the right +and left hands may be changed, and no one either see or hear it; +but is this good? and in what does the art of reading prima vista +consist? In this--to play the piece in the time in which it ought +to be played, and to express all the notes and apoggiaturas, &c., +with proper taste and feeling as written, so that it should give +the impression of being composed by the person who plays it. His +fingering also is miserable; his left thumb is just like that of +the late Adlgasser, all the runs downwards with the right hand he +makes with the first finger and thumb! + + + +91. + +Mannheim, Feb. 2 1778. + +I COULD no delay writing to you till the usual Saturday arrived, +because it was so long since I had the pleasure of conversing +with you by means of my pen. The first thing I mean to write +about is how my worthy friends and I got on at Kirchheim-Boland. +It was simply a holiday excursion, and nothing more. On Friday +morning at eight o'clock we drove away from here, after I had +breakfasted with Herr Weber. We had a capital covered coach which +held four; at four o'clock we arrived at Kirchheim-Boland. We +immediately sent a list of our names to the palace. Next morning +early, Herr Concertmeister Rothfischer called on us. He had been +already described to me at Mannheim as a most honorable man, and +such I find him to be. In the evening we went to court, (this was +on Saturday,) where Madlle. Weber sang three airs. I say nothing +of her singing, but it is indeed admirable. I wrote to you lately +with regard to her merits; but I cannot finish this letter +without writing further about her, as I have only recently known +her well, so now first discover her great powers. We dined +afterwards at the officers' table. Next day we went some distance +to church, for the Catholic one is rather far away. This was on +Sunday. In the forenoon we dined again with the officers. In the +evening there was no music, because it was Sunday. Thus they have +music only 300 times during the year. In the evening we might +have supped at court, but we preferred being all together at the +inn. We would gladly have made them a present also of the dinners +at the officers' table, for we were never so pleased as when by +ourselves; but economy rather entered our thoughts, since we were +obliged to pay heavily enough at the inn. + +The following day, Monday, we had music again, and also on +Tuesday and Wednesday. Madlle. Weber sang in all thirteen times, +and played twice on the piano, for she plays by no means badly. +What surprises me most is, that she reads music so well. Only +think of her playing my difficult sonatas at sight, SLOWLY, but +without missing a single note. I give you my honor I would rather +hear my sonatas played by her than by Vogler. I played twelve +times, and once, by desire, on the organ of the Lutheran church. +I presented the Princess with four symphonies, and received only +seven louis-d'or in silver, and our poor dear Madlle. Weber only +five. This I certainly did not anticipate! I never expected great +things, but at all events I hoped that each of us would at least +receive eight louis-d'or. Basta! We were not, however, losers, +for I have a profit of forty-two florins, and the inexpressible +pleasure of becoming better acquainted with worthy upright +Christian people, and good Catholics, I regret much not having +known them long ago. + +The 4th.--Now comes something urgent, about which I request an +answer. Mamma and I have discussed the matter, and we agree that +we do not like the sort of life the Wendlings lead. Wendling is a +very honorable and kind man, but unhappily devoid of all +religion, and the whole family are the same. I say enough when I +tell you that his daughter was a most disreputable character. +Ramm is a good fellow, but a libertine. I know myself, and I have +such a sense of religion that I shall never do anything which I +would not do before the whole world; but I am alarmed even at the +very thoughts of being in the society of people, during my +journey, whose mode of thinking is so entirely different from +mine (and from that of all good people). But of course they must +do as they please. I have no heart to travel with them, nor could +I enjoy one pleasant hour, nor know what to talk about; for, in +short, I have no great confidence in them. Friends who have no +religion cannot he long our friends. I have already given them a +hint of this by saying that during my absence three letters had +arrived, of which I could for the present divulge nothing further +than that it was unlikely I should be able to go with them to +Paris, but that perhaps I might come later, or possibly go +elsewhere; so they must not depend on me. I shall be able to +finish my music now quite at my ease for De Jean, who is to give +me 200 florins for it. I can remain here as long as I please, and +neither board nor lodging cost me anything. In the meantime Herr +Weber will endeavor to make various engagements for concerts with +me, and then we shall travel together. If I am with him, it is +just as if I were with you. This is the reason that I like him so +much; except in personal appearance, he resembles you in all +respects, and has exactly your character and mode of thinking. If +my mother were not, as you know, too COMFORTABLY LAZY to write, +she would say precisely what I do. I must confess that I much +enjoyed my excursion with them. We were pleased and merry; I +heard a man converse just like you; I had no occasion to trouble +myself about anything; what was torn I found repaired. In short, +I was treated like a prince. I am so attached to this oppressed +family that my greatest wish is to make them happy, and perhaps I +may be able to do so. My advice is that they should go to Italy, +so I am all anxiety for you to write to our good friend Lugiati +[impresario], and the sooner the better, to inquire what are the +highest terms given to a prima donna in Verona--the more the +better, for it is always easy to accept lower terms. Perhaps it +would be possible to obtain the Ascensa in Venice. I will be +answerable with my life for her singing, and her doing credit to +my recommendation. She has, even during this short period, +derived much profit from me, and how much further progress she +will have made by that time! I have no fears either with regard +to her acting. If this plan be realized, M. Weber, his two +daughters, and I, will have the happiness of visiting my dear +papa and dear sister for a fortnight, on our way through +Salzburg. My sister will find a friend and companion in Madlle. +Weber, for, like my sister in Salzburg, she enjoys the best +reputation here, owing to the careful way in which she has been +brought up; the father resembles you, and the whole family that +of Mozart. They have indeed detractors, as with us, but when it +comes to the point they must confess the truth; and truth lasts +longest. I should be glad to go with them to Salzburg, that you +might hear her. My air that De' Amicis used to sing, and the +bravura aria "Parto m' affretto," and "Dalla sponda tenebrosa," +she sings splendidly. Pray do all you can to insure our going to +Italy together. You know my greatest desire is--to write operas. + +I will gladly write an opera for Verona for thirty zecchini, +solely that Madlle. Weber may acquire fame by it; for, if I do +not, I fear she may be sacrificed. Before then I hope to make so +much money by visiting different places that I shall be no loser. +I think we shall go to Switzerland, perhaps also to Holland; pray +write to me soon about this. Should we stay long anywhere, the +eldest daughter [Josepha, afterwards Madaine Hofer, for whom the +part of the Queen of the Night in the "Flauto magico" was +written] would be of the greatest use to us; for we could have +our own menage, as she understands cooking. + +Send me an answer soon, I beg. Don't forget my wish to write an +opera; I envy every person who writes one; I could almost weep +from vexation when I hear or see an aria. But Italian, not +German--seria, not buffa! I have now written you all that is in +my heart; my mother is satisfied with my plan. + +The mother, however, adds the following postscript:-- + +"No doubt you perceive by the accompanying letter that when +Wolfgang makes new friends he would give his life for them. It is +true that she does sing incomparably; still, we ought not to lose +sight of our own interests. I never liked his being in the +society of Wendling and Ramm, but I did not venture to object to +it, nor would he have listened to me; but no sooner did he know +these Webers than he instantly changed his mind. In short, he +prefers other people to me, for I remonstrate with him sometimes, +and that he does not like. I write this quite secretly while he +is at dinner, for I don't wish him to know it." + +A few days later Wolfgang urges his father still more strongly. + + + +92. + +Mannheim, Feb. 7, 1778. + +HERR SCHIEDENHOFEN might have let me know long ago through you +that his wedding was soon to take place [see Nos. 7, 10, 19], and +I would have composed a new minuet for the occasion. I cordially +wish him joy; but his is, after all, only one of those money +matches, and nothing else! I hope never to marry in this way; I +wish to make my wife happy, but not to become rich by her means; +so I will let things alone, and enjoy my golden freedom till I am +so well off that I can support both wife and children. Herr +Schiedenhofen was forced to choose a rich wife; his title imposed +this on him. The nobility must not marry for love or from +inclination, but from interest, and all kinds of other +considerations. It would not at all suit a grandee to love his +wife after she had done her duty, and brought into the world an +heir to the property. But we poor humble people are privileged +not only to choose a wife who loves us, and whom we love, but we +may, can, and do take such a one, because we are neither noble, +nor highborn, nor rich, but, on the contrary, lowly, humble, and +poor; we therefore need no wealthy wife, for our riches being in +our heads, die with us, and these no man can deprive us of unless +he cut them off, in which case we need nothing more. + +I lately wrote to you my chief reason for not going to Paris with +these people, but another is that I have reflected well on what I +have to do in Paris. I could not get on passably without pupils, +which is a kind of work that does not suit me--of this I have a +strong example here. I might have had two pupils: I went three +times to each, but finding one of them not at home, I never went +back. I am willing to give lessons out of complaisance, +especially when I see genius, and inclination and anxiety to +learn; but to be obliged to go to a house at a certain hour, or +else to wait at home, is what I cannot submit to, if I were to +gain twice what I do. I find it impossible, so must leave it to +those who can do nothing but play the piano. I am a composer, and +born to become a Kapellmeister, and I neither can nor ought thus +to bury the talent for composition with which God has so richly +endowed me (I may say this without arrogance, for I feel it now +more than ever); and this I should do were I to take many pupils, +for it is a most unsettled metier; and I would rather, SO TO +SPEAK, neglect the piano than composition, for I look on the +piano to be only a secondary consideration, though, thank God! a +very strong one too. My third reason is, that I am by no means +sure our friend Grimm is in Paris. If he is, I can go there at +any time with the post-carriage, for a capital one travels from +here to Paris by Strassburg. We intended at all events to have +gone by it. They travel also in this way. Herr Wendling is +inconsolable at my not going with them, but I believe this +proceeds more from self-interest than from friendship. Besides +the reason I gave him (about the three letters that had come +during my absence), I also told him about the pupils, and begged +him to procure something certain for me, in which case I would be +only too glad to follow him to Paris, (for I can easily do so,)-- +above all, if I am to write an opera, which is always in my +thoughts; but French rather than German, and Italian rather than +French or German. The Wendlings, one and all, are of opinion that +my compositions would please much in Paris. I have no fears on +the subject, for, as you know, I can pretty well adapt or conform +myself to any style of composition. Shortly after my arrival I +composed a French song for Madlle. Gustel (the daughter), who +gave me the words, and she sings it inimitably. I have the +pleasure to enclose it for you. It is sung every day at +Wendling's, for they are quite infatuated with it. + + + +93. + +Mannheim, Feb. 14, 1778. + +I PERCEIVE by your letter of the 9th of February that you have +not yet received my last two letters. Wendling and Kamm leave +this early to-morrow morning. If I thought that you would be +really displeased with me for not going to Paris with them, I +should repent having stayed here; but I hope it is not so. The +road to Paris is still open to me. Wendling has promised to +inquire immediately about Herr Grimm, and to send me information +at once. With such a friend in Paris, I certainly shall go there, +for no doubt he will bring something to bear for me. The main +cause of my not going with them is, that we have not been able to +arrange about mamma returning to Augsburg. The journey will not +cost much, for there are vetturini here who can be engaged at a +cheap rate. By that time, however, I hope to have made enough to +pay mamma's journey home. Just now I don't really see that it is +possible. Herr de Jean sets off to-morrow for Paris, and as I +have only finished two concertos and three quartets for him, he +sent me 96 florins (having made a mistake of four florins, +thinking this sum the half of the 200); he must, however, pay me +in full, for such was the agreement I made with Wendling, and I +can send him the other pieces. It is not surprising that I have +been unable to finish them, for I never have a single quiet hour +here. I can only write at night, so I cannot rise early; besides, +one is not always disposed to work. I could, to be sure, scrawl +away all day, but a thing of this kind goes forth to the world, +and I am resolved not to have cause to be ashamed of my name on +the title-page. Moreover, you know that I become quite obtuse +when obliged to write perpetually for an instrument that I cannot +bear; so from time to time I do something else, such as duets for +the piano and violin, and I also worked at the mass. Now I have +begun the pianoforte duets in good earnest, in order to publish +them. If the Elector were only here, I would very quickly finish +the mass; but what must be must be! + +I am very grateful to you, dear papa, for your fatherly letter; I +will preserve it as a treasure, and always refer to it. Pray do +not forget about my mother's journey from Augsburg to Salzburg, +and let me know the precise day; and I beg you will also remember +the arias I mentioned in my last letter. If I recollect rightly, +there are also some cadenzas which I once jotted down, and at all +events an aria cantabile with coloraturas? I wish to have these +first, for they will serve as exercises for Madlle. Weber. I have +just taught her an andantino cantabile of Bach's. Yesterday there +was a concert at Cannabich's, where from first to last all the +music was of my composition, except the first symphony, which was +Cannabich's. Madlle. Rose played my concerto in B, then Herr Ramm +(by way of a change) played for the fifth time the hautboy +concerto dedicated to Ferlendi, which makes a great sensation +here. It is now quite Ramm's cheval de bataille. Madlle. Weber +sang De' Amicis's aria di bravura quite charmingly. Then I played +my old concerto in D, because it is such a favorite here, and +likewise extemporized for half an hour, after which Madlle. Weber +sang De' Amicis's air, "Parto m' affretto;" and, as a finale, my +symphony "Il Re Pastore" was given. I do entreat you urgently to +interest yourself in Madlle. Weber; it would make me so happy if +good-fortune were to attend her. Husband and wife, five children, +and a salary of 450 florins! Don't forget about Italy, and my +desire to go there; you know my strong wish and passion. I hope +all may go right. I place my trust in God, who will never forsake +us. Now farewell, and don't forget all my requests and +recommendations. + +These letters alarmed the father exceedingly, so he wrote a long +and very earnest letter to his son as follows:--"The object of +your journey was to assist your parents, and to contribute to +your dear sister's welfare, but, above all, that you might +acquire honor and fame in the world, which you in some degree did +in your boyhood; and now it rests entirely with you to raise +yourself by degrees to one of the highest positions ever attained +by any musician. This is a duty you owe to a kind Providence in +return for the remarkable talents with which He has gifted you; +and it depends wholly on your own good sense and good conduct, +whether you become a commonplace artist whom the world will +forget, or a celebrated Capellmeister, of whom posterity will +read hereafter in books,--whether, infatuated with some pretty +face, you one day breathe your last on a straw sack, your wife +and children in a state of starvation, or, after a well-spent +Christian life, die peacefully in honor and independence, and +your family well provided for." He goes on to represent to him +how little he has hitherto fulfilled the object of his journey, +and, above all, the folly of wishing to place so young a girl on +the Italian stage as a prima donna, both time and great training +being previously required. Moreover, it would be quite unworthy +of him to wander about the world with strangers, and to compose +at random merely for money. "Get off to Paris without delay. Take +your place by the side of really great people. Aut Caesar aut +nihil. The very idea of Paris should have guarded you from all +passing fancies." + +To this Wolfgang replies:-- + + + +94. + +Mannheim, Feb. 19, 1778. + +I ALWAYS thought that you would disapprove of my journey with the +Webers, but I never had any such intention--I mean, UNDER PRESENT +CIRCUMSTANCES. I gave them my word of honor to write to you to +that effect. Herr Weber does not know how we stand, and I +certainly shall tell it to no one. I wish my position had been +such that I had no cause to consider any one else, and that we +were all independent; but in the intoxication of the moment I +forgot the present impossibility of the affair, and also to tell +you what I had done. The reasons of my not being now in Paris +must be evident to you from my last two letters. If my mother had +not first begun on the subject, I certainly would have gone with +my friends; but when I saw that she did not like it, I began to +dislike it also. When people lose confidence in me, I am apt to +lose confidence in myself. The days when, standing on a stool, I +sang Oragna fiaguta fa, [Footnote: Words sounding like Italian, +but devoid of meaning, for which he had invented a melody. Nissen +gives it in his Life of Mozart, p. 35.] and at the end kissed the +tip of your nose, are indeed gone by; but still, have my +reverence, love, and obedience towards yourself ever failed on +that account? I say no more. As for your reproach about the +little singer in Munich [see No. 62], I must confess that I was +an ass to write such a complete falsehood. She does not as yet +know even what singing means. It was true that, for a person who +had only learned music for three months, she sang surprisingly; +and, besides, she has a pleasing pure voice. The reason why I +praised her so much was probably my hearing people say, from +morning to night, "There is no better singer in all Europe; those +who have not heard her have heard nothing." I did not venture to +disagree with them, partly because I wished to acquire friends, +and partly because I had come direct from Salzburg, where we are +not in the habit of contradicting any one; but as soon as I was +alone I never could help laughing. Why, then, did I not laugh at +her in my letter to you? I really cannot tell. + +The bitter way in which you write about my merry and innocent +intercourse with your brother's daughter, makes me justly +indignant; but as it is not as you think, I require to give you +no answer on the subject. I don't know what to say about +Wallerstein; I was very grave and reserved with Becke, and at the +officers' table also I had a very serious demeanor, not saying +one word to anybody. But let this all pass; you only wrote it in +a moment of irritation [see No. 74]. Your remarks about Madlle. +Weber are just; but at the time I wrote to you I knew quite as +well as you that she is still too young, and must be first taught +how to act, and must rehearse frequently on the stage. But with +some people one must proceed step by step. These good people are +as tired of being here as--you know WHO and WHERE, [meaning the +Mozarts, father and son, in Salzburg,] and they think everything +feasible. I promised them to write everything to my father; but +when the letter was sent off to Salzburg, I constantly told her +that she must have a little patience, for she was still rather +too young, &c. They take in all I say in good part, for they have +a high opinion of me. By my advice, Herr Weber has engaged +Madlle. Toscani (an actress) to give his daughter lessons in +acting. All you write of Madlle. Weber is true, except, that she +sings like a Gabrielli, [see Nos. 10, 37,] for I should not at +all like her to sing in that style. Those who have heard +Gabrielli say, and must say, that she was only an adept in runs +and roulades; but as she adopted so uncommon a reading, she +gained admiration, which, however, did not last longer than +hearing her four times. She could not please in the long run, for +roulades soon become very tiresome, and she had the misfortune of +not being able to sing. She was not capable of sustaining a breve +properly, and having no messa di voce, she could not dwell on her +notes; in short, she sang with skill, but devoid of intelligence. +Madlle. Weber's singing, on the contrary, goes to the heart, and +she prefers a cantabile. I have lately made her practise the +passages in the Grand Aria, because, if she goes to Italy, it is +necessary that she should sing bravuras. The cantabile she +certainly will never forget, being her natural bent. Raaff (who +is no flatterer), when asked to give his sincere opinion, said, +"She does not sing like a scholar, but like a professor." + +So now you know everything. I do still recommend her to you with +my whole heart, and I beg you will not forget about the arias, +cadenzas, &c. I can scarcely write from actual hunger. My mother +will display the contents of our large money-box. I embrace my +sister lovingly. She is not to lament about every trifle, or I +will never come back to her. + + + +95. + +Mannheim, Feb. 22, 1778. + +I HAVE been now two days confined to the house, and taking +antispasmodics, black powders, and elderflower tea as a +sudorific, because I have had a catarrh, a cold in my head, sore +throat, headache, pains in my eyes, and earache; but, thank God, +I am now better, and hope to be able to go out tomorrow, being +Sunday. I got your letter of the 16th and the two unsealed +letters of introduction for Paris. I rejoice that my French song +pleases you [see No. 92]. You must forgive my not writing much +this time, but I really cannot--I am so afraid of bringing back +my headache, and, besides, I feel no inclination to write to-day. +It is impossible to write all we think--at least, I find it to be +so. I would rather say it than write it. My last letter told you +the whole thing just as it stands. Believe what you please of me, +only nothing bad. There are people who think no one can love a +poor girl without evil designs. But I am no Brunetti [a violinist +in Salzburg], no Misliweczeck. I am a Mozart; and, though young, +still a high-principled Mozart. Pardon me if, in my eagerness, I +become somewhat excited--which is, I suppose, the term, though I +might rather say, if I write as I feel. I might have said a great +deal on this subject, but I cannot--I feel it to be impossible. +Among my many faults I have also that of believing that those +friends who know me, do so thoroughly. Then many words are not +necessary; and if they do not know me, oh! how could I find words +sufficient? It is painful enough to employ words and letters for +such a purpose. This, however, is not at all meant to apply to +you, dearest papa. No! You understand me too well, and you are +too kind to try to deprive any one of his good name. I only meant +it for--you can guess to whom I allude--to people who can believe +such a thing. + +I have resolved to stay in the house to-day, although Sunday, as +it is snowing heavily. To-morrow I must go out, for our "house- +nymph," Madlle. Pierron, my highly esteemed pupil, who has +usually a French concert every Monday, intends to scramble +through my hochgrafliche Litzau concerto. I also mean, for my +sins, to let them give me something to hack away at, and show +that I can do something too prima fista; for I am a regular +greenhorn, and all I can do is to strum a little on the piano! I +must now conclude, being more disposed to-day to write music than +letters. Don't forget the cadenzas and the cantabile. Many thanks +for having had the arias written out so quickly, for it shows +that you place confidence in me when I beg a favor of you. + + + + +96. + +Mannheim, Feb. 28, 1778. + +I HOPE to receive the arias next Friday or Saturday, although in +your last letter you made no further mention of them, so I don't +know whether you sent them off on the 22d by the post-carriage. I +hope so, for I should like to play and sing them to Madlle. +Weber. I was yesterday at Raafl's to take him an aria that I +lately wrote for him [Kochel, No. 295]. The words are--"Se al +labbro mio non credi, nemica mia." I don't think they are by +Metastasio. The aria pleased him beyond all measure. It is +necessary to be very particular with a man of this kind. I chose +these words expressly, because he had already composed an aria +for them, so of course he can sing it with greater facility, and +more agreeably to himself. I told him to say honestly if it did +not suit his voice or please him, for I would alter it if he +wished, or write another. "Heaven forbid!" said he; "it must +remain just as it is, for nothing can be more beautiful. I only +wish you to curtail it a little, for I am no longer able to +sustain my voice through so long a piece." "Most gladly," I +answered, "as much as ever you please; I made it purposely rather +long, for it is always easy to shorten, but not so easy to +lengthen." After he had sung the second part, he took off his +spectacles, and, looking at me deliberately, said, "Beautiful! +beautiful! This second part is quite charming;" and he sang it +three times. When I went away he cordially thanked me, while I +assured him that I would so arrange the aria that he would +certainly like to sing it. I think an aria should fit a singer as +accurately as a well-made coat. I have also, for practice, +arranged the air "Non so d' onde viene" which has been so +charmingly composed by Bach. Just because I know that of Bach so +well, and it pleases me and haunts my ear, I wished to try if, in +spite of all this, I could succeed in writing an aria totally +unlike the other. And, indeed, it does not in the very least +resemble it. I at first intended this aria for Raaff; but the +beginning seemed to me too high for Raaff's voice, but it pleased +me so much that I would not alter it; and from the orchestral +accompaniment, too, I thought it better suited to a soprano. I +therefore resolved to write it for Madlle. Weber. I laid it +aside, and took the words "Se al labbro" for Raaff. But all in +vain, for I could write nothing else, as the first air always +came back into my head; so I returned to it, with the intention +of making it exactly in accordance with Madlle. Weber's voice. It +is andante sostenuto, (preceded by a short recitative,) then +follows the other part, Nel seno destarmi, and after this the +sostenuto again. When it was finished, I said to Madlle. Weber, +"Learn the air by yourself, sing it according to your own taste, +then let me hear it, and I will afterwards tell you candidly what +pleases and what displeases me." + +In the course of a couple of days I went to see her, when she +sang it for me and accompanied herself, and I was obliged to +confess that she had sung it precisely as I could have wished, +and as I would have taught it to her myself. This is now the best +aria that she has, and will insure her success whereever she +goes. [Footnote: This wonderfully beautiful aria is appended to +my Life of Mozart.--Stuttgart, Bruckmaun, 1863.] Yesterday at +Wendling's I sketched the aria I promised his wife [Madame +Wendling was a fine singer], with a short recitative. The words +were chosen by himself from "Didone": "Ah non lasciarmi no." She +and her daughter quite rave about this air. I promised the +daughter also some French ariettes, one of which I began to-day. +I think with delight of the Concert Spirituel in Paris, for +probably I shall be desired to compose something for it. The +orchestra is said to be good and numerous, so my favorite style +of composition can be well given there--I mean choruses, and I am +very glad to hear that the French place so much value on this +class of music. The only fault found with Piccini's [Gluck's +well-known rival] new opera "Roland" is that the choruses are too +meagre and weak, and the music also a little monotonous; +otherwise it was universally liked. In Paris they are accustomed +to hear nothing but Gluck's choruses. Only place confidence in +me; I shall strive with all my might to do honor to the name of +Mozart. I have no fears at all on the subject. + +My last letters must have shown you HOW THINGS ARE, and WHAT I +REALLY MEANT. I do entreat of you never to allow the thought to +cross your mind that I can ever forget you, for I cannot bear +such an idea. My chief aim is, and always will be, to endeavor +that we may meet soon and happily, but we must have patience. You +know even better than I do that things often take a perverse +turn, but they will one day go straight--only patience! Let us +place our trust in God, who will never forsake us. I shall not be +found wanting; how can you possibly doubt me? Surely it concerns +me also to work with all my strength, that I may have the +pleasure and the happiness (the sooner the better, too) of +embracing from my heart my dearest and kindest father. But, lo +and behold! nothing in this world is wholly free from interested +motives. If war should break out in Bavaria, I do hope you will +come and join me at once. I place faith in three friends--and +they are powerful and invincible ones--namely, God, and your head +and mine. Our heads are, indeed, very different, but each in its +own way is good, serviceable, and useful; and in time I hope mine +may by degrees equal yours in that class of knowledge in which +you at present surpass me. Farewell! Be merry and of good cheer! +Remember that you have a son who never intentionally failed in +his filial duty towards you, and who will strive to become daily +more worthy of so good a father. + +After these frank confessions, which would, he knew, restore the +previous good understanding between him and his father, Mozart's +genuine good heart was so relieved and lightened, that the +natural balance of his mind, which had for some weeks past been +entirely destroyed, was speedily restored, and his usual lively +humor soon began to revive. Indeed, his old delight in doggerel +rhymes and all kinds of silly puns seems to return. He indulges +fully in these in a letter to his Basle (cousin), which is +undoubtedly written just after the previous one. + + + +97. + +Mannheim, Feb. 28, 1778. + +MADEMOISELLE, MA TRES-CHERE COUSINE,-- + +You perhaps think or believe that I must be dead? Not at all! I +beg you will not think so, for how could I write so beautifully +if I were dead? Could such a thing be possible? I do not attempt +to make any excuses for my long silence, for you would not +believe me if I did. But truth is truth; I have had so much to do +that though I have had time to think of my cousin, I have had no +time to write to her, so I was obliged to let it alone. But at +last I have the honor to inquire how you are, and how you fare? +If we soon shall have a talk? If you write with a lump of chalk? +If I am sometimes in your mind? If to hang yourself you're +inclined? If you're angry with me, poor fool? If your wrath +begins to cool?--Oh! you are laughing! VICTORIA! I knew you could +not long resist me, and in your favor would enlist me. Yes! yes! +I know well how this is, though I'm in ten days off to Paris. If +you write to me from pity, do so soon from Augsburg city, so that +I may get your letter, which to me would be far better. + +Now let us talk of other things. Were you very merry during the +Carnival? They are much gayer at Augsburg at that time than here. +I only wish I had been there that I might have frolicked about +with you. Mamma and I send our love to your father and mother, +and to our cousin, and hope they are well and happy; better so, +so better! A propos, how goes on your French? May I soon write +you a French letter? from Paris, I suppose? + +Now, before I conclude, which I must soon do because I am in +haste, (having just at this moment nothing to do,) and also have +no more room, as you see my paper is done, and I am very tired, +and my fingers tingling from writing so much, and lastly, even if +I had room, I don't know what I could say, except, indeed, a +story which I have a great mind to tell you. So listen! It is not +long since it happened, and in this very country too, where it +made a great sensation, for really it seemed almost incredible, +and, indeed, between ourselves, no one yet knows the result of +the affair. So, to be brief, about four miles from here--I can't +remember the name of the place, but it was either a village or a +hamlet, or something of that kind. Well, after all, it don't much +signify whether it was called Triebetrill or Burmsquick; there is +no doubt that it was some place or other. There a shepherd or +herdsman lived, who was pretty well advanced in years, but still +looked strong and robust; he was unmarried and well-to-do, and +lived happily. But before telling you the story, I must not +forget to say that this man had a most astounding voice when he +spoke; he terrified people when he spoke! Well! to make my tale +as short as possible, you must know that he had a dog called +Bellot, a very handsome large dog, white with black spots. Well! +this shepherd was going along with his sheep, for he had a flock +of eleven thousand under his care, and he had a staff in his +hand, with a pretty rose-colored topknot of ribbons, for he never +went out without his staff; such was his invariable custom. Now +to proceed; being tired, after having gone a couple of miles, he +sat down on a bank beside a river to rest. At last he fell +asleep, when he dreamt that he had lost all his sheep, and this +fear awoke him, but to his great joy he saw his flock close +beside him. At length he got up again and went on, but not for +long; indeed, half an hour could scarcely have elapsed, when he +came to a bridge which was very long, but with a parapet on both +sides to prevent any one falling into the river. Well; he looked +at his flock, and as he was obliged to cross the bridge, he began +to drive over his eleven thousand sheep. Now be so obliging as to +wait till the eleven thousand sheep are all safely across, and +then I will finish the story. I already told you that the result +is not yet known; I hope, however, that by the time I next write +to you, all the sheep will have crossed the bridge; but if not, +why should I care? So far as I am concerned, they might all have +stayed on this side. In the meantime you must accept the story so +far as it goes; what I really know to be true I have written, and +it is better to stop now than to tell you what is false, for in +that case you would probably have discredited the whole, whereas +now you will only disbelieve one half. + +I must conclude, but don't think me rude; he who begins must +cease, or the world would have no peace. My compliments to every +friend, welcome to kiss me without end, forever and a day, till +good sense comes my way; and a fine kissing that will be, which +frightens you as well as me. Adieu, ma chere cousine! I am, I +was, I have been, oh! that I were, would to heavens I were! I +will or shall be, would, could, or should be--what?--A blockhead! +W. A. M. + + + +98. + +Mannheim, March 7, 1778. + +I have received your letter on the 26th February, and am much +obliged to you for all the trouble you have taken about the +arias, which are quite accurate in every respect. "Next to God +comes papa" was my axiom when a child, and I still think the +same. You are right when you say that "knowledge is power"; +besides, except your trouble and fatigue, you will have no cause +for regret, as Madlle. Weber certainly deserves your kindness. I +only wish that you could hear her sing my new aria which I lately +mentioned to you,--I say, hear her sing it, because it seems made +expressly for her; a man like you who really understands what +portamento in singing means, would certainly feel the most +intense pleasure in hearing her. When I am happily settled in +Paris, and our circumstances, please God, improved, and we are +all more cheerful and in better humor, I will write you my +thoughts more fully, and ask you to do me a great kindness. I +must now tell you I was so shocked that tears came to my eyes, on +reading in your last letter that you are obliged to go about so +shabbily dressed. My very dearest papa, this is certainly not my +fault; you know it is not. We economize in every possible way +here; food and lodging, wood and light, cost us nothing, which is +all we could hope for. As for dress, you are well aware that, in +places where you are not known, it is out of the question to be +badly dressed, for appearances must be kept up. + +My whole hopes are now centred in Paris, for German princes are +all niggards. I mean to work with all my strength, that I may +soon have the happiness of extricating you from your present +distressing circumstances. + + + +99. + +Mannheim, March. 11, 1778. + +I HAVE duly received your letter of the 26th February, and learn +from it with great joy that our best and kindest of all friends, +Baron Grimm [the well-known Encyclopedist, with whom Mozart had +become acquainted during his last visit to France], is now in +Paris. The vetturino has offered to convey us to Paris by Metz +(which, as you probably know, is the shortest route) for eleven +louis-d'or. If to-morrow he agrees to do it for ten, I shall +certainly engage him, and perhaps at eleven, for even then it +will be the cheapest way for us, which is the main point, and +more convenient too, for he will take our carriage--that is, he +will place the body on wheels of his own. The convenience is +great, as we have so many small packages that we can stow away +quite comfortably in our own carriage, which we cannot do in the +DILIGENCE, and besides we shall be alone and able to talk as we +like. But I do assure you that if, after all, we go in the +DILIGENCE, my sole annoyance is the bore of not being able to say +what we choose and wish, though, as it is very necessary that we +should take the cheapest conveyance, I am still rather disposed +to do so. + + + +THIRD PART +PARIS. +MARCH 1778 TO JANUARY 1779. + + + +PART III. + + + +100. + +Paris, March 24, 1778. + +YESTERDAY (Monday, the 23d), at four o'clock in the afternoon, we +arrived here, thank God! safely, having been nine days and a half +on our journey. We thought we really could not have gone through +with it; in my life I never was so wearied. You may easily +imagine what it was to leave Mannheim and so many dear kind +friends, and then to travel for ten days, not only without these +friends, but without any human being--without a single soul whom +we could associate with or even speak to. Now, thank Heaven! we +are at our destination, and I trust that, with the help of God, +all will go well. To-day we are to take a fiacre and go in quest +of Grimm and Wendling. Early to-morrow I intend to call on the +Minister of the Palatinate, Herr von Sickingen, (a great +connoisseur and passionate lover of music, and for whom I have +two letters from Herr von Gemmingen and M. Cannabich.) Before +leaving Mannheim I had the quartet transcribed that I wrote at +Lodi one evening in the inn there, and also the quintet and the +Fischer variations for Herr von Gemmingen [author of the +"Deutsche Hausvater"], on which he wrote me a most polite note, +expressing his pleasure at the souvenir I had left him, and +sending me a letter to his intimate friend Herr von Sickingen, +adding, "I feel sure that you will be a greater recommendation to +the letter than the letter can possibly be to you;" and, to repay +the expense of writing out the music, he sent me three louis- +d'or; he also assured me of his friendship, and requested mine in +return. I must say that all those who knew me, Hofrathe, +Kammerrathe, and other high-class people, as well as all the +court musicians, were very grieved and reluctant to see me go; +and really and truly so. + +We left on Saturday, the 14th, and on the previous Thursday there +was an afternoon concert at Cannabich's, where my concerto for +three pianos was given. Madlle. Rose Cannabich played the first, +Madlle. Weber the second, and Madlle. Pierron Serrarius (our +"house-nymph") the third. We had three rehearsals of the +concerto, and it went off well. Madlle. Weber sang three arias of +mine, the "Aer tranquillo" from the "Re Pastore," [Footnote: A +festal opera that Mozart had composed in 1775, in honor of the +visit of the Archduke Maximilian Francis to Salzburg.] and the +new "Non so d' onde viene." With this last air my dear Madlle. +Weber gained very great honor both for herself and for me. All +present said that no aria had ever affected them like this one; +and, indeed, she sang it as it ought to be sung. The moment it +was finished, Cannabich exclaimed, "Bravo! bravissimo maestro! +veramente scritta da maestro!" It was given for the first time on +this occasion with instruments. I should like you to have heard +it also, exactly as it was executed and sung there, with such +precision in time and taste, and in the pianos and fortes. Who +knows? you may perhaps still hear her. I earnestly hope so. The +members of the orchestra never ceased praising the aria and +talking about it. + +I have many kind friends at Mannheim (both highly esteemed and +rich) who wished very much to keep me there. Well! where I am +properly paid, I am content to be. Who can tell? it may still +come to pass. I wish it may; and thus it ever is with me--I live +always in hope. Herr Cannabich is an honorable, worthy man, and a +kind friend of mine. He has only one fault, which is, that +although no longer very young, he is rather careless and absent, +--if you are not constantly before his eyes, he is very apt to +forget all about you. But where the interests of a real friend +are in question, he works like a horse, and takes the deepest +interest in the matter; and this is of great use, for he has +influence. I cannot, however, say much in favor of his courtesy +or gratitude; the Webers (for whom I have not done half so much), +in spite of their poverty and obscurity, have shown themselves +far more grateful. Madame Cannabich and her daughter never +thanked me by one single word, much less thought of offering me +some little remembrance, however trifling, merely as a proof of +kindly feeling; but nothing of the sort, not even thanks, though +I lost so much time in teaching the daughter, and took such pains +with her. She can now perfectly well perform before any one; as a +girl only fourteen, and an amateur, she plays remarkably well, +and for this they have to thank me, which indeed is very well +known to all in Mannheim. She has now neatness, time, and good +fingering, as well as even shakes, which she had not formerly. +They will find that they miss me much three months hence, for I +fear she will again be spoiled, and spoil herself; unless she has +a master constantly beside her, and one who thoroughly +understands what he is about, she will do no good, for she is +still too childish and giddy to practise steadily and carefully +alone. [Footnote: Rosa Cannabich became, indeed, a remarkable +virtuoso. C L. Junker mentions her, even in his musical almanac +of 1783, among the most eminent living artists.] + +Madlle. Weber paid me the compliment kindly to knit two pairs of +mits for me, as a remembrance and slight acknowledgment. M. Weber +wrote out whatever I required gratis, gave me the music-paper, +and also made me a present of Moliere's Comedies (as he knew that +I had never read them), with this inscription:--"Ricevi, amico, +le opere di Moliere, in segno di gratitudine, e qualche volta +ricordati di me." [Footnote: "Accept, my dear friend, Moliere's +works as a token of my gratitude; and sometimes think of me."] +And when alone with mamma he said, "Our best friend, our +benefactor, is about to leave us. There can be no doubt that your +son has done a great deal for my daughter, and interested himself +much about her, and she cannot be too thankful to him." +[Footnote: Aloysia Weber became afterwards Madame Lange. She had +great fame as a singer. We shall hear more of her in the Vienna +letters.] The day before I set off, they would insist on my +supping with them, but I managed to give them two hours before +supper instead. They never ceased thanking me, and saying they +only wished they were in a position to testify their gratitude, +and when I went away they all wept. Pray forgive me, but really +tears come to my eyes when I think of it. Weber came down-stairs +with me, and remained standing at the door till I turned the +corner and called out Adieu! + +In Paris he at once plunged into work, so that his love-affair +was for a time driven into the background. Compositions for the +Concert Spirituel, for the theatre, and for dilettanti, as well +as teaching and visits to great people, occupied him. His mother +writes: "I cannot describe to you how much Wolfgang is beloved +and praised here. Herr Wendling had said much in his favor before +he came, and has presented him to all his friends. He can dine +daily, if he chooses, with Noverre [the famed ballet-master], and +also with Madame d'Epinay" [Grimm's celebrated friend]. The +mother herself scarcely saw him all day, for on account of their +small close apartment, he was obliged to compose at Director Le +Gros's house. She had (womanlike) written to the father about the +composition of a Miserere. Wolfgang continues the letter, more +fully explaining the matter. + + + +101. + +Paris, April 5, 1778. + +I MUST now explain more, clearly what mamma alludes to, as she +has written rather obscurely. Capellmeister Holzbauer has sent a +Miserere here, but as the choruses at Mannheim are weak and poor, +whereas here they are strong and good, his choruses would make no +effect. M. Le Gros (Director of the Concert Spirituel) requested +me therefore to compose others; Holzbauer's introductory chorus +being retained. "Quoniam iniquitatem meam," an allegro, is the +first air by me. The second an adagio, "Ecce enim in +iniquitatibus." Then an allegro, "Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti" +to the "ossa humiliata." Then an andante for soprano, tenor, and +bass Soli; "Cor mundum," and "Redde mihi," allegro to "ad se +convertentur." I also composed a recitative for a bass air, +"Libera me de sanguinibus," because a bass air of Holzbauer's +follows. The "sacrificium Deo spiritus" being an aria andante for +Raaff, with a hautboy and a bassoon solo obligato. I have added a +short recitative with hautboy and bassoon, for here recitative is +much liked. "Benigne fac" to "muri Jerusalem" andante moderate. +Chorus. Then "Tunc acceptabis" to "super altare," allegro and +tenor solo (Le Gros) and chorus. Finis. [None of this music is +known.] + +I must say that I am right glad to have done with this task, for +it is really detestable not to be able to write at home, and to +be hurried into the bargain; but now, God be praised! it is +finished, and I hope it will make some effect. M. Gussec, whom +you no doubt know, when he saw my first chorus, said to Le Gros +(I was not present) that it was charming, and could not fail to +be successful, that the words were so well arranged, and, above +all, admirably set to music. He is a kind friend of mine, but +very reserved. I am not merely to write an act for an opera, but +an entire one in two acts. The poet has already completed the +first act. Noverre [ballet-master], with whom I dine as often as +I please, managed this, and indeed suggested the idea. I think it +is to be called "Alexander and Roxana." Madame Jenome is also +here. I am about to compose a sinfonie concertante,--flute, +Wendling; oboe, Ramm; French horn, Punto; and bassoon, Ritter. +Punto plays splendidly. I have this moment returned from the +Concert Spirituel. Baron Grimm and I often give vent to our wrath +at the music here; N.B.--when tete-a-tete, for in public we call +out "Bravo! bravissimo!" and clap our hands till our fingers +tingle. + + + +102. + +Paris, May 1, 1778. + +THE little violoncellist Zygmatofsky and his unprincipled father +are here. Perhaps I may already have written you this; I only +mention it cursorily, because I just remember that I met him at a +house which I must now tell you about. I mean that of the +Duchesse de Chabot. M. Grimm gave me a letter to her, so I drove +there, the purport of the letter being chiefly to recommend me to +the Duchesse de Bourbon, who when I was last here [during +Mozart's first visit to Paris] was in a convent, and to introduce +me afresh to her and recall me to her memory. A week elapsed +without the slightest notice of my visit, but as eight days +previously she had appointed me to call on her, I kept my +engagement and went. I waited half an hour in a large room +without any fire, and as cold as ice. At last the Duchess came +in, and was very polite, begging me to make allowances for her +piano, as none of her instruments were in good order, but I might +at least try it. I said that I would most gladly play something, +but at this moment it was impossible, as my fingers were quite +benumbed from the cold, so I asked her at all events to take me +to a room where there was a fire. "Oh! oui, Monsieur, vous avez +raison"--was her answer. She then seated herself, and drew for a +whole hour in company with several gentlemen, all sitting in a +circle round a large table, and during this time I had the honor +to wait. The windows and doors were open, so that not only my +hands, but my body and my feet were cold, and my head also began +to ache. Moreover, there was altum silentium, and I really did +not know what to do from cold, headache, and weariness. I again +and again thought to myself, that if it were not on M. Grimm's +account I would leave the house at once. At last, to cut matters +short, I played on the wretched, miserable piano. What however +vexed me most of all was, that the Duchess and all the gentlemen +did not cease drawing for a single moment, but coolly continued +their occupation; so I was left to play to the chairs and tables, +and the walls. My patience gave way under such unpropitious +circumstances. I therefore began the Fischer variations, and +after playing one half of them I rose. Then came eulogiums +without end. I, however, said all that could be said--which was, +that I could do myself no justice on such a piano, but I should +be very glad to fix some other day to play, when a better +instrument might be found. But the Duchess would not hear of my +going away; so I was obliged to wait till her husband came in, +who placed himself beside me and listened to me with great +attention, while, as for me, I became unconscious of all cold and +all headache, and, in spite of the wretched piano, played as I +CAN play when I am in the right mood. Give me the best piano in +Europe, and listeners who understand nothing, or don't wish to +understand, and who do not sympathize with me in what I am +playing, I no longer feel any pleasure. I afterwards told all +this to M. Grimm. + +You write to me that I ought to pay a good many visits in order +to make new acquaintances, and to renew former ones. This is, +however, impossible, from the distances being so great, and it is +too muddy to go on foot, for really the mud in Paris is beyond +all description. To go in a carriage entails spending four or +five livres a day, and all for nothing; it is true the people say +all kinds of civil things, but there it ends, as they appoint me +to come on such and such a day, when I play, and hear them +exclaim, "Oh! c'est un prodige, c'est inconcevable, c'est +etonnant!" and then, Adieu! At first I spent money enough in +driving about, and to no purpose, from not finding the people at +home. Unless you lived here, you could not believe what an +annoyance this is. Besides, Paris is much changed; the French are +far from being as polite as they were fifteen years ago; their +manner now borders on rudeness, and they are odiously self- +sufficient. + +I must proceed to give you an account of the Concert Spirituel. +By the by, I must first briefly tell you that my chorus-labors +were in a manner useless, for Holzbauer's Miserere was too long +in itself, and did not please, so they gave only two of my +choruses instead of four, and chose to leave out the best; but +this was of no great consequence, for many there were not aware +that any of the music was by me, and many knew nothing at all +about me. Still, at the rehearsal great approbation was +expressed, and I myself (for I place no great reliance on +Parisian praise) was very much satisfied with my choruses. With +regard to the sinfonie concertante there appears to be a hitch, +and I believe that some unseen mischief is at work. It seems that +I have enemies here also; where have I not had them? But this is +a good sign. I was obliged to write the symphony very hurriedly, +and worked very hard at it. The four performers were and are +perfectly enchanted with the piece. Le Gros had it for the last +four days to be copied, but I invariably saw it lying in the same +place. Two days ago I could not find it, though I searched +carefully among the music; and at last I discovered it hidden +away. I took no notice, but said to Le Gros, "A propos, have you +given my sinfonie to be copied?" "No; I forgot all about it." As, +of course, I have no power to compel him to have it transcribed +and performed, I said nothing; but I went to the concert on the +two days when the sinfonie was to have been performed, when Ramm +and Punto came to me in the greatest rage to ask me why my +sinfonie concertante was not to be given. "I don't know. This is +the first I hear of it. I cannot tell." Ramm was frantic, and +abused Le Gros in the music-room in French, saying how very +unhandsome it was on his part, etc. I alone was to be kept in +the dark! If he had even made an excuse--that the time was too +short, or something of the kind!--but he never said a syllable. I +believe the real cause to be Cambini, an Italian maestro; for at +our first meeting at Le Gros's, I unwittingly took the wind out +of his sails. He composes quintets, one of which I heard at +Mannheim; it was very pretty, so I praised it, and played the +beginning to him. Ritter, Ramm, and Punto were all present, and +gave me no peace till I agreed to continue, and to supply from my +own head what I could not remember. I therefore did so, and +Cambini was quite excited, and could not help saying, "Questa e +una gran testa!" Well, I suppose after all he did not quite +relish this, [The symphony in question has also entirely +disappeared.] + +If this were a place where people had ears to hear or hearts to +feel, and understood just a little of music, and had some degree +of taste, these things would only make me laugh heartily, but as +it is (so far as music is concerned) I am surrounded by mere +brute beasts. But how can it be otherwise? for in all their +actions, inclinations, and passions, they are just the same. +There is no place in the world like Paris. You must not think +that I exaggerate when I speak in this way of the music here; +refer to whom you will, except to a Frenchman born, and (if +trustworthy) you will hear the same. But I am now here, and must +endure it for your sake. I shall be grateful to Providence if I +get away with my natural taste uninjured. I pray to God every day +to grant me grace to be firm and steadfast here, that I may do +honor to the whole German nation, which will all redound to His +greater honor and glory, and to enable me to prosper and make +plenty of money, that I may extricate you from your present +emergencies, and also to permit us to meet soon, and to live +together happily and contentedly; but "His will be done in earth +as it is in heaven." I entreat you, dearest father, in the +meantime, to take measures that I may see Italy, in order to +bring me to life again. Bestow this great happiness upon me, I +implore you! I do hope you will keep up your spirits; I shall cut +my way through here as I best can, and trust I shall get off +safely. Adieu! + + + +103. + +Paris, May 14, 1778. + +I HAVE already so much to do that I don't know how I am to manage +when winter comes. I think I wrote to you in my last letter that +the Duc de Guines, whose daughter is my pupil in composition, +plays the flute inimitably, and she the harp magnificently; she +has a great deal of talent and genius, and, above all, a +wonderful memory, for she plays all her pieces, about 200 in +number, by heart. She, however, doubts much whether she has any +genius for composition, especially as regards ideas or invention; +but her father (who, entre nous, is rather too infatuated about +her) declares that she certainly has ideas, and that she is only +diffident and has too little self-reliance. Well, we shall see. +If she acquires no thoughts or ideas, (for hitherto she really +has none whatever,) it is all in vain, for God knows I can't give +her any! It is not the father's intention to make her a great +composer. He says, "I don't wish her to write operas, or arias, +or concertos, or symphonies, but grand sonatas for her instrument +and for mine." I gave her to-day her fourth lesson on the rules +of composition and harmony, and am pretty well satisfied with +her. She made a very good bass for the first minuet, of which I +had given her the melody, and she has already begun to write in +three parts; she can do it, but she quickly tires, and I cannot +get her on, for it is impossible to proceed further as yet; it is +too soon, even if she really had genius, but, alas! there appears +to be none; all must be done by rule; she has no ideas, and none +seem likely to come, for I have tried her in every possible way. +Among other things it occurred to me to write out a very simple +minuet, and to see if she could not make a variation on it. Well, +that utterly failed. Now, thought I, she has not a notion how or +what to do first. So I began to vary the first bar, and told her +to continue in the same manner, and to keep to the idea. At +length this went tolerably well. When it was finished, I told her +she must try to originate something herself--only the treble of a +melody. So she thought it over for a whole quarter of an hour, +AND NOTHING CAME. Then I wrote four bars of a minuet, saying to +her, "See what an ass I am! I have begun a minuet, and can't even +complete the first part; be so very good as to finish it for me." +She declared this was impossible. At last, with great difficulty, +SOMETHING CAME, and I was only too glad that ANYTHING AT ALL +CAME. I told her then to complete the minuet--that is, the treble +only. The task I set her for the next lesson was to change my +four bars, and replace them by something of her own, and to find +out another beginning, even if it were the same harmony, only +changing the melody. I shall see to-morrow what she has done. + +I shall soon now, I think, receive the poetry for my two-act +opera, when I must first present it to the Director, M. de +Vismes, to see if he will accept it; but of this there can be no +doubt, as it is recommended by Noverre, to whom De Vismes is +indebted for his situation. Noverre, too, is soon to arrange a +new ballet, for which I am to write the music. Rudolf (who plays +the French horn) is in the royal service here, and a very kind +friend of mine; he understands composition thoroughly, and writes +well. He has offered me the place of organist at Versailles if I +choose to accept it: the salary is 2000 livres a year, but I must +live six months at Versailles and the remaining six in Paris, or +where I please. I don't, however, think that I shall close with +the offer; I must take the advice of good friends on the subject. +2000 livres is no such very great sum; in German money it may be +so, but not here. It amounts to 83 louis-d'or 8 livres a year-- +that is, 915 florins 45 kreutzers of our money, (which is +certainly a considerable sum,) but only to 383 ecus 2 livres, and +that is not much, for it is frightful to see how quickly a dollar +goes here! I am not at all surprised that so little is thought of +a louis-d'or in Paris, for it does not go far. Four dollars, or a +louis-d'or, which are the same, are gone in no time. Adieu! + + + +104. + +Paris, May 29, 1778. + +I AM pretty well, thank God! but still I am often puzzled to know +what to make of it all. I feel neither hot nor cold, and don't +take much pleasure in anything. What, however, cheers and +strengthens me most is the thought that you, dearest papa, and my +dear sister, are well; that I am an honest German, and though I +cannot SAY, I may at all events THINK what I please, and, after +all, that is the chief thing. Yesterday I was for the second time +at Count Sickingen's, ambassador from the Elector Palatine; (I +dined there once before with Wendling and Ramm.) I don't know +whether I told you what a charming man he is, and a great +connoisseur and devoted lover of music. I passed eight hours +quite alone with him. The whole forenoon, and afternoon too, till +ten o'clock at night, we were at the piano, playing all kind of +music, praising, admiring, analyzing, discussing, and +criticizing. He has nearly thirty scores of operas. I must not +forget to tell you that I had the satisfaction of seeing your +"School for the Violin" translated into French; I believe it is +about eight years since the translation appeared. I have just +returned from a music-shop where I went to buy a sonata of +Schobert's for one of my pupils, and I mean to go again soon to +examine the book more closely, that I may write to you about it +minutely, for to-day I have not time to do this. + + + +105. + +Paris, June 12, 1778. + +I MUST now write something that concerns our Raaff. [Footnote: +Mozart wrote the part of Idomeneo for Raaff in the year 1781.] +You no doubt remember that I did not write much in his favor from +Mannheim, and was by no means satisfied with his singing--in +short, that he did not please me at all. The cause, however, was +that I can scarcely say I really heard him at Mannheim. The first +time was at the rehearsal of Holzbauer's "Gunther," when he was +in his every-day clothes, his hat on his head, and a stick in his +hand. When he was not singing, he stood looking like a sulky +child. When he began to sing the first recitative, it went +tolerably well, but every now and then he gave a kind of shriek, +which I could not bear. He sang the arias in a most indolent way, +and yet some of the notes with too much emphasis, which is not +what I like. This has been an invariable habit of his, which the +Bernacchi school probably entails; for he is a pupil of +Bernacchi's. At court, too, he used to sing all kinds of airs +which, in my opinion, by no means suited his voice; so he did not +at all please me. When at length he made his debut here in the +Concert Spirituel, he sang Bach's scena, "Non so d' onde viene" +which is, besides, my great favorite, and then for the first time +I really heard him sing, and he pleased me--that is, in this +class of music; but the style itself, the Bernacchi school, is +not to my taste. He is too apt to fall into the cantabile. I +admit that, when he was younger and in his prime, this must have +made a great impression and taken people by surprise; I could +like it also, but there is too much of it, and it often seems to +me positively ludicrous. What does please me in him is when he +sings short pieces--for instance, andantinos; and he has likewise +certain arias which he gives in a manner peculiar to himself. Let +each occupy his proper place. I fancy that bravura singing was +once his forte, which is even still perceptible in him, and so +far as age admits of it he has a good chest and a long breath; +and then his andantino! His voice is fine and very pleasing; if I +shut my eyes and listen to him, I think his singing very like +Meissner's, only Raaff's voice seems to me more agreeable. I speak +of the present time, for I never heard either in his best days. I +can therefore only refer to their style or method of singing, for +this a singer always retains. Meissner, as you know, had the bad +habit of purposely making his voice tremble at times,--entire +quavers and even crotchets, when marked sostenuto,--and this I +never could endure in him. Nothing can be more truly odious; +besides, it is a style of singing quite contrary to nature. The +human voice is naturally tremulous, but only so far as to be +beautiful; such is the nature of the voice, and it is imitated +not only on wind instruments, but on stringed instruments, and +even on the piano. But the moment the proper boundary is passed +it is no longer beautiful, because it becomes unnatural. It seems +to me then just like an organ when the bellows are panting. Now +Raaff never does this,--in fact, he cannot bear it. Still, so far +as a genuine cantabile goes, Meissner pleases me (though not +altogether, for he also exaggerates) better than Raaff. In +bravura passages and roulades, Raaff is indeed a perfect master, +and he has such a good and distinct articulation, which is a +great charm; and, as I already said, his andantinus and +canzonetti are delightful. He composed four German songs, which +are lovely. He likes me much, and we are very intimate; he comes +to us almost every day. I have dined at least six times with +Count von Sickingen, and always stay from one o'clock till ten. +Time, however, flies so quickly in his house that it passes quite +imperceptibly. He seems fond of me, and I like very much being +with him, for he is a most friendly, sensible person, possessing +excellent judgment and a true insight into music, I was there +again to-day with Raaff. I took some music with me, as the Count +(long since) asked me to do so. I brought my newly completed +symphony, with which, on Corpus Christi day, the Concert +Spirituel is to commence. The work pleased them both exceedingly, +and I am also well satisfied with it. Whether it will be popular +here, however, I cannot tell, and, to say the truth, I care very +little about it. For whom is it to please? I can answer for its +pleasing the few intelligent Frenchmen who may be there; as for +the numskulls--why, it would be no great misfortune if they were +dissatisfied. I have some hope, nevertheless, that even the +dunces among them may find something to admire. Besides, I have +been careful not to neglect le premier coup d'archet; and that is +sufficient. All the wiseacres here make such a fuss on that +point! Deuce take me if I can see any difference! Their orchestra +begins all at one stroke, just as in other places. It is too +laughable! Raaff told me a story of Abaco on this subject. He was +asked by a Frenchman, in Munich or elsewhere,--"Monsieur, vous +avez ete a Paris?" "Oui." "Est-ce que vous etiez au Concert +Spirituel?" "Oui." "Que dites-vous du premier coup d'archet? +avez-vous entendu le premier coup d'archet?" "Oui, j'ai entendu +le premier et le dernier." "Comment le dernier? que veut dire +cela?" "Mais oui, le premier et le dernier; et le dernier meme +m'a donne plus de plaisir." [Footnote: The imposing impression +produced by the first grand crash of a numerous orchestra, +commencing with precision, in tutti, gave rise to this +pleasantry.] A few days afterwards his kind mother was taken ill. +Even in her letters from Mannheim she often complained of various +ailments, and in Paris also she was still exposed to the +discomfort of cold dark lodgings, which she was obliged to submit +to for the sake of economy; so her illness soon assumed the worst +aspect, and Mozart experienced the first severe trial of his +life. The following letter is addressed to his beloved and +faithful friend, Abbe Bullinger, tutor in Count Lodron's family +in Salzburg. + + + +(Private.) 106. + +Paris, July 3, 1778. + +MY VERY DEAR FRIEND,-- + +Mourn with me! This has been the most melancholy day of my life; +I am now writing at two o'clock in the morning. I must tell you +that my mother, my darling mother, is no more. God has called her +to Himself; I clearly see that it was His will to take her from +us, and I must learn to submit to the will of God. The Lord +giveth, and the Lord taketh away. Only think of all the distress, +anxiety, and care I have endured for the last fourteen days. She +died quite unconscious, and her life went out like a light. She +confessed three days before, took the sacrament, and received +extreme unction. The last three days, however, she was constantly +delirious, and to-day, at twenty minutes past five o'clock, her +features became distorted, and she lost all feeling and +perception. I pressed her hand, I spoke to her, but she did not +see me, she did not hear me, and all feeling was gone. She lay +thus till the moment of her death, five hours after, at twenty +minutes past ten at night. There was no one present but myself, +Herr Heiner, a kind friend whom my father knows, and the nurse. +It is quite impossible for me to describe the whole course of the +illness to-day. I am firmly convinced that she must have died, +and that God had so ordained it. All I would ask of you at +present is to act the part of a true friend, by preparing my +father by degrees for this sad intelligence. I have written to +him by this post, but only that she is seriously ill; and now I +shall wait for your answer and be guided by it. May God give him +strength and courage! My dear friend, I am consoled not only now, +but have been so for some time past. By the mercy of God I have +borne it all with firmness and composure. When the danger became +imminent, I prayed to God for only two things--a happy death for +my mother, and strength and courage for myself; and our gracious +God heard my prayer and conferred these two boons fully on me. I +entreat you, therefore, my best friend, to watch over my father +for me; try to inspire him with courage, that the blow may not be +too hard and heavy on him when he learns the worst. I also, from +my heart, implore you to comfort my sister. Pray go straight to +them, but do not tell them she is actually dead--only prepare +them for the truth. Do what you think best, say what you please; +only act so that my mind may be relieved, and that I may not have +to dread another misfortune. Support and comfort my dear father +and my dear sister. Answer me at once, I entreat. Adieu! Your +faithful + +W. A. M. + + + +107. + +Paris, July 3, 1778. + +MONSIEUR MON TRES-CHER PERE,-- + +I have very painful and sad news to give you, which has, in fact, +been the cause of my not having sooner replied to your letter of +the 11th. My dearest mother is very ill. She has been bled +according to her usual custom, which was indeed very necessary; +it did her much good, but a few days afterwards she complained of +shivering and feverishness; then diarrhoea came on and headache. +At first we only used our home remedies, antispasmodic powders; +we would gladly have had recourse to the black powder, but we had +none, and could not get it here. As she became every moment +worse, could hardly speak, and lost her hearing, so that we were +obliged to shout to her, Baron Grimm sent his doctor to see her. +She is very weak, and still feverish and delirious. They do give +me some hope, but I have not much. I hoped and feared alternately +day and night for long, but I am quite reconciled to the will of +God, and hope that you and my sister will be the same. What other +resource have we to make us calm? More calm, I ought to say; for +altogether so we cannot be. Whatever the result may be, I am +resigned, knowing that it comes from God, who wills all things +for our good, (however unaccountable they may seem to us;) and I +do firmly believe (and shall never think otherwise) that no +doctor, no man living, no misfortune, no casualty, can either +save or take away the life of any human being--none but God +alone. These are only the instruments that He usually employs, +but not always; we sometimes see people swoon, fall down, and be +dead in a moment. When our time does come, all means are vain,-- +they rather hurry on death than retard it; this we saw in the +case of our friend Hefner. I do not mean to say by this that my +mother will or must die, or that all hope is at an end; she may +recover and be restored to health, but only if the Lord wills it +thus. After praying to God with all my strength for health and +life for my darling mother, I like to indulge in such consolatory +thoughts, and, after doing so, I feel more cheerful and more calm +and tranquil, and you may easily imagine how much I require +comfort. Now for another subject. Let us put aside these sad +thoughts, and still hope, but not too much; we must place our +trust in the Lord, and console ourselves by the thought that all +must go well if it be in accordance with the will of the +Almighty, as he knows best what is most profitable and beneficial +both for our temporal and spiritual welfare. + +I have composed a symphony for the opening of the Concert +Spirituel, which was performed with great applause on Corpus +Christi day. I hear, too, that there is a notice of it in the +"Courrier de l'Europe," and that it has given the greatest +satisfaction. I was very nervous during the rehearsal, for in my +life I never heard anything go so badly. You can have no idea of +the way in which they scraped and scrambled through my symphony +twice over; I was really very uneasy, and would gladly have had +it rehearsed again, but so many things had been tried over that +there was no time left. I therefore went to bed with an aching +heart and in a discontented and angry spirit. Next day I resolved +not to go to the concert at all; but in the evening, the weather +being fine, I made up my mind at last to go, determined that if +it went as badly as at the rehearsal, I would go into the +orchestra, take the violin out of the hands of M. La Haussaye, +the first violin, and lead myself. I prayed to God that it might +go well, for all is to His greater honor and glory; and ecce, the +symphony began, Raaff was standing beside me, and just in the +middle of the allegro a passage occurred which I felt sure must +please, and there was a burst of applause; but as I knew at the +time I wrote it what effect it was sure to produce, I brought it +in once more at the close, and then rose shouts of "Da capo!" The +andante was also liked, but the last allegro still more so. +Having observed that all last as well as first allegros here +begin together with all the other instruments, and generally +unisono, mine commenced with only two violins, piano for the +first eight bars, followed instantly by a forte; the audience, as +I expected, called out "hush!" at the soft beginning, and the +instant the forte was heard began to clap their hands. The moment +the symphony was over I went off in my joy to the Palais Royal, +where I took a good ice, told over my beads, as I had vowed, and +went home, where I am always happiest, and always shall be +happiest, or in the company of some good, true, upright German, +who, so long as he is unmarried, lives a good Christian life, and +when he marries loves his wife, and brings up his children +properly. + +I must give you a piece of intelligence that you perhaps already +know--namely, that the ungodly arch-villain Voltaire has died +miserably like a dog--just like a brute. This is his reward! You +must long since have remarked that I do not like being here, for +many reasons, which, however, do not signify as I am actually +here. I never fail to do my very best, and to do so with all my +strength. Well, God will make all things right. I have a project +in my head, for the success of which I daily pray to God. If it +be His almighty will, it must come to pass; but, if not, I am +quite contented. I shall then at all events have done my part. +When this is in train, and if it turns out as I wish, you must +then do your part also, or the whole work would be incomplete. +Your kindness leads me to hope that you will certainly do so. +Don't trouble yourself by any useless thoughts on the subject; +and one favor I must beg of you beforehand, which is, not to ask +me to reveal my thoughts more clearly till the time comes. It is +very difficult at present to find a good libretto for an opera. +The old ones, which are the best, are not written in the modern +style, and the new ones are all good for nothing; for poetry, +which was the only thing of which France had reason to be proud, +becomes every day worse, and poetry is the only thing which +requires to be good here, for music they do not understand. There +are now two operas in aria which I could write, one in two acts, +and the other in three. The two-act one is "Alexandra et Roxane," +but the author of the libretto is still in the country; the one +in three acts is "Demofonte" (by Metastasio). It is a translation +interspersed with choruses and dancing, and specially adapted to +the French stage. But this one I have not yet got a sight of. +Write to me whether you have Schroter's concertos in Salzburg, or +Hullmandell's sonatas. I should like to buy them to send to you. +Both of them are beautiful. With regard to Versailles, it never +was my intention to go there. I asked the advice of Baron Grimm +and other kind friends on the point, and they all thought just as +I did. The salary is not much, and I should be obliged to live a +dreary life for six months in a place where nothing is to be +gained, and my talents completely buried. Whoever enters the +king's service is forgotten in Paris; and then to become an +organist! A good appointment would be most welcome to me, but +only that of a Capellmeister, and a well-paid one too. + +Now, farewell! Be careful of your health; place your trust in +God, and then you will find consolation. My dearest mother is in +the hands of the Almighty. If He still spares her to us, as I +wish He may, we will thank Him for this blessing, but if He takes +her to Himself, all our anguish, misery, and despair can be of no +avail. Let us rather submit with firmness to His almighty will, +in the full conviction that it will prove for our good, as he +does nothing without a cause. Farewell, dearest papa! Do what you +can to preserve your health for my sake. + + + +108. + +Paris, July 9, 1778. + +I HOPE you are prepared to receive with firmness most melancholy +and painful intelligence. My last letter of the 3d must have +shown you that no good news could be hoped for. That very same +day, the 3d, at twenty minutes past ten at night, my mother fell +asleep peacefully in the Lord; indeed, when I wrote to you she +was already in the enjoyment of heavenly bliss, for all was then +over. I wrote to you in the night, and I hope you and my dear +sister will forgive me for this slight but very necessary +deception; for, judging of your grief and sorrow by my own, I +could not prevail on myself to startle you suddenly by such +dreadful intelligence; but I hope you have now summoned up +courage to hear the worst, and that, after at first giving way to +natural and only too just anguish and tears, you will eventually +submit to the will of God, and adore His inscrutable, +unfathomable, and all-wise providence. You can easily conceive +what I have had to endure, and what courage and fortitude I +required to bear with composure seeing her become daily worse and +worse; and yet our gracious God bestowed this boon on me. I have, +indeed, suffered and wept, but what did it avail? So I strove to +be comforted, and I do hope, my dear father, that my dear sister +and you will do likewise. Weep, weep, as you cannot fail to weep, +but take comfort at last; remember that God Almighty has ordained +it, and how can we rebel against Him? Let us rather pray to Him +and thank Him for His goodness, for she died a happy death. Under +these heart-rending circumstances there were three things that +consoled me--my entire and steadfast submission to the will of +God, and the sight of her easy and blessed death, which made me +feel that in a moment she had become so happy; for how far +happier is she now than we are! Indeed, I would fain at that +moment have gone with her. From this wish and longing proceeded +my third source of consolation--namely, that she is not lost to +us forever, that we shall see her again, and live together far +more happily and blessedly than in this world. The time as yet we +know not, but that does not disturb me; when God wills it I am +ready. His heavenly and holy will has been fulfilled. Let us +therefore pray a pious Vater unser for her soul, and turn our +thoughts to other matters, for there is a time for everything. + +I write this in the house of Madame d'Epinay and M. Grimm, with +whom I now live; I have a pretty little room with a very +agreeable prospect, and am as happy as it is possible to be under +my present circumstances. It will be a great aid in restoring my +tranquillity, to hear that my dear father and sister submit with +calmness and fortitude to the will of God, and trust Him with +their whole heart, in the entire belief that He orders all for +the best. My dearest father, do not give way! My dearest sister, +be firm! You do not as yet know your brother's kind heart, +because he has not yet had an opportunity to prove it. Remember, +my loved ones both, that you have a son and a brother anxious to +devote all his powers to make you happy, knowing well that the +day must come when you will not be hostile to his wish and his +desire,--not certainly such as to be any discredit to him,--and +that you will do all that lies in your power to make him happy. +Oh! then we shall all live together as peacefully, honorably, and +contentedly as it is possible to do in this world, and at last in +God's good time all meet again above--the purpose for which we +were destined and created. + +I received your last letter of the 29th, and see with pleasure +that you are both, thank God! in good health. I could not help +laughing heartily at Haydn's tipsy fit. Had I been there, I +certainly should have whispered in his ear "Adlgasser!" It is +really disgraceful in so clever a man to render himself incapable +by his own folly of performing his duties at a festival +instituted in honor of God; when the Archbishop too and his whole +court were present, and the church full of people, it was quite +abominable.[Footnote: The father had written, "Haydn (organist of +the church of the Holy Trinity) played the organ in the afternoon +at the Litany, and the Te Deum laudamus, but in such a dreadful +manner that we were quite startled, and thought he was about to +undergo the fate of the deceased Adlgasser [who was seized with +paralysis when playing the organ] It turned out, however, that he +was only rather intoxicated, so his head and hands did not +agree"] This is one of my chief reasons for detesting Salzburg-- +those coarse, slovenly, dissipated court musicians, with whom no +honest man of good breeding could possibly live! instead of being +glad to associate with them, he must feel ashamed of them. It is +probably from this very cause that musicians are neither loved +nor respected with us. If the orchestra were only organised like +that at Mannheim! I wish you could see the subordination that +prevails there--the authority Cannabich exercises; where all is +done in earnest. Cannabich, who is the best director I ever saw, +is both beloved and feared by his subordinates, who, as well as +himself, are respected by the whole town. But certainly they +behave very differently, have good manners, are well dressed (and +do not go to public-houses to get drunk). This can never be the +case in Salzburg, unless the Prince will place confidence either +in you or me and give us full powers, which are indispensable to +a conductor of music; otherwise it is all in vain. In Salzburg +every one is master--so no one is master. If I were to undertake +it, I should insist on exercising entire authority. The Grand +Chamberlain must have nothing to say as to musical matters, or on +any point relating to music. Not every person in authority can +become a Capellmeister, but a Capellmeister must become a person +of authority. + +By the by, the Elector is again in Mannheim. Madame Cannabich and +also her husband correspond with me. If what I fear were to come +to pass, and it would be a sad pity if it did,--namely, that the +orchestra were to be much diminished,--I still cherish one hope. +You know that there is nothing I desire more than a good +appointment,--good in reputation, and good in money,--no matter +where, provided it be in a Catholic country. You fenced skilfully +indeed with Count Stahremberg [FOOTNOTE: A prebendary of +Salzburg, to whom the father had "opened his heart," and told him +all that had occurred in Salzburg. Wolfgang's reinstatement in +his situation was being negotiated at the time.] throughout the +whole affair; only continue as you have begun, and do not allow +yourself to be deluded; more especially be on your guard if by +any chance you enter into conversation with that silly goose---; +[FOOTNOTE: He probably alludes to the Archbishop's sister, +Countess Franziska von Walles, who did the honors of her +brother's court, and who, no doubt, also interfered in this +matter.] I know her, and believe me, though she may have sugar +and honey on her lips, she has gall and wormwood in her head and +in her heart. It is quite natural that the whole affair should +still be in an unsettled state, and many things must be conceded +before I could accept the offer; and even if every point were +favorably adjusted, I would rather be anywhere than at Salzburg. +But I need not concern myself on the matter, for it is not likely +that all I ask should be granted, as I ask a great deal. Still it +is not impossible; and if all were rightly organized, I would no +longer hesitate, but solely for the happiness of being with you. +If the Salzburgers wish to have me, they must comply with my +wishes, or they shall never get me. + +So the Prelate of Baumburg has died the usual prelatical death; +but I had not heard that the Prelate of the Holy Cross [in +Augsburg] was also dead. I grieve to hear it, for he was a good, +honest, upright man. So you had no faith in Deacon Zeschinger +[see No. 68] being made prelate? I give you my honor I never +conjectured anything else; indeed, I do not know who else could +have got it; and what better prelate could we have for music? + +My friend Raaff leaves this to-morrow; he goes by Brussels to +Aix-la-Chapelle and Spa, and thence to Mannheim, when he is to +give me immediate notice of his arrival, for we mean to +correspond. He sends numerous greetings to you and to my sister. +You write that you have heard nothing for a very long time of my +pupil in composition; very true, but what can I say about her? +She will never be a composer; all labor is vain with her, for she +is not only vastly stupid, but also vastly lazy. + +I had previously answered you about the opera. As to Noverre's +ballet, I only wrote that he might perhaps arrange a new one. He +wanted about one half to complete it, and this I set to music. +That is, six pieces are written by others, consisting entirely of +old trumpery French airs; the symphony and contre-danses, and +about twelve more pieces, are contributed by me. This ballet has +already been given four times with great applause. I am now +positively determined to write nothing more without previously +knowing what I am to get for it: but this was only a friendly act +towards Noverre. Herr Wendling left this last May. If I were to +see Baron Bach, I must have very good eyes, for he is not here +but in London. Is it possible that I did not tell you this? You +shall find that, in future, I will answer all your letters +minutely. It is said that Baron Bach will soon return here; I +should be glad of that for many reasons, especially because at +his house there will be always opportunity to try things over in +good earnest. Capellmeister Bach will also soon be here; I +believe he is writing an opera. The French are, and always will +be, downright donkeys; they can do nothing themselves, so they +must have recourse to foreigners. I talked to Piccini at the +Concert Spirituel; he is always most polite to me and I to him +when we do by chance meet. Otherwise I do not seek much +acquaintance, either with him or any of the other composers; they +understand their work and I mine, and that is enough. I already +wrote to you of the extraordinary success my symphony had in the +Concert Spirituel. If I receive a commission to write an opera, I +shall have annoyance enough, but this I shall not much mind, +being pretty well accustomed to it--if only that confounded +French language were not so detestable for music! It is, indeed, +too provoking; even German is divine in comparison. And then the +singers--but they do not deserve the name, for they do not sing, +but scream and bawl with all their might through their noses and +throats. I am to compose a French oratorio for the ensuing Lent, +to be given at the Concert Spirituel. M. Le Gros (the director) +is amazingly well-disposed towards me. You must know that (though +I used to see him every day) I have not been near him since +Easter; I felt so indignant at his not having my symphony +performed. I was often in the same house visiting Raaff, and thus +passed his rooms constantly. His servants often saw me, when I +always sent him my compliments. It is really a pity he did not +give the symphony--it would have been a good hit; and now he has +no longer the opportunity to do so, for how seldom are four such +performers to be found together! One day, when I went to call on +Raaff, I was told that he was out, but would soon be home; so I +waited. M. Le Gros came into the room and said, "It is really +quite a marvel to have the pleasure of seeing you once more." +"Yes; I have a great deal to do." "I hope you will stay and dine +with us to-day?" "I regret that I cannot, being already engaged." +"M. Mozart, we really must soon spend a day together." "It will +give me much pleasure." A long pause; at length, "A propos, are +you disposed to write a grand symphony for me for Corpus Christi +day?" "Why not?" "May I then rely on this?" "Oh, yes! if I may, +with equal confidence, rely on its being performed, and that it +will not fare like the sinfonie concertante." This opened the +flood-gates; he excused himself in the best way he could, but did +not find much to say. In short, the symphony [Kochel, No. 297] +was highly approved of; and Le Gros is so satisfied with it that +he says it is his very best symphony. The andante, however, has +not the good fortune to please him; he declares that it has too +many modulations, and is too long. He derives this opinion from +the audience forgetting to clap their hands as loudly, and to be +as vociferous, as at the end of the first and last movements. But +this andante is a great favorite WITH MYSELF, as well as with all +connoisseurs, amateurs, and the greater part of those who heard +it. It is the exact reverse of what Le Gros says, for it is both +simple and short. But in order to satisfy him (and no doubt some +others) I have written a fresh one. Each good in its own way-- +each having a different character. The last pleases me the best. +The first good opportunity I have, I will send you this sinfonie +concertante, and also the "School for the Violin," some pieces +for the piano, and Vogler's book ("Ton Wissenschaft und Kunst"), +and then I hope to have your opinion of them. On August 15th, +Ascension Day, my sinfonie, with the new andante, is to be +performed for the second time. The sinfonie is in Re, the +andante in Sol, for here one must not say in D or in G. Le Gros is +now all for me. + +Take comfort and pray without ceasing; this is the only resource +we have. I hope you will cause a holy mass to be said in Maria +Plain and in Loretto. I have done so here. As for the letter to +Herr Bahr, I don't think it is necessary to send it to me; I am +not as yet acquainted with him; I only know that he plays the +clarionet well, but is in other respects no desirable companion, +and I do not willingly associate with such people; no credit is +derived from them, and I really should feel positively ashamed to +give him a letter recommending me to him--even if he could be of +service to me; but it so happens that he is by no means in good +repute here. Many do not know him at all. Of the two Staunitz, +the junior only is here [Mannheim composer]. The elder of the two +(the veritable Hafeneder composer) is in London. They are +wretched scribblers, gamblers, and drunkards, and not the kind of +people for me. The one now here has scarcely a coat to his back. +By the by, if Brunetti should ever be dismissed, I would be glad +to recommend a friend of mine to the Archbishop as first violin; +he is a most worthy man, and very steady. I think he is about +forty years of age, and a widower; his name is Rothfischer. He is +Concertmeister at Kirchheim-Boland, with the Princess of Nassau- +Weilberg [see No. 91]. Entre nous, he is dissatisfied, for he is +no favorite with his Prince--that is, his music is not. He urged +me to forward his interests, and it would cause me real pleasure +to be of use to him, for never was there such a kind man. + + + +109. + +Paris, July 18, 1778. + +I HOPE you got my last two letters. Let us allude no more to +their chief purport. All is over; and were we to write whole +pages on the subject, we could not alter the fact. + +The principal object of this letter is to congratulate my dear +sister on her name-day. I think I wrote to you that M. Raaff had +left this, but that he is my very true and most particular +friend, and I can entirely depend on his regard. I could not +possibly write to you, because I did not myself know that he had +so much affection for me. Now, to write a story properly, one +ought to begin from the beginning. I ought to tell you, first, +that Raaff lodged with M. Le Gros. It just occurs to me that you +already know this; but what am I to do? It is written, and I +can't begin the letter again, so I proceed. When he arrived, we +happened to be at dinner. This, too, has nothing to do with the +matter; it is only to let you know that people do dine in Paris, +as elsewhere. When I went home I found a letter for me from Herr +Weber, and the bearer of it was Raaff. If I wished to deserve the +name of a historian, I ought here to insert the contents of this +letter; and I can with truth say that I am very reluctant to +decline giving them. But I must not be too prolix; to be concise +is a fine thing, which you can see by my letter. The third day I +found him at home and thanked him; it is always advisable to be +polite. I no longer remember what we talked about. An historian +must be unusually dull who cannot forthwith supply some +falsehood--I mean some romance. Well! we spoke of the fine +weather; and when we had said our say, we were silent, and I went +away. Some days after--though what day it was I really forget, +but one day in the week assuredly--I had just seated myself, at +the piano of course; and Ritter, the worthy Holzbeisser, was +sitting beside me. Now, what is to be deduced from that? A great +deal. Raaff had never heard me at Mannheim except at a concert, +where the noise and uproar was so great that nothing could be +heard; and HE had such a miserable piano that I could not have +done myself any justice on it. Here, however, the instrument was +good, and I saw Raaff sitting opposite me with a speculative air; +so, as you may imagine, I played some preludes in the Fischietti +method, and also played a florid sonata in the style and with the +fire, spirit, and precision of Haydn, and then a fugue with all +the skill of Lipp, Silber, and Aman. [Footnote: Fischietti was +Capellmeister in Salzburg; Michael Haydn and Lipp, organists.] My +fugue-playing has everywhere gained me the greatest applause. +When I had quite finished, (Raaff all the time calling out Bravo! +while his countenance showed his true and sincere delight,) I +entered into conversation with Ritter, and among other things +said that I by no means liked being here; adding, "The chief +cause of this is music; besides, I can find no resources here, no +amusement, no agreeable or sociable intercourse with any one,-- +especially with ladies, many of whom are disreputable, and those +who are not so are deficient in good breeding." Ritter could not +deny that I was right. Raaff at last said, smiling, "I can quite +believe it, for M. Mozart is not WHOLLY here to admire the +Parisian beauties; one half of him is elsewhere--where I have +just come from." This of course gave rise to much laughing and +joking; but Raaff presently said, in a serious tone, "You are +quite right, and I cannot blame you; she deserves it, for she is +a sweet, pretty, good girl, well educated, and a superior person +with considerable talent." This gave me an excellent opportunity +strongly to recommend my beloved Madlle. Weber to him; but there +was no occasion for me to say much, as he was already quite +fascinated by her. He promised me, as soon as he returned to +Mannheim, to give her lessons, and to interest himself in her +favor. I ought, by rights, to insert something here, but I must +first finish the history of our friendship; if there is still +room, I may do so. He was in my eyes only an every-day +acquaintance, and no more; but I often sat with him in his room, +so by degrees I began to place more confidence in him, and at +last told him all my Mannheim history,--how I had been bamboozled +and made a fool of, adding that perhaps I might still get an +appointment there. He neither said yes nor no; and on every +occasion when I alluded to it he seemed each time more +indifferent and less interested in the matter. At last, however, +I thought I remarked more complacency in his manner, and he +often, indeed, began to speak of the affair himself. I introduced +him to Herr Grimm and to Madame d'Epinay. On one occasion he came +to me and said that he and I were to dine with Count Sickingen +some day soon; adding, "The Count and I were conversing together, +and I said to him, 'A propos, has your Excellency heard our +Mozart?' 'No; but I should like very much both to see and to hear +him, for they write me most astonishing things about him from +Mannheim.' 'When your Excellency does hear him, you will see that +what has been written to you is rather too little than too much.' +'Is it possible?' 'Beyond all doubt, your Excellency.'" Now, this +was the first time that I had any reason to think Raaff +interested in me. Then it went on increasing, and one day I asked +him to come home with me; and after that he often came of his own +accord, and at length every day. The day after he left this, a +good-looking man called on me in the forenoon with a picture, and +said, "Monsieur, je viens de la part de ce Monsieur," showing me +a portrait of Raaff, and an admirable likeness. Presently he +began to speak German; and it turned out that he was a painter of +the Elector's, whom Raaff had often mentioned to me, but always +forgot to take me to see him. I believe you know him, for it must +be the very person Madame Urspringer, of Mayence, alludes to in +her letter, because he says he often met us at the Urspringers'. +His name is Kymli. He is a most kind, amiable man, well- +principled, honorable, and a good Christian; one proof of which +is the friendship between him and Raaff. Now comes the best +evidence of Raaff's regard for me, and the sincere interest he +takes in my welfare: it is, that he imparts his intentions rather +to those whom he can trust than to those more immediately +concerned, being unwilling to promise without the certainty of a +happy result. This is what Kymli told me. Raaff asked him to call +on me and to show me his portrait, to see me often, and to assist +me in every way, and to establish an intimate friendship with me. +It seems he went to him every morning, and repeatedly said to +Kymli, "I was at Herr Mozart's again yesterday evening; he is, +indeed, a wonderful little fellow; he is an out-and-outer, and no +mistake!" and was always praising me. He told Kymli everything, +and the whole Mannheim story--in short, all. The fact is, that +high-principled, religious, and well-conducted people always like +each other. Kymli says I may rest assured that I am in good +hands. "Raaff will certainly do all he can for you, and he is a +prudent man who will set to work cleverly; he will not say that +it is your wish, but rather your due. He is on the best footing +with the Oberststallmeister. Rely on it, he will not be beat; +only you must let him go his own way to work." One thing more. +Father Martini's letter to Raaff, praising me, must have been +lost. Raaff had, some time since, a letter from him, but not a +word about me in it. Possibly it is still lying in Mannheim; but +this is unlikely, as I know that, during his stay in Paris, all +his letters have been regularly forwarded to him. As the Elector +justly entertains a very high opinion of the Padre Maestro, I +think it would be a good thing if you would be so kind as to +apply to him to write again about me to Raaff; it might be of +use, and good Father Martini would not hesitate to do a friendly +thing twice over for me, knowing that he might thus make my +fortune. He no doubt would express the letter in such a manner +that it could be shown, if need be, to the Elector. Now enough as +to this; my wish for a favorable issue is chiefly that I may soon +have the happiness of embracing my dear father and sister. Oh! +how joyously and happily we shall live together! I pray fervently +to God to grant me this favor; a new leaf will at last be turned, +please God! In the fond hope that the day will come, and the +sooner the better, when we shall all be happy, I mean, in God's +name, to persevere in my life here, though so totally opposed to +my genius, inclinations, knowledge, and sympathies. Believe me, +this is but too true,--I write you only the simple truth. If I +were to attempt to give you all my reasons, I might write my +fingers off and do no good. For here I am, and I must do all that +is in my power. God grant that I may not thus impair my talents; +but I hope it will not continue long enough for that. God grant +it! By the by, the other day an ecclesiastic called on me. He is +the leader of the choir at St. Peter's, in Salzburg, and knows +you very well; his name is Zendorff; perhaps you may not remember +him? He gives lessons here on the piano--in Paris. N. B., have +not you a horror of the very name of Paris? I strongly recommend +him as organist to the Archbishop; he says he would be satisfied +with three hundred florins. Now farewell! Be careful of your +health, and strive to be cheerful. Remember that possibly you may +ere long have the satisfaction of tossing off a good glass of +Rhenish wine with your son--your truly happy son. Adieu! + +20th.--Pray forgive my being so late in sending you my +congratulations, but I wished to present my sister with a little +prelude. The mode of playing it I leave to her own feeling. This +is not the kind of prelude to pass from one key to another, but +merely a capriccio to try over a piano. My sonatas [Kochel, Nos. +301-306] are soon to be published. No one as yet would agree to +give me what I asked for them, so I have been obliged at last to +give in, and to let them go for 15 louis-d'or. It is the best way +too to make my name known here. As soon as they appear I will +send them to you by some good opportunity (and as economically as +possible) along with your "School for the Violin," Vogler's book, +Hullmandel's sonatas, Schroter's concertos, some of my pianoforte +sonatas, the sinfonie concertante, two quartets for the flute, +and a concerto for harp and flute [Kochel, No. 298, 299]. + +Pray, what do you hear about the war? For three days I was very +depressed and sorrowful; it is, after all, nothing to me, but I +am so sensitive that I feel quickly interested in any matter. I +heard that the Emperor had been defeated. At first it was +reported that the King of Prussia had surprised the Emperor, or +rather the troops commanded by Archduke Maximilian; that two +thousand had fallen on the Austrian side, but fortunately the +Emperor had come to his assistance with forty thousand men, but +was forced to retreat. Secondly, it was said that the King had +attacked the Emperor himself, and entirely surrounded him, and +that if General Laudon had not come to his relief with eighteen +hundred cuirassiers, he would have been taken prisoner; that +sixteen hundred cuirassiers had been killed, and Laudon himself +shot dead. I have not, however, seen this in any newspaper, but +to-day I was told that the Emperor had invaded Saxony with forty +thousand troops. Whether the news be true I know not. This is a +fine griffonage, to be sure! but I have not patience to write +prettily; if you can only read it, it will do well enough. A +propos, I saw in the papers that, in a skirmish between the +Saxons and Croats, a Saxon captain of grenadiers named Hopfgarten +had lost his life, and was much lamented. Can this be the kind, +worthy Baron Hopfgarten whom we knew at Paris with Herr von Bose? +I should grieve if it were, but I would rather he died this +glorious death than have sacrificed his life, as too many young +men do here, to dissipation and vice. You know this already, but +it is now worse than ever. + +N. B. I hope you will be able to decipher the end of the prelude; +you need not be very particular about the time; it is the kind of +thing that may be played as you feel inclined. I should like to +inflict twenty-five stripes on the sorry Vatel's shoulders for +not having married Katherl. Nothing is more shameful, in my +opinion, than to make a fool of an honest girl, and to play her +false eventually; but I hope this may not be the case. If I were +her father, I would soon put a stop to the affair. + + + +110. + +Paris, July 31, 1778. + +I HOPE you have got my two letters of the 11th and 18th. Meantime +I have received yours of the 13th and 20th. The first brought +tears of sorrow to my eyes, as I was reminded by it of the sad +death of my darling mother, and the whole scene recurred vividly +to me. Never can I forget it while I live. You know that (though +I often wished it) I had never seen any one die, and the first +time I did so it was fated to be my own mother! My greatest +misery was the thoughts of that hour, and I prayed earnestly to +God for strength. I was heard, and strength was given to me. +Melancholy as your letter made me, still I was inexpressibly +happy to find that you both bear this sorrow as it ought to be +borne, and that my mind may now be at ease about my beloved +father and sister. As soon as I read your letter, my first +impulse was to throw myself on my knees, and fervently to thank +our gracious God for this blessing. I am now comparatively happy, +because I have no longer anything to dread on account of the two +persons who are dearest to me in this world; had it been +otherwise, such a terrible misfortune would have utterly +overwhelmed me. Be careful therefore of your precious health for +my sake, I entreat, and grant to him who flatters himself that he +is now what you love most in the world the joy and felicity soon +to embrace you. + +Your last letter also caused my tears to flow from joy, as it +convinced me more than ever of your fatherly love and care. I +shall strive with all my might still more to deserve your +affection. I thank you for the powder, but am sure you will be +glad to hear that I do not require to use it. During my dear +mother's illness it would have been very useful, but now, thank +God! I am perfectly well and healthy. At times I have fits of +melancholy, but the best way to get rid of them is by writing or +receiving letters, which always cheers me; but, believe me, these +sad feelings never recur without too good cause. You wish to have +an account of her illness and every detail connected with it; +that you shall have; but I must ask you to let it be short, and I +shall only allude to the principal facts, as the event is over, +and cannot, alas! now be altered, and I require some space to +write on business topics. + +In the first place, I must tell you that NOTHING could have saved +my mother. No doctor in the world could have restored her to +health. It was the manifest will of God; her time was come, and +God chose to take her to Himself. You think she put off being +bled too long? it may be so, as she did delay it for a little, +but I rather agree with the people here, who dissuaded her from +being bled at all. The cause of my mother's illness was internal +inflammation. After being bled she rallied for some days, but on +the 19th she complained of headache, and for the first time +stayed in bed the whole day. On the 20th she was seized first +with shivering and then with fever, so I gave her an anti- +spasmodic powder. I was at that time very anxious to send for +another doctor, but she would not allow me to do so, and when I +urged her very strongly, she told me that she had no confidence +in any French medical man. I therefore looked about for a German +one. I could not, of course, go out and leave her, but I +anxiously waited for M. Heina, who came regularly every day to +see us; but on this occasion two days passed without his +appearing. At last he came, but as our doctor was prevented +paying his usual visit next day, we could not consult with him; +in fact, he did not come till the 24th. The previous day, when I +had been expecting him so eagerly, I was in great trouble, for my +mother suddenly lost her sense of hearing. The doctor, an old +German about seventy, gave her rhubarb in wine. I could not +understand this, as wine is usually thought heating; but when I +said so, every one exclaimed, "How can you say so? Wine is not +heating, but strengthening; water is heating." And all the time +the poor invalid was longing for a drink of fresh water. How +gladly would I have complied with her wish! My dear father, you +cannot conceive what I went through, but nothing could be done, +except to leave her in the hands of the physician. All that I +could do with a good conscience, was to pray to God without +ceasing, that He would order all things for her good. I went +about as if I had altogether lost my head. I had ample leisure +then to compose, but I was in such a state that I could not have +written a single note. The 25th the doctor did not come; on the +26th he visited her again. Imagine my feelings when he all at +once said to me, "I fear she will scarcely live through the +night; she may die at any moment. You had better see that she +receives the sacrament." So I hurried off to the end of the +Chaussee d'Antin, and went on beyond the Barriere to find Heina, +knowing that he was at a concert in the house of some count. He +said that he would bring a German priest with him next morning. +On my way back I looked in on Madame d'Epinay and M. Grimm for a +moment as I passed. They were distressed that I had not spoken +sooner, as they would at once have sent their doctor. I did not +tell them my reason, which was, that my mother would not see a +French doctor. I was hard put to it, as they said they would send +their physician that very evening. When I came home, I told my +mother that I had met Herr Heina with a German priest, who had +heard a great deal about me and was anxious to hear me play, and +that they were both to call on me next day. She seemed quite +satisfied, and though I am no doctor, still seeing that she was +better I said nothing more. I find it impossible not to write at +full length--indeed, I am glad to give you every particular, for +it will be more satisfactory to you; but as I have some things to +write that are indispensable, I shall continue my account of the +illness in my next letter. In the mean time you must have seen +from my last letter, that all my darling mother's affairs and my +own are in good order. When I come to this point, I will tell you +how things were arranged. Heina and I regulated everything +ourselves. + +Now for business. Do not allow your thoughts to dwell on what I +wrote, asking your permission not to reveal my ideas till the +proper time arrived. Pray do not let it trouble you. I cannot yet +tell you about it, and if I did, I should probably do more harm +than good; but, to tranquillize you, I may at least say that it +only concerns myself. Your circumstances will be made neither +better nor worse, and until I see you in a better position I +shall think no more about the matter. If the day ever arrives +when we can live together in peace and happiness, (which is my +grand object),--when that joyful time comes, and God grant it may +come soon!--then the right moment will have arrived, and the rest +will depend on yourself. Do not, therefore, discompose yourself +on the subject, and be assured that in every case where I know +that your happiness and peace are involved, I shall invariably +place entire confidence in you, my kind father and true friend, +and detail everything to you minutely. If in the interim I have +not done so, the fault is not solely mine. [FOOTNOTE: He had +evidently in his thoughts, what was indeed manifest in his +previous letters, a speedy marriage with his beloved Aloysia.] M. +Grimm recently said to me, "What am I to write to your father? +What course do you intend to pursue? Do you remain here, or go to +Mannheim?" I really could not help laughing: "What could I do at +Mannheim now? would that I had never come to Paris! but so it is. +Here I am, and I must use every effort to get forward." "Well," +said he, "I scarcely think that you will do much good here." +"Why? I see a number of wretched bunglers who make a livelihood, +and why, with my talents, am I to fail? I assure you that I like +being at Mannheim, and wish very much to get some appointment +there, but it must be one that is honorable and of good repute. I +must have entire certainty on the subject before I move a step." +"I fear," said he, "that you are not sufficiently active here-- +you don't go about enough." "Well," said I, "that is the hardest +of all for me to do." Besides, I could go nowhere during my +mother's long illness, and now two of my pupils are in the +country, and the third (the Duke de Guines's daughter) is +betrothed, and means no longer to continue her lessons, which, so +far as my credit is concerned, does not distress me much. It is +no particular loss to me, for the Duke only pays me what every +one else does. Only imagine! I went to his house every day for +two hours, being engaged to give twenty-four lessons, (but it is +the custom here to pay after each twelve lessons.) They went into +the country, and when they came back ten days afterwards, I was +not apprised of it; had I not by chance inquired out of mere +curiosity, I should not have known that they were here. When I +did go, the governess took out her purse and said to me, "Pray +excuse my only paying you at present for twelve lessons, for I +have not enough money." This is a noble proceeding! She then gave +me three louis-d'or, adding, "I hope you are satisfied; if not, I +beg you will say so." M. le Duc can have no sense of honor, or +probably thinks that I am only a young man and a thick-headed +German, (for this is the way in which the French always speak of +us,) and that I shall be quite contented. The thick-headed +German, however, was very far from being contented, so he +declined receiving the sum offered. The Duke intended to pay me +for one hour instead of two, and all from economy. As he has now +had a concerto of mine for harp and flute, for the last four +months, which he has not yet paid me for, I am only waiting till +the wedding is over to go to the governess and ask for my money. +What provokes me most of all is that these stupid Frenchmen think +I am still only seven years old, as they saw me first when I was +that age. This is perfectly true, for Madame d'Epinay herself +told me so quite seriously. I am therefore treated here like a +beginner, except by the musicians, who think very differently; +but most votes carry the day! + +After my conversation with Grimm, I went the very next day to +call on Count Sickingen. He was quite of my opinion that I ought +to have patience and wait till Raaff arrives at his destination, +who will do all that lies in his power to serve me. If he should +fail, Count Sickingen has offered to procure a situation for me +at Mayence. In the mean time my plan is to do my utmost to gain a +livelihood by teaching, and to earn as much money as possible. +This I am now doing, in the fond hope that some change may soon +occur; for I cannot deny, and indeed at once frankly confess, +that I shall be delighted to be released from this place. Giving +lessons is no joke here, and unless you wear yourself out by +taking a number of pupils, not much money can be made. You must +not think that this proceeds from laziness. No! it is only quite +opposed to my genius and my habits. You know that I am, so to +speak, plunged into music,--that I am occupied with it the whole +day,--that I like to speculate, to study, and to reflect. Now my +present mode of life effectually prevents this. I have, indeed, +some hours at liberty, but those few hours are more necessary for +rest than for work. + +I told you already about the opera. One thing is certain--I must +compose a great opera or none. If I write only smaller ones, I +shall get very little, for here everything is done at a fixed +price, and if it should be so unfortunate as not to please the +obtuse French, it is all up with it. I should get no more to +write, have very little profit, and find my reputation damaged. +If, on the other hand, I write a great opera, the remuneration is +better, I am working in my own peculiar sphere, in which I +delight, and I have a greater chance of being appreciated, +because in a great work there is more opportunity to gain +approval. I assure you that if I receive a commission to write an +opera, I have no fears on the subject. It is true that the devil +himself invented their language, and I see the difficulties which +all composers have found in it. But, in spite of this, I feel +myself as able to surmount these difficulties as any one else. +Indeed, when I sometimes think in my own mind that I may look on +my opera as a certainty, I feel quite a fiery impulse within me, +and tremble from head to foot, through the eager desire to teach +the French more fully how to know, and value, and fear the +Germans. Why is a great opera never intrusted to a Frenchman? Why +is it always given to a foreigner? To me the most insupportable +part of it will be the singers. Well, I am ready. I wish to avoid +all strife, but if I am challenged I know how to defend myself. +If it runs its course without a duel, I should prefer it, for I +do not care to wrestle with dwarfs. + +God grant that some change may soon come to pass! In the mean +time I shall certainly not be deficient in industry, trouble, and +labor. My hopes are centred on the winter, when every one returns +from the country. My heart beats with joy at the thought of the +happy day when I shall once more see and embrace you. + +The day before yesterday my dear friend Weber, among other +things, wrote to me that the day after the Elector's arrival it +was publicly announced that he was to take up his residence in +Munich, which came like a thunder-clap on Mannheim, wholly, so to +say, extinguishing the universal illumination by which the +inhabitants had testified their joy on the previous day. The fact +was also communicated to all the court musicians, with the +addition that each was at liberty to follow the court to Munich +or to remain in Mannheim, (retaining the same salaries,) and in a +fortnight each was to give a written and sealed decision to the +Intendant. Weber, who is, as you know, in the most miserable +circumstances, wrote as follows:--"I anxiously desire to follow +my gracious master to Munich, but my decayed circumstances +prevent my doing so." Before this occurred there was a grand +court concert, where poor Madlle. Weber felt the fangs of her +enemies; for on this occasion she did not sing! It is not known +who was the cause of this. Afterwards there was a concert at Herr +von Gemmingen's, where Count Seeau also was. She sang two arias +of mine, and was so fortunate as to please, in spite of those +Italian scoundrels [the singers of Munich], those infamous +charlatans, who circulated a report that she had very much gone +off in her singing. When her songs were finished, Cannabich said +to her, "Mademoiselle, I hope you will always continue to fall +off in this manner; tomorrow I will write to M. Mozart in your +praise." One thing is certain; if war had not already broken out, +the court would by this time have been transferred to Munich. +Count Seeau, who is quite determined to engage Madlle. Weber, +would have left nothing undone to insure her coming to Munich, so +that there was some hope that the family might have been placed +in better circumstances; but now that all is again quiet about +the Munich journey, these poor people may have to wait a long +time, while their debts daily accumulate. If I could only help +them! Dearest father, I recommend them to you from my heart. If +they could even for a few years be in possession of 1000 florins! + + + +111. + +To HERR BULLINGER. + +Paris, August 7, 1778. + +MY VERY DEAR FRIEND,-- + +Allow me above all to thank you most warmly for the proof of +friendship you gave me by your interest in my dear father--first +in preparing, and then kindly consoling him for his loss [see No. +106]. You played your part admirably. These are my father's own +words. My kind friend, how can I sufficiently thank you? You +saved my father for me. I have you to thank that I still have +him. Permit me to say no more on the subject, and not to attempt +to express my gratitude, for I feel too weak and incompetent to +do so. My best friend, I am forever your debtor; but patience! It +is too true that I am not yet in a position to repay what I owe +you, but rely on it God will one day grant me the opportunity of +showing by deeds what I am unable to express by words. Such is my +hope; till that happy time, however, arrives, allow me to beg you +to continue your precious and valued friendship to me, and also +to accept mine afresh, now and forever; to which I pledge myself +in all sincerity of heart. It will not, indeed, be of much use to +you, but not on that account less sincere and lasting. You know +well that the best and truest of all friends are the poor. The +rich know nothing of friendship, especially those who are born +to riches, and even those whom fate enriches often become very +different when fortunate in life. But when a man is placed in +favorable circumstances, not by blind, but reasonable good +fortune and merit, who during his early and less prosperous days +never lost courage, remaining faithful to his religion and his +God, striving to be an honest man and good Christian, knowing how +to value his true friends,--in short, one who really deserves +better fortune,--from such a man no ingratitude is to be feared. + +I must now proceed to answer your letter. You can be under no +further anxiety as to my health, for you must have ere this +received three letters from me. The first, containing the sad +news of my mother's death, was enclosed, my dear friend, to you. +You must forgive my silence on the subject, but my thoughts recur +to it constantly. You write that I should now think only of my +father, tell him frankly all my thoughts, and place entire +confidence in him. How unhappy should I be if I required this +injunction! It was expedient that you should suggest it, but I am +happy to say (and you will also be glad to hear it) that I do not +need this advice. In my last letter to my dear father, I wrote to +him all that I myself know up to this time, assuring him that I +would always keep him minutely informed of everything, and +candidly tell him my intentions, as I place entire faith in him, +being confident of his fatherly care, love, and goodness. I feel +assured that at a future day he will not deny me a request on +which my whole happiness in life depends, and which (for he +cannot expect anything else from me) will certainly be quite fair +and reasonable. My dear friend, do not let my father read this. +You know him; he would only fancy all kinds of things, and to no +purpose. + +Now for our Salzburg affair. You, my dear friend, are well aware +how I do hate Salzburg, not only on account of the injustice +shown to my father and myself there, which was in itself enough +to make us wish to forget such a place, and to blot it out wholly +from our memory. But do not let us refer to that, if we can +contrive to live respectably there. To live respectably and to +live happily, are two very different things; but the latter I +never could do short of witchcraft,--it would indeed be +supernatural if I did,--so this is impossible, for in these days +there are no longer any witches. Well, happen what may, it will +always be the greatest possible pleasure to me to embrace my dear +father and sister, and the sooner the better. Still I cannot deny +that my joy would be twofold were this to be elsewhere, for I +have far more hope of living happily anywhere else. Perhaps you +may misunderstand me, and think that Salzburg is on too small a +scale for me. If so, you are quite mistaken. I have already +written some of my reasons to my father. In the mean time, let +this one suffice, that Salzburg is no place for my talent. In the +first place, professional musicians are not held in much +consideration; and, secondly, one hears nothing. There is no +theatre, no opera there; and if they really wished to have one, +who is there to sing? For the last five or six years the Salzburg +orchestra has always been rich in what is useless and +superfluous, but very poor in what is useful and indispensable; +and such is the case at the present moment. Those cruel French +are the cause of the band there being without a Capellmeister. +[FOOTNOTE: The old Capellmeister, Lolli, had died a short time +previously.] I therefore feel assured that quiet and order are +now reigning in the orchestra. This is the result of not making +provision in time. Half a dozen Capellmeisters should always be +held in readiness, that, if one fails, another can instantly be +substituted. But where, at present, is even ONE to be found? And +yet the danger is urgent. It will not do to allow order, quiet, +and good-fellowship to prevail in the orchestra, or the mischief +would still further increase, and in the long run become +irremediable. Is there no ass-eared old periwig, no dunderhead +forthcoming, to restore the concern to its former disabled +condition? I shall certainly do my best in the matter. To-morrow +I intend to hire a carriage for the day, and visit all the +hospitals and infirmaries, to see if I can't find a Capellmeister +in one of them. Why were they so improvident as to allow +Misliweczeck to give them the slip, and he so near too? [See No. +64.] He would have been a prize, and one not so easy to replace, +--freshly emerged, too, from the Duke's Clementi Conservatorio. He +was just the man to have awed the whole court orchestra by his +presence. Well, we need not be uneasy: where there is money there +are always plenty of people to be had. My opinion is that they +should not wait too long, not from the foolish fear that they +might not get one at all,--for I am well aware that all these +gentlemen are expecting one as eagerly and anxiously as the Jews +do their Messiah,--but simply because things cannot go on at all +under such circumstances. It would therefore be more useful and +profitable to look out for a Capellmeister, there being NONE at +present, than to write in all directions (as I have been told) to +secure a good female singer. + +[FOOTNOTE: In order the better to conciliate Wolfgang, Bullinger +had been desired to say that the Archbishop, no longer satisfied +with Madlle. Haydn, intended to engage another singer; and it was +hinted to Mozart, that he might be induced to make choice of +Aloysia Weber; (Jahn, ii. 307.) Madlle. Haydn was a daughter of +Lipp, the organist, and sent by the Archbishop to Italy to +cultivate her voice. She did not enjoy a very good reputation.] + +I really can scarcely believe this. Another female singer, when +we have already so many, and all admirable! A tenor, though we do +not require one either, I could more easily understand--but a +prima donna, when we have still Cecarelli! It is true that +Madlle. Haydn is in bad health, for her austere mode of life has +been carried too far. There are few of whom this can be said. I +wonder that she has not long since lost her voice from her +perpetual scourgings and flagellations, her hair-cloth, unnatural +fasts, and night-prayers! But she will still long retain her +powers, and instead of becoming worse, her voice will daily +improve. When at last, however, she departs this life to be +numbered among the saints, we still have five left, each of whom +can dispute the palm with the other. So you see how superfluous a +new one is. But, knowing how much changes and novelty and variety +are liked with us, I see a wide field before me which may yet +form an epoch. [FOOTNOTE: Archbishop Hieronymus, in the true +spirit of Frederick the Great, liked to introduce innovations +with an unsparing hand; many, however, being both necessary and +beneficent.] Do your best that the orchestra may have a leg to +stand on, for that is what is most wanted. A head they have [the +Archbishop], but that is just the misfortune; and till a change +is made in this respect, I will never come to Salzburg. When it +does take place, I am willing to come and to turn over the leaf +as often as I see V. S. [volti subito] written. Now as to the war +[the Bavarian Succession]. So far as I hear, we shall soon have +peace in Germany. The King of Prussia is certainly rather +alarmed. I read in the papers that the Prussians had surprised an +Imperial detachment, but that the Croats and two Cuirassier +regiments were near, and, hearing the tumult, came at once to +their rescue, and attacked the Prussians, placing them between +two fires, and capturing five of their cannon. The route by which +the Prussians entered Bohemia is now entirely cut up and +destroyed. The Bohemian peasantry do all the mischief they can to +the Prussians, who have besides constant desertions among their +troops; but these are matters which you must know both sooner and +better than we do. But I must write you some of our news here. +The French have forced the English to retreat, but it was not a +very hot affair. The most remarkable thing is that, friends and +foes included, only 100 men were killed. In spite of this, there +is a grand jubilation here, and nothing else is talked of. It is +also reported that we shall soon have peace. It is a matter of +indifference to me, so far as this place is concerned; but I +should indeed be very glad if we were soon to have peace in +Germany, for many reasons. Now farewell! Your true friend and +obedient servant, + +WOLFGANG ROMATZ. + + + +112. + +St. Germains, August 27, 1778. + +I WRITE to you very hurriedly; you will see that I am not in +Paris. Herr Bach, from London [Johann Christian], has been here +for the last fortnight. He is going to write a French opera, and +is only come for the purpose of hearing the singers, and +afterwards goes to London to complete the opera, and returns here +to put it on the stage. You may easily imagine his joy and mine +when we met again; perhaps his delight may not be quite as +sincere as mine, but it must be admitted that he is an honorable +man and willing to do justice to others. I love him from my heart +(as you know), and esteem him; and as for him, there is no doubt +that he praises me warmly, not only to my face, but to others +also, and not in the exaggerated manner in which some speak, but +in earnest. Tenducci is also here, Bach's dearest friend, and he +expressed the greatest delight at seeing me again. I must now +tell you how I happen to be at St. Germains. The Marechal de +Noailles lives here, as you no doubt know, (for I am told I was +here fifteen years ago, though I don't remember it.) Tenducci is +a great favorite of his, and as he is exceedingly partial to me, +he was anxious to procure me this acquaintance. I shall gain +nothing here, a trifling present perhaps, but at the same time I +do not lose, for it costs me nothing; and even if I do not get +anything, still I have made an acquaintance that may be very +useful to me. I must make haste, for I am writing a scena for +Tenducci, which is to be given on Sunday; it is for pianoforte, +hautboy, horn, and bassoon, the performers being the Marechal's +own people--Germans, who play very well. I should like to have +written to you long since, but just as I had begun the letter +(which is now lying in Paris) I was obliged to drive to St. +Germains, intending to return the same day, and I have now been +here a week. I shall return to Paris as soon as I can, though I +shall not lose much there by my absence, for I have now only one +pupil, the others being in the country. I could not write to you +from here either, because we were obliged to wait for an +opportunity to send a letter to Paris. I am quite well, thank +God, and trust that both of you are the same. You must have +patience--all goes on slowly; I must make friends. France is not +unlike Germany in feeding people with encomiums, and yet there is +a good hope that, by means of your friends, you may make your +fortune. One lucky thing is, that food and lodging cost me +nothing. When you write to the friend with whom I am staying +[Herr Grimm], do not be too obsequious in your thanks. There are +some reasons for this which I will write to you some other time. +The rest of the sad history of the illness will follow in the +next letter. You desire to have a faithful portrait of +Rothfischer? He is an attentive, assiduous director, not a great +genius, but I am very much pleased with him, and, best of all, he +is the kindest creature, with whom you can do anything--if you +know how to set about it, of course. He directs better than +Brunetti, but is not so good in solo-playing. He has more +execution, and plays well in his way, (a little in the old- +fashioned Tartini mode,) but Brunetti's style is more agreeable. +The concertos which he writes for himself are pretty and pleasant +to listen to, and also to play occasionally. Who can tell whether +he may not please? At all events, he plays a thousand million +times better than Spitzeger, and, as I already said, he directs +well, and is active in his calling. I recommend him to you +heartily, for he is the most good-natured man! Adieu! + + + +113. + +Paris, Sept. 11, 1778. + +I HAVE received your three letters. I shall only reply to the +last, being the most important. When I read it, (Heina was with +me and sends you his regards,) I trembled with joy, for I fancied +myself already in your arms. True it is (and this you will +yourself confess) that no great stroke of good fortune awaits me; +still, when I think of once more embracing you and my dear +sister, I care for no other advantage. This is indeed the only +excuse I can make to the people here, who are vociferous that I +should remain in Paris; but my reply invariably is, "What would +you have? I am content, and that is everything; I have now a +place I can call my home, and where I can live in peace and quiet +with my excellent father and beloved sister. I can do what I +choose when not on duty. I shall be my own master, and have a +certain competency; I may leave when I like, and travel every +second year. What can I wish for more?" The only thing that +disgusts me with Salzburg, and I tell you of it just as I feel +it, is the impossibility of having any satisfactory intercourse +with the people, and that musicians are not in good repute there, +and--that the Archbishop places no faith in the experience of +intelligent persons who have seen the world. For I assure you +that people who do not travel (especially artists and scientific +men) are but poor creatures. And I at once say that if the +Archbishop is not prepared to allow me to travel every second +year, I cannot possibly accept the engagement. A man of moderate +talent will never rise above mediocrity, whether he travels or +not, but a man of superior talents (which, without being +unthankful to Providence, I cannot deny that I possess) +deteriorates if he always remains in the same place. If the +Archbishop would only place confidence in me, I could soon make +his music celebrated; of this there can be no doubt. I also +maintain that my journey has not been unprofitable to me--I mean, +with regard to composition, for as to the piano, I play it as +well as I ever shall. One thing more I must settle about +Salzburg, that I am not to take up the violin as I formerly did. +I will no longer conduct with the violin; I intend to conduct, +and also accompany airs, with the piano. It would have been a +good thing to have got a written agreement about the situation of +Capellmeister, for otherwise I may have the honor to discharge a +double duty, and be paid only for one, and at last be superseded +by some stranger. My dear father, I must decidedly say that I +really could not make up my mind to take this step were it not +for the pleasure of seeing you both again; I wish also to get +away from Paris, which I detest, though my affairs here begin to +improve, and I don't doubt that if I could bring myself to endure +this place for a few years, I could not fail to succeed. I am now +pretty well known--that is, the people all know ME, even if I +don't know them. I acquired considerable fame by my two +symphonies; and (having heard that I was about to leave) they now +really want me to write an opera, so I said to Noverre, "If you +will be responsible for its BEING PERFORMED as soon as it is +finished, and will name the exact sum that I am to receive for +it, I will remain here for the next three months on purpose," for +I could not at once decline, or they would have thought that I +distrusted myself. This was not, however, done; and I knew +beforehand that they could not do it, for such is not the custom +here. You probably know that in Paris it is thus:--When the opera +is finished it is rehearsed, and if these stupid Frenchmen do not +think it good it is not given, and the composer has had all his +trouble for nothing; if they approve, it is then put on the +stage; as its popularity increases, so does the rate of payment. +There is no certainty. I reserve the discussion of these matters +till we meet, but I must candidly say that my own affairs begin +to prosper. It is no use trying to hurry matters--chi va piano, +va sano. My complaisance has gained me both friends and patrons; +were I to write you all, my fingers would ache. I will relate it +to you personally and place it clearly before you. M. Grimm may +be able to help CHILDREN, but not grown-up people; and--but no, I +had better not write on the subject. Yet I must! Do not imagine +that he is the same that he was; were it not for Madame d'Epinay, +I should be no longer in this house. And he has no great cause to +be so proud of his good deeds towards me, for there were four +houses where I could have had both board and lodging. The worthy +man does not know that, if I had remained in Paris, I intended to +have left him next month to go to a house that, unlike his, is +neither stupid nor tiresome, and where a man has not constantly +thrown in his face that a kindness has been done him. Such +conduct is enough to cause me to forget a benefit, but I will be +more generous than he is. I regret not remaining here only +because I should have liked to show him that I do not require +him, and that I can do as much as his Piccini, although I am only +a German! The greatest service he has done me consists in fifteen +louis-d'or which he lent me bit by bit during my mother's life +and at her death. Is he afraid of losing them? If he has a doubt +on the subject, then he deserves to be kicked, for in that case +he must mistrust my honesty (which is the only thing that can +rouse me to rage) and also my talents; but the latter, indeed, I +know he does, for he once said to me that he did not believe I +was capable of writing a French opera. I mean to repay him his +fifteen louis-d'or, with thanks, when I go to take leave of him, +accompanied by some polite expressions. My poor mother often said +to me, "I don't know why, but he seems to me somehow changed." +But I always took his part, though I secretly felt convinced of +the very same thing. He seldom spoke of me to any one, and when +he did, it was always in a stupid, injudicious, or disparaging +way. He was constantly urging me to go to see Piccini, and also +Caribaldi,--for there is a miserable opera buffa here,--but I +always said, "No, I will not go a single step," &c. In short, he +is of the Italian faction; he is insincere himself, and strives +to crush me. This seems incredible, does it not? But still such +is the fact, and I give you the proof of it. I opened my whole +heart to him as a true friend, and a pretty use he made of this! +He always gave me bad advice, knowing that I would follow it; but +he only succeeded in two or three instances, and latterly I never +asked his opinion at all, and if he did advise me to do anything, +I never did it, but always appeared to acquiesce, that I might +not subject myself to further insolence on his part. + +But enough of this; we can talk it over when we meet. At all +events, Madame d'Epinay has a better heart. The room I inhabit +belongs to her, not to him. It is the invalid's room--that is, if +any one is ill in the house, he is put there; it has nothing to +recommend it except the view,--only four bare walls, no chest of +drawers--in fact, nothing. Now you may judge whether I could +stand it any longer. I would have written this to you long ago, +but feared you would not believe me. I can, however, no longer be +silent, whether you believe me or not; but you do believe me, I +feel sure. I have still sufficient credit with you to persuade +you that I speak the truth. I board too with Madame d'Epinay, and +you must not suppose that he pays anything towards it, but indeed +I cost her next to nothing. They have the same dinner whether I +am there or not, for they never know when I am to be at home, so +they can make no difference for me; and at night I eat fruit and +drink one glass of wine. All the time I have been in their house, +now more than two months, I have not dined with them more than +fourteen times at most, and with the exception of the fifteen +louis-d'or, which I mean to repay with thanks, he has no outlay +whatever on my account but candles, and I should really be +ashamed of myself more than of him, were I to offer to supply +these; in fact I could not bring myself to say such a thing. This +is my nature. Recently, when he spoke to me in such a hard, +senseless, and stupid way, I had not nerve to say that he need +not be alarmed about his fifteen louis-d'or, because I was afraid +of offending him; I only heard him calmly to the end, when I +asked whether he had said all he wished--and then I was off! He +presumes to say that I must leave this a week hence--IN SUCH +HASTE IS HE. I told him it was impossible, and my reasons for +saying so. "Oh! that does not matter; it is your father's wish." +"Excuse me, in his last letter he wrote that he would let me know +in his next when I was to set off." "At all events hold yourself +in readiness for your journey." But I must tell you plainly that +it will be impossible for me to leave this before the beginning +of next month, or at the soonest the end of the present one, for +I have still six arias to write, which will be well paid. I must +also first get my money from Le Gros and the Duc de Guines; and +as the court goes to Munich the end of this month, I should like +to be there at the same time to present my sonatas myself to the +Electress, which perhaps might bring me a present. I mean to sell +my three concertos to the man who has printed them, provided he +gives me ready money for them; one is dedicated to Jenomy, +another to Litzau; the third is in B. I shall do the same with my +six difficult sonatas, if I can; even if not much, it is better +than nothing. Money is much wanted on a journey. As for the +symphonies, most of them are not according to the taste of the +people here; if I have time, I mean to arrange some violin +concertos from them, and curtail them; in Germany we rather like +length, but after all it is better to be short and good. In your +next letter I shall no doubt find instructions as to my journey; +I only wish you had written to me alone, for I would rather have +nothing more to do with Grimm. I hope so, and in fact it would be +better, for no doubt our friends Geschwender and Heina can +arrange things better than this upstart Baron. Indeed, I am under +greater obligations to Heina than to him, look at it as you will +by the light of a farthing-candle. I expect a speedy reply to +this, and shall not leave Paris till it comes. I have no reason +to hurry away, nor am I here either in vain or fruitlessly, +because I shut myself up and work, in order to make as much money +as possible. I have still a request, which I hope you will not +refuse. If it should so happen, though I hope and believe it is +not so, that the Webers are not in Munich, but still at Mannheim, +I wish to have the pleasure of going there to visit them. It +takes me, I own, rather out of my way, but not much--at all +events it does not appear much to me. I don't believe, after all, +that it will be necessary, for I think I shall meet them in +Munich; but I shall ascertain this to-morrow by a letter. If it +is not the case, I feel beforehand that you will not deny me this +happiness. My dear father, if the Archbishop wishes to have a new +singer, I can, by heavens! find none better than her. He will +never get a Teyberin or a De' Amicis, and the others are +assuredly worse. I only lament that when people from Salzburg +flock to the next Carnival, and "Rosamunde" is given, Madlle. +Weber will not please, or at all events they will not be able to +judge of her merits as they deserve, for she has a miserable +part, almost that of a dumb personage, having only to sing some +stanzas between the choruses. She has one aria where something +might be expected from the ritournelle; the voice part is, +however, alla Schweitzer, as if dogs were yelping. There is only +one air, a kind of rondo in the second act, where she has an +opportunity of sustaining her voice, and thus showing what she +can do. Unhappy indeed is the singer who falls into Schweitzer's +hands; for never while he lives will he learn how to write for +the voice. When I go to Salzburg I shall certainly not fail to +plead zealously for my dear friend; in the mean time you will not +neglect doing all you can in her favor, for you cannot cause your +son greater joy. I think of nothing now but the pleasure of soon +embracing you. Pray see that everything the Archbishop promised +you is made quite secure, and also what I stipulated, that my +place should be at the piano. My kind regards to all my friends, +and to Herr Bullinger in particular. How merry shall we be +together! I have all this already in my thoughts, already before +my eyes. Adieu! + + + +114. + +Nancy, Oct. 3, 1778. + +PRAY excuse my not having told you of my journey previous to +leaving Paris. But I really cannot describe to you the way in +which the whole affair was hurried forward, contrary to my +expectations, wish, or will. At the very last moment I wanted to +send my luggage to Count Sickingen's, instead of to the bureau of +the diligence, and to remain some days longer in Paris. This, I +give you my honor, I should at once have done had I not thought +of you, for I did not wish to displease you. We can talk of these +matters better at Salzburg. But one thing more--only fancy how +Herr Grimm deceived me, saying that I was going by the diligence, +and should arrive at Strassburg in five days; and I did not find +out till the last day that it was quite another carriage, which +goes at a snail's pace, never changes horses, and is ten days on +the journey. You may easily conceive my rage; but I only gave way +to it when with my intimate friends, for in his presence I +affected to be quite merry and pleased. When I got into the +carriage, I received the agreeable information that we should be +travelling for twelve days. So this is an instance of Grimm's +good sense! It was entirely to save money that he sent me by this +slow conveyance, not adverting to the fact that the expense would +amount to the same thing from the constant living at inns. Well, +it is now past. What vexed me most in the whole affair was his +not being straightforward with me. He spared his own money, but +not mine, as he paid for my journey, but not for my board. If I +had stayed eight or ten days longer in Paris, I could have paid +my own journey, and made it comfortably. + +I submitted to this conveyance for eight days, but longer I could +not stand it--not on account of the fatigue, for the carriage was +well hung, but from want of sleep. We were off every morning at +four o'clock, and thus obliged to rise at three. Twice I had the +satisfaction of being forced to get up at one o'clock in the +morning, as we were to set off at two. You know that I cannot +sleep in a carriage, so I really could not continue this without +the risk of being ill. I would have taken the post, but it was +not necessary, for I had the good fortune to meet with a person +who quite suited me--a German merchant who resides in Paris, and +deals in English wares. Before getting into the carriage we +exchanged a few words, and from that moment we remained together. +We did not take our meals with the other passengers, but in our +own room, where we also slept. I was glad to meet this man, for, +being a great traveller, he understands it well. He also was very +much disgusted with our carriage; so we proceed to-morrow by a +good conveyance, which does not cost us much, to Strassburg. You +must excuse my not writing more, but when I am in a town where I +know no one, I am never in a good humor; though I believe that if +I had friends here I should like to remain, for the town is +indeed charming--handsome houses, spacious streets, and superb +squares. + +I have one request to make, which is to give me a large chest in +my room that I may have all my things within my reach. I should +like also to have the little piano that Fischietti and Rust had, +beside my writing-table, as it suits me better than the small one +of Stein. I don't bring many new things of my own with me, for I +have not composed much. I have not yet got the three quartets and +the flute concerto I wrote for M. de Jean; for when he went to +Paris he packed them in the wrong trunk, so they are left at +Mannheim. I can therefore bring nothing finished with me except +my sonatas [with violin]; M. Le Gros purchased the two overtures +from me and the sinfonie concertante, which he thinks exclusively +his own; but this is not the case, for I have it still fresh in +my head, and mean to write it out again as soon as I am at home. + +The Munich company of comedians are, I conclude, now acting? [in +Salzburg.] Do they give satisfaction? Do people go to see them? I +suppose that, as for the operettas, the "Fischermadchen" ("La +Pescatrice" of Piccini), or "Das Bauernmadchen bei Hof" ("La +Contadina in Corte," by Sacchini), will be given first? The prima +donna is, no doubt, Madlle. Keiserin, whom I wrote to you about +from Munich. I have heard her, but do not know her. At that time +it was only her third appearance on any stage, and she had only +learned music three weeks [see No. 62]. Now farewell! I shall not +have a moment's peace till I once more see those I love. + + + +115. + +Strassburg, Oct. 15, 1778. + +I GOT your three letters safely, but could not possibly answer +them sooner. What you write about M. Grimm, I, of course, know +better than you can do. That he was all courtesy and civility I +do not deny; indeed, had this not been the case, I would not have +stood on such ceremony with him. All that I owe M. Grimm is +fifteen louis-d'or, and he has only himself to blame for their +not being repaid, and this I told him. But what avails any +discussion? We can talk it over at Salzburg. I am very much +obliged to you for having put my case so strongly before Father +Martini, and also for having written about me to M. Raaff. I +never doubted your doing so, for I am well aware that it rejoices +you to see your son happy and pleased, and you know that I could +never be more so than in Munich; being so near Salzburg, I could +constantly visit you. That Madlle. Weber, or rather MY DEAR +WEBERIN, should now receive a salary, and justice be at last done +to her merits, rejoices me to a degree natural in one who feels +such deep interest in all that concerns her. I still warmly +recommend her to you; though I must now, alas! give up all hope +of what I so much wished,--her getting an engagement in +Salzburg,--for the Archbishop would never give her the salary she +now has. All we can now hope for is that she may sometimes come +to Salzburg to sing in an opera. I had a hurried letter from her +father the day before they went to Munich, in which he also +mentions this news. These poor people were in the greatest +distress about me, fearing that I must be dead, a whole month +having elapsed without any letter from me, (owing to the last one +being lost;) an idea that was confirmed by a report in Mannheim +that my poor dear mother had died of a contagious disease. So +they have been all praying for my soul. The poor girl went every +day for this purpose into the Capuchin church. Perhaps you may +laugh at this? I did not; on the contrary, I could not help being +much touched by it. + +To proceed. I think I shall certainly go by Stuttgart to +Augsburg, because I see by your letter that nothing, or at least +not much, is to be made in Donaueschingen; but I will apprise you +of all this before leaving Strassburg. Dearest father, I do +assure you that, were it not for the pleasure of soon embracing +you, I would never come to Salzburg; for, with the exception of +this commendable and delightful impulse, I am really committing +the greatest folly in the world. Rest assured that these are my +own thoughts, and not borrowed from others. When my resolution to +leave Paris was known, certain facts were placed before me, and +the sole weapons I had to contend against or to conquer these, +were my true and tender love for my kind father, which could not +be otherwise than laudable in their eyes, but with the remark +that if my father had known my present circumstances and fair +prospects, (and had not got different and false impressions by +means of a kind friend,) he certainly would not have written to +me in such a strain as to render me wholly incapable of offering +the least resistance to his wish; and in my own mind I thought, +that had I not been exposed to so much annoyance in the house +where I lived, and the journey come on me like a sudden thunder- +clap, leaving me no time to reflect coolly on the subject, I +should have earnestly besought you to have patience for a time, +and to let me remain a little longer in Paris. I do assure you +that I should have succeeded in gaining fame, honor, and wealth, +and been thus enabled to defray your debts. But now it is +settled, and do not for a moment suppose that I regret it; but +you alone, dearest father, you alone can sweeten the bitterness +of Salzburg for me; and that you will do so, I feel convinced. I +must also candidly say that I should arrive in Salzburg with a +lighter heart were it not for my official capacity there, for +this thought is to me the most intolerable of all. Reflect on it +yourself, place yourself in my position. At Salzburg I never know +how I stand; at one time I am everything, at another absolutely +nothing. I neither desire SO MUCH nor SO LITTLE, but still I wish +to be SOMETHING--if indeed I am something! In every other place I +know what my duties are. Elsewhere those who undertake the violin +stick to it,--the same with the piano, &c., &c. I trust this will +be regulated hereafter, so that all may turn out well and for my +happiness and satisfaction. I rely wholly on you. + +Things here are in a poor state; but the day after to-morrow, +Saturday the 17th, I MYSELF ALONE, (to save expense,) to please +some kind friends, amateurs, and connoisseurs, intend to give a +subscription concert. If I engaged an orchestra, it would with +the lighting cost me more than three louis-d'or, and who knows +whether we shall get as much? My sonatas are not yet published, +though promised for the end of September. Such is the effect of +not looking after things yourself, for which that obstinate Grimm +is also to blame. They will probably be full of mistakes, not +being able to revise them myself, for I was obliged to devolve +the task on another, and I shall be without my sonatas in Munich. +Such an occurrence, though apparently a trifle, may often bring +success, honor, and wealth, or, on the other hand, misfortune. + + + +116. + +Strassburg, Oct. 20, 1778. + +You will perceive that I am still here, by the advice of Herr +Frank and other Strassburg magnates, but I leave this to-morrow. +In my last letter I mentioned that on the 17th I was to give a +kind of sample of a concert, as concerts here fare worse than +even at Salzburg. It is, of course, over. I played quite alone, +having engaged no musicians, so that I might at least lose +nothing; briefly, I took three louis-d'or. The chief receipts +consisted in the shouts of Bravo! and Bravissimo! which echoed on +every side. Prince Max of Zweibrucken also honored the concert by +his presence. I need not tell you that every one was pleased. I +intended then to pursue my journey, but was advised to stay till +the following Saturday, in order to give a grand concert in the +theatre. I did so, and, to the surprise, indignation, and +disgrace of all the Strassburgers, my receipts were exactly the +same. The Director, M. de Villeneuve, abused the inhabitants of +this most detestable town in the most unmeasured terms. I took a +little more money, certainly, but the cost of the band (which is +very bad, but its pay very good), the lighting, printing, the +guard at the door, and the check-takers at the entrances, &c., +made up a considerable sum. Still I must tell you that the +applause and clapping of hands almost deafened me, and made my +ears ache; it was as if the whole theatre had gone crazy. Those +who were present, loudly and publicly denounced their fellow- +citizens, and I told them all that if I could have reasonably +supposed so few people would have come, I would gladly have given +the concert gratis, merely for the pleasure of seeing the theatre +well filled. And in truth I should have preferred it, for, upon +my word, I don't know a more desolate sight than a long table +laid for fifty, and only three at dinner. Besides, it was so +cold; but I soon warmed myself, for, to show the Strassburg +gentlemen how little I cared, I played a very long time for my +own amusement, giving a concerto more than I had promised, and, +at the close, extemporizing. It is now over, but at all events I +gained honor and fame. + +I have drawn on Herr Scherz for eight louis-d'or, as a +precaution, for no one can tell what may happen on a journey; and +I HAVE is better than I MIGHT HAVE HAD. I have read the fatherly +well-meaning letter which you wrote to M. Frank when in such +anxiety about me. [Footnote: "Your sister and I confessed, and +took the Holy Communion," writes the father, "and prayed to God +fervently for your recovery. Our excellent Bullinger prays daily +for you also."] When I wrote to you from Nancy, not knowing +myself, you of course could not know, that I should have to wait +so long for a good opportunity. Your mind may be quite at ease +about the merchant with whom I am travelling; he is the most +upright man in the world, takes more care of me than of himself, +and, entirely to oblige me, is to go with me to Augsburg and +Munich, and possibly even to Salzburg. We actually shed tears +when we think that we must separate. He is not a learned man, but +a man of experience, and we live together like children. When he +thinks of his wife and family whom he has left in Paris, I try to +comfort him, and when I think of my own people he speaks comfort +to me. + +On the 31st of October, my name-day, I amused myself (and, better +still, others) for a couple of hours. At the repeated entreaties +of Herr Frank, de Berger, &c., &c., I gave another concert, by +which, after paying the expenses, (not heavy this time,) I +actually cleared a louis-d'or! Now you see what Strassburg is! I +wrote at the beginning of this letter that I was to leave this on +the 27th or 28th, but it proved impossible, owing to a sudden +inundation here, when the floods caused great damage. You will +probably see this in the papers. Of course travelling was out of +the question, which was the only thing that induced me to consent +to give another concert, being obliged to remain at all events. + +To-morrow I go by the diligence to Mannheim. Do not be startled +at this. In foreign countries it is expedient to follow the +advice of those who know from experience what ought to be done. +Most of the strangers who go to Stuttgart (N.B., by the +diligence) do not object to this detour of eight hours, because +the road is better and also the conveyance. I must now, dearest +father, cordially wish you joy of your approaching name-day. My +kind father, I wish you from my heart all that a son can wish for +a good father, whom he so highly esteems and dearly loves. I +thank the Almighty that He has permitted you again to pass this +day in the enjoyment of perfect health, and implore from Him the +boon, that during the whole of my life (and I hope to live for a +good many years to come) I may be able to congratulate you every +year. However strange, and perhaps ridiculous, this wish may seem +to you, I do assure you it is both sincere and well-intended. + +I hope you received my last letter from Strassburg. I wish to +write nothing further of M. Grimm, but it is entirely owing to +his stupidity in pressing forward my departure so much, that my +sonatas are not yet engraved, or at all events that I have not +got them, and when I do I shall probably find them full of +mistakes. If I had only stayed three days longer in Paris, I +could have revised them myself and brought them with me. The +engraver was desperate when I told him that I could not correct +them, but must commission someone else to do so. Why? Because, +being resolved not to be three days longer in the same house with +Grimm, I told him that on account of the sonatas I was going to +stay with Count Sickingen, when he replied, his eyes sparkling +with rage, "If you leave my house before you leave Paris, I will +never in my life see you again. In that case do not presume ever +to come near me, and look on me as your bitterest enemy." Self- +control was indeed very necessary. Had it not been for your sake, +who knew nothing about the matter, I certainly should have +replied, "Be my enemy; by all means be so. You are so already, or +you would not have prevented me putting my affairs in order here, +which would have enabled me to keep my word, to preserve my honor +and reputation, and also to make money, and probably a lucky hit; +for if I present my sonatas to the Electress when I go to Munich, +I shall thus keep my promise, probably receive a present, and +make my fortune besides." But as it was, I only bowed, and left +the room without saying a syllable. Before quitting Paris, +however, I said all this to him, but he answered me like a man +totally devoid of sense, or rather like a malicious man who +affects to have none. I have written twice to Herr Heina, but +have got no answer. The sonatas ought to have appeared by the end +of September, and M. Grimm was to have forwarded the promised +copies immediately to me, so I expected to have found them in +Strassburg; but M. Grimm writes to me that he neither hears nor +sees anything of them, but as soon as he does they are to be +forwarded, and I hope to have them ere long. + +Strassburg can scarcely do without me. You cannot think how much +I am esteemed and beloved here. People say that I am +disinterested as well as steady and polite, and praise my +manners. Every one knows me. As soon as they heard my name, the +two Herrn Silbermann and Herr Hepp (organist) came to call on me, +and also Capellmeister Richter. He has now restricted himself +very much; instead of forty bottles of wine a day, he only drinks +twenty! I played publicly on the two best organs that Silbermann +has here, in the Lutheran and New Churches, and in the Thomas +Church. If the Cardinal had died, (and he was very ill when I +arrived,) I might have got a good situation, for Herr Richter is +seventy-eight years of age. Now farewell! Be cheerful and in good +spirits, and remember that your son is, thank God! well, and +rejoicing that his happiness daily draws nearer. Last Sunday I +heard a new mass of Herr Richter's, which is charmingly written. + + + +117. + +Mannheim, November 12, 1778. + +I arrived here safely on the 6th, agreeably surprising all my +kind friends. God be praised that I am once more in my beloved +Mannheim! I assure you, if you were here you would say the same. +I am living at Madame Cannabich's, who, as well as her family and +all my good friends here, was quite beside herself with joy at +seeing me again. We have not yet done talking, for she tells me +of all the events and changes that have taken place during my +absence. I have not been able to dine once at home since I came, +for people are fighting to have me; in a word, just as I love +Mannheim, so Mannheim loves me; and, though of course I don't +know it positively, still I do think it possible that I may get +an appointment here. But HERE, not in Munich, for my own belief +is that the Elector will soon once more take up his residence in +Mannheim, for he surely cannot long submit to the coarseness of +the Bavarian gentlemen. You know that the Mannheim company is in +Munich. There they hissed the two best actresses, Madame Toscani +and Madame Urban. There was such an uproar that the Elector +himself leant over his box and called out, "Hush!" To this, +however, no one paid any attention; so he sent down Count Seeau, +who told some of the officers not to make such a noise, as the +Elector did not like it; but the only answer he got was, that +they had paid their money, and no man had a right to give them +any orders. But what a simpleton I am! You no doubt have heard +this long ago through our.... + +I have now something to say. I may PERHAPS make forty louis-d'or +here. To be sure, I should have to stay six weeks, or at most two +months, in Mannheim. Seiler's company is here, whom you no doubt +already know by reputation. Herr von Dalberg is the director. He +will not hear of my leaving this till I have written a duodrama +for him, and indeed I did not long hesitate, for I have often +wished to write this style of drama. I forget if I wrote to you +about it the first time that I was here. Twice at that time I saw +a similar piece performed, which afforded me the greatest +pleasure; in fact, nothing ever surprised me so much, for I had +always imagined that a thing of this kind would make no effect. +Of course you know that there is no singing in it, but merely +recitation, to which the music is a sort of obligato recitativo. +At intervals there is speaking while the music goes on, which +produces the most striking effect. What I saw was Benda's +"Medea." He also wrote another, "Ariadne auf Naxos," and both are +truly admirable. You are aware that of all the Lutheran +Capellmeisters Benda was always my favorite, and I like those two +works of his so much that I constantly carry them about with me. +Conceive my joy at now composing the very thing I so much wished! +Do you know what my idea is?--that most operatic recitatives +should be treated in this way, and the recitative only +occasionally sung WHEN THE WORDS CAN BE THOROUGHLY EXPRESSED BY +THE MUSIC. An Academie des Amateurs is about to be established +here, like the one in Paris, where Herr Franzl is violin leader, +and I am at this moment writing a concerto for violin and piano. +I found my dear friend Raaff still here, but he leaves this on +the 8th. He has sounded my praises here, and shown sincere +interest in me, and I hope he will do the same in Munich. Do you +know what that confounded fellow Seeau said here?--that my opera +buffa had been hissed at Munich! Fortunately he said so in a +place where I am well known; still, his audacity provokes me; but +the people, when they go to Munich, will hear the exact reverse. +A whole flock of Bavarians are here, among others Fraulein de +Pauli (for I don't know her present name). I have been to see her +because she sent for me immediately. Oh! what a difference there +is between the people of the Palatinate and those of Bavaria! +What a language it is! so coarse! and their whole mode of +address! It quite annoys me to hear once more their hoben and +olles (haben and alles), and their WORSHIPFUL SIR. Now good-bye! +and pray write to me soon. Put only my name, for they know where +I am at the post-office. I am so well known here that it is +impossible a letter for me can be lost. My cousin wrote to me, +and by mistake put Franconian Hotel instead of Palatine Hotel. +The landlord immediately sent the letter to M. Serrarius's, where +I lodged when I was last here. What rejoices me most of all in +the whole Mannheim and Munich story is that Weber has managed his +affairs so well. They have now 1600 florins; for the daughter has +1000 florins and her father 400, and 200 more as prompter. +Cannabich did the most for them. It is quite a history about +Count Seeau; if you don't know it, I will write you the details +next time. + +I beg, dearest father, that you will make use of this affair at +Salzburg, and speak so strongly and so decidedly, that the +Archbishop may think it possible I may not come after all, and +thus be induced to give me a better salary, for I declare I +cannot think of it with composure. The Archbishop cannot pay me +sufficiently for the slavery of Salzburg. As I said before, I +feel the greatest pleasure at the thought of paying you a visit, +but only annoyance and misery in seeing myself once more at that +beggarly court. The Archbishop must no longer attempt to play the +great man with me as he used to do, or I may possibly play him a +trick,--this is by no means unlikely,--and I am sure that you +would participate in my satisfaction. + + + +118. + +Mannheim, Nov. 24, 1778. + +MY DEAR BARON VON DALBERG,-- + +I called on you twice, but had not the good fortune to find you +at home; yesterday you were in the house, but engaged, so I could +not see you. I hope you will therefore excuse my troubling you +with these few lines, as it is very important to me to explain +myself fully. Herr Baron, you are well aware that I am not an +interested man, particularly when I know that it is in my power +to do a service to so great a connoisseur and lover of music as +yourself. On the other hand, I also know that you certainly would +not wish that I should be a loser on this occasion; I therefore +take the liberty to make my final stipulations on the subject, as +it is impossible for me to remain here longer in uncertainty. I +agree to write a monodrama for the sum of twenty-five louis-d'or, +and to stay here for two months longer to complete everything, +and to attend all the rehearsals, &c., but on this condition, +that, happen what may, I am to be paid by the end of January. Of +course I shall also expect free admission to the theatre. Now, my +dear Baron, this is all that I can do, and if you consider, you +will admit that I certainly am acting with great discretion. With +regard to your opera, I do assure you I should rejoice to compose +music for it, but you must yourself perceive that I could not +undertake such a work for twenty-five louis-d'or, as it would be +twice the labor of a monodrama (taken at the lowest rate). The +chief obstacle would be your having told me that Gluck and +Schweitzer are partially engaged to write this work. But were you +even to give me fifty louis-d'or, I would still as an honest man +dissuade you from it. An opera without any singers! what is to be +done in such a case? Still, if on this occasion there is a +prospect of its being performed, I will not hesitate to undertake +the work to oblige you; but it is no trifling one--of that I +pledge you my word. I have now set forth my ideas clearly and +candidly, and request your decision. + + + +119. + +Mannheim, Dec. 3, 1778. + +I MUST ask your forgiveness for two things,--first, that I have +not written to you for so long; and secondly, that this time also +I must be brief. My not having answered you sooner is the fault +of no one but yourself, and your first letter to me at Mannheim. +I really never could have believed--but silence! I will say no +more on the subject. Lot us have done with it. Next Wednesday, +the 9th, I leave this; I cannot do so sooner, because, thinking +that I was to be here for a couple of months, I accepted some +pupils, and of course wish to make out the twelve lessons. I +assure you that you have no idea what kind and true friends I +have here, which time will prove. Why must I be so brief? Because +my hands are more than full. To please Herr Gemmingen and myself, +I am writing the first act of the melodramatic opera (that I was +commissioned to write), but now do so gratis; I shall bring it +with me and finish it at home. You see how strong my inclination +must be for this kind of composition. Of course Herr von +Gemmingen is the poet. The duodrama is called "Semiramis." + +Next Wednesday I set off, and do you know how I travel? With the +worthy prelate, the Bishop of Kaisersheim. When a kind friend of +mine mentioned me to him, he at once knew my name, expressing the +pleasure it would be to him to have me as a travelling companion. +He is (though a priest and prelate) a most amiable man. I am +therefore going by Kaisersheim and not by Stuttgart; but it is +just the same to me, for I am very lucky in being able to spare +my purse a little (as it is slender enough) on the journey. Be so +good as to answer me the following questions. How do the +comedians please at Salzburg? Is not the young lady who sings, +Madlle. Keiserin? Does Herr Feiner play the English horn? Ah! if +we had only clarionets too! You cannot imagine the splendid +effect of a symphony with flutes, hautboys, and clarionets. At my +first audience of the Archbishop I shall tell him much that is +new, and also make some suggestions. Oh, how much finer and +better our orchestra might be if the Archbishop only chose! The +chief cause why it is not so, is that there are far too many +performances. I make no objection to the chamber-music, only to +the concerts on a larger scale. + +A propos, you say nothing of it, but I conclude you have received +the trunk; if not, Herr von Grimm is responsible for it. You will +find in it the aria I wrote for Madlle. Weber. You can have no +idea of the effect of that aria with instruments; you may not +think so when you see it, but it ought to be sung by a Madlle. +Weber! Pray, give it to no one, for that would be most unfair, as +it was written solely for her, and fits her like a well-fitting +glove. + + + +120. + +Kaisersheim, Dec. 18, 1778. + +I ARRIVED here safely on Sunday the 13th, God be praised! I +travelled in the most agreeable way, and had likewise the +inexpressible pleasure to find a letter from you here. The reason +that I did not forthwith answer it was, because I wished to give +you sure and precise information as to my departure, for which I +had not fixed any time; but I have at length resolved, as the +prelate goes to Munich on the 26th or 27th, to be again his +companion. I must tell you, however, that he does not go by +Augsburg. I lose nothing by this; but if you have anything to +arrange or transact where my presence is wanted, I can at any +time, if you wish it, (being so near,) make a little expedition +from Munich. My journey from Mannheim to this place would have +been most agreeable to a man, leaving a city with a light heart. +The prelate and his Chancellor, an honest, upright, and amiable +man, drove together in one carriage, and Herr Kellermeister, +Father Daniel, Brother Anton, the Secretary, and I, preceded them +always half an hour, or an hour. But for me, to whom nothing +could be more painful than leaving Mannheim, this journey was +only partly agreeable, and would not have been at all so, but +rather very tiresome, if I had not from my early youth been so +much accustomed to leave people, countries, and cities, and with +no very sanguine hope of soon or ever again seeing the kind +friends I left. I cannot deny, but at once admit, that not only I +myself, but all my intimate friends, particularly the Cannabichs, +were in the most pitiable distress during the last few days after +my departure was finally settled. We felt as if it were not +possible for us to part. I set off at half-past eight o'clock in +the morning, and Madame Cannabich did not leave her room; she +neither would nor could take leave of me. I did not wish to +distress her, so left the house without seeing her. My very dear +father, I can safely say that she is one of my best and truest +friends, for I only call those friends who are so in every +situation, who, day and night, think how they can best serve the +interests of their friend, applying to all influential persons, +and toiling to secure his happiness. Now I do assure you such is +the faithful portrait of Madame Cannabich. There may indeed be an +alloy of self-interest in this, for where does anything take +place--indeed, how can anything be done in this world--without +some alloy of selfishness? What I like best in Madame Cannabich +is, that she never attempts to deny this. I will tell you when we +meet in what way she told me so, for when we are alone, which, I +regret to say, is very seldom, we become quite confidential. Of +all the intimate friends who frequent her house, I alone possess +her entire confidence; for I alone know all her domestic and +family troubles, concerns, secrets, and circumstances. We were +not nearly so well acquainted the first time I was here, (we have +agreed on this point,) nor did we mutually under stand each other +so well; but living in the same house affords greater facilities +to know a person. When in Paris I first began fully to appreciate +the sincere friendship of the Cannabichs, having heard from a +trustworthy source the interest both she and her husband took in +me. I reserve many topics to explain and to discuss personally, +for since my return from Paris the scene has undergone some +remarkable changes, but not in all things. Now as to my cloister +life. The monastery itself made no great impression on me, after +having seen the celebrated Abbey of Kremsmunster. I speak of the +exterior and what they call here the court square, for the most +renowned part I have yet to see. What appears to me truly +ridiculous is the formidable military. I should like to know of +what use they are. At night I hear perpetual shouts of "Who goes +there?" and I invariably reply, "Guess!" You know what a good and +kind man the prelate is, but you do not know that I may class +myself among his favorites, which, I believe, does me neither good +nor harm, but it is always pleasant to have one more friend in +the world. With regard to the monodrama, or duodrama, a voice +part is by no means necessary, as not a single note is sung, but +entirely spoken; in short, it is a recitative with instruments, +only the actor speaks the words instead of singing them. If you +were to hear it even with the piano, it could not fail to please +you, but properly performed, you would be quite transported. I +can answer for this; but it requires a good actor or actress. + +I shall really feel quite ashamed if I arrive in Munich without +my sonatas. I cannot understand the delay; it was a stupid trick +of Grimm's, and I have written to him to that effect. He will now +see that he was in rather too great a hurry. Nothing ever +provoked me so much. Just reflect on it. I know that my sonatas +were published in the beginning of November, and I, the author, +have not yet got them, therefore cannot present them to the +Electress, to whom they are dedicated. I have, however, taken +measures in the mean time which will insure my getting them. I +hope that my cousin in Augsburg has received them, or that they +are lying at Josef Killiau's for her; so I have written to beg +her to send them to me at once. + +Until I come myself, I commend to your good offices an organist, +and also a good pianist, Herr Demmler, from Augsburg. I had +entirely forgotten him, and was very glad when I heard of him +here. He has considerable genius; a situation in Salzburg might +be very useful in promoting his further success, for all he +requires is a good leader in music; and I could not find him a +better conductor than you, dear father, and it would really be a +pity if he were to leave the right path. [See No. 68.] That +melancholy "Alceste" of Schweitzer's is to be performed in +Munich. The best part (besides some of the openings, middle +passages, and the finales of some arias) is the beginning of the +recitative "O Jugendzeit," and this was made what it is by +Raaff's assistance; he punctuated it for Hartig (who plays +Admet), and by so doing introduced the true expression into the +aria. The worst of all, however, (as well as the greater part of +the opera,) is certainly the overture. + +As for the trifles that are not to be found in the trunk, it is +quite natural that under such circumstances something should be +lost, or even stolen. The little amethyst ring I felt I ought to +give to the nurse who attended my dear mother, whose wedding-ring +was left on her finger. [A large blot.] The ink-bottle is so +full, and I am too hasty in dipping in my pen, as you will +perceive. As for the watch, you have guessed rightly. I sold it, +but only got five louis-d'or for it, and that in consideration of +the works, which were good; for the shape, as you know, was old- +fashioned and quite out of date. Speaking of watches, I must tell +you that I am bringing one with me--a genuine Parisian. You know +what sort of thing my jewelled watch was--how inferior all the +so-called precious stones were, how clumsy and awkward its shape; +but I would not have cared so much about that, had I not been +obliged to spend so much money in repairing and regulating it, +and after all the watch would one day gain a couple of hours, and +next day lose in the same proportion. The one the Elector gave me +did just the same, and, moreover, the works were even worse and +more fragile. I exchanged these two watches and their chains for +a Parisian one which is worth twenty louis-d'or. So now at last I +know what o'clock it is; with my five watches I never got so far +as that before! At present, out of four, I have, at all events, +one on which I can depend. + + + +121. + +Kaisersheim, Dec. 23, 1778. + +MA TRES-CHERE COUSINE,-- + +I write to you in the greatest haste, and in the deepest sorrow +and remorse, and with the determined purpose to tell you that it +is my intention to set off to-morrow to Munich. I would, I assure +you, gladly have gone to Augsburg, but the prelate was resolved +to claim me, for which you cannot blame me. It is my loss, so +don't be cross. I may perhaps make an escapade from Munich to +Augsburg, but this is by no means certain. If you will be as glad +to see me, as I shall be to see you, do come to the good town of +Munich. Be sure you come by the new year, that I may see your +face so dear, and escort you far and near. One thing I very much +regret, which is that I cannot give you house-room, because I am +not at an hotel, but am living with--whom do you think? I should +like to know this myself [with the Webers]. But now Spassus +apart. For that very reason, and for my sake, it would be +advisable you should come; perhaps you may have a great part to +play, but at all events come. I can then pay you in my own mighty +person all proper compliments. Now adieu, angel of piety! I await +you with anxiety. Your sincere cousin, + +W. A. MOZART. + +P.S.--Write to me forthwith to Munich, Poste Restante, a little +note of twenty-four pages, but do not mention where you are to +lodge, that I may not find you out nor you me. + + + +122. + +Munich, Dec. 29, 1778. + +I WRITE from the house of M. Becke [flute-player; see No. 60]. I +arrived here safely, God be praised! on the 25th, but have been +unable to write to you till now. I reserve everything till our +glad, joyous meeting, when I can once more have the happiness of +conversing with you, for to-day I can only weep. I have far too +sensitive a heart. In the mean time, I must tell you that the day +before I left Kaisersheim I received the sonatas; so I shall be +able to present them myself to the Electress. I only delay +leaving this till the opera [Footnote: Schweitzer's "Alceste." +(See No. 120.)] is given, when I intend immediately to leave +Munich, unless I were to find that it would be very beneficial +and useful to me to remain here for some time longer. In which +case I feel convinced, quite convinced, that you would not only +be satisfied I should do so, but would yourself advise it. I +naturally write very badly, for I never learned to write; still, +in my whole life I never wrote worse than this very day, for I +really am unfit for anything--my heart is too full of tears. I +hope you will soon write to me and comfort me. Address to me, +Poste Restante, and then I can fetch the letter myself. I am +staying with the Webers. I think, after all, it would be better, +far better, to enclose your letter to me to our friend Becke. + +I intend (I mention it to you in the strictest secrecy) to write +a mass here; all my best friends advise my doing so. I cannot +tell you what friends Cannabich and Raaff have been to me. Now +farewell, my kindest and most beloved father! Write to me soon. + +A happy new-year! More I cannot bring myself to write to-day. +This letter is scrawled hurriedly, quite unlike the others, and +betrays the most violent agitation of mind. During the whole +journey there was nothing to which Mozart looked forward with +such joy as once more seeing his beloved Madlle. Weber in Munich. +He had even destined "a great part" for the Basle (his cousin) in +the affair; but he was now to learn that Aloysia had been +faithless to him. Nissen relates: "Mozart, being in mourning for +his mother, appeared dressed, according to the French custom, in +a red coat with black buttons; but soon discovered that Aloysia's +feelings towards him had undergone a change. She seemed scarcely +to recognize one for whose sake she had once shed so many tears. +On which Mozart quickly seated himself at the piano and sang, +"Ich lass das Madel gern das mich nicht will," ["I gladly give up +the girl who slights me."] His father, moreover, was displeased +in the highest degree by Wolfgang's protracted absence, fearing +that the Archbishop might recall his appointment; so Wolfgang +became very uneasy lest he should not meet with a kind reception +from his father on his return home." + + + +123. + +Munich, Dec. 31, 1778. + +I HAVE this instant received your latter from my friend Becke. I +wrote to you from his house two days ago, but a letter such as I +never wrote before; for this kind friend said so much to me about +your tender paternal love, your indulgence towards me, your +complaisance and discretion in the promotion of my future +happiness, that my feelings were softened even to tears. But, +from your letter of the 28th, I see only too clearly that Herr +Becke, in his conversation with me, rather exaggerated. Now, +distinctly, and once for all, as soon as the opera ("Alceste") is +given, I intend to leave this, whether the diligence goes the day +after or the same night. If you had spoken to Madame Robinig, I +might have travelled home with her. But be that as it may, the +opera is to be given on the 11th, and on the 12th (if the +diligence goes) I set off. It would be more for my interest to +stay here a little longer, but I am willing to sacrifice this to +you, in the hope that I shall have a twofold reward for it in +Salzburg. I don't think your idea about the sonatas at all good; +even if I do not get them, I ought to leave Munich forthwith. +Then you advise my not being seen at court; to a man so well +known as I am here such a thing is impossible. But do not be +uneasy. I received my sonatas at Kaisersheim; and, as soon as +they are bound, I mean to present them to the Electress. A. +propos, what do you mean by DREAMS OF PLEASURE? I do not wish to +give up dreaming, for what mortal on the whole compass of the +earth does not often dream? above all DREAMS OF PLEASURE-- +peaceful dreams, sweet, cheering dreams if you will--dreams +which, if realized, would have rendered my life (now far rather +sad than pleasurable) more endurable. + +The 1st.--I have this moment received, through a Salzburg +vetturino, a letter from you, which really at first quite +startled me. For Heaven's sake tell me, do you really think that +I can at once fix a day for my journey; or is it your belief that +I don't mean to come at all? When I am so very near, I do think +you might be at ease on that point. When the fellow had explained +his route to me, I felt a strong inclination to go with him, but +at present I really cannot; to-morrow or next day I intend to +present the sonatas to the Electress, and then (no matter how +strongly I may be urged) I must wait a few days for a present. Of +one thing I give you my word, that to please you I have resolved +not to wait to see the opera, but intend to leave this the day +after I receive the present I expect. At the same time I confess +I feel this to be very hard on me; but if a few days more or less +appear of such importance to you, so let it be. Write to me at +once on this point. The 2d.--I rejoice at the thoughts of +conversing with you, for then you will first comprehend how my +matters stand here. You need have neither mistrust nor misgivings +as to Raaff, for he is the most upright man in the world, though +no lover of letter-writing. The chief cause of his silence, +however, is no doubt that he is unwilling to make premature +promises, and yet is glad to hold out some hope too; besides, +like Cannabich, he has worked for me with might and main. + + + +124. + +Munich, Jan. 8, 1779. + +[Footnote: The second grand aria that Mozart wrote for Aloysia, +bears the same date.] + +I HOPE you received my last letter, which I meant to have given +to the vetturino, but having missed him I sent it by post. I +have, in the mean time, got all your letters safely through Herr +Becke. I gave him my letter to read, and he also showed me his. I +assure you, my very dear father, that I am now full of joy at +returning to you, (but not to Salzburg,) as your last letter +shows that you know me better than formerly. There never was any +other cause for my long delay in going home but this doubt, which +gave rise to a feeling of sadness that I could no longer conceal; +so I at last opened my heart to my friend Becke. What other cause +could I possibly have? I have done nothing to cause me to dread +reproach from you; I am guilty of no fault; (by a fault I mean +that which does not become a Christian, and a man of honor;) in +short, I now rejoice, and already look forward to the most +agreeable and happy days, but only in the society of yourself and +my dear sister. I give you my solemn word of honor that I cannot +endure Salzburg or its inhabitants, (I speak of the natives of +Salzburg.) Their language, their manners, are to me quite +intolerable. You cannot think what I suffered during Madame +Robinig's visit here, for it is long indeed since I met with such +a fool; and, for my still further annoyance, that silly, deadly +dull Mosmayer was also there. + +But to proceed. I went yesterday, with my dear friend Cannabich, +to the Electress to present my sonatas. Her apartments are +exactly what I should like mine one day to be, very pretty and +neat, just like those of a private individual, all except the +view, which is miserable. We were there fully an hour and a half, +and she was very gracious. I have managed to let her know that I +must leave this in a few days, which will, I hope, expedite +matters. You have no cause to be uneasy about Count Seeau; I +don't believe the thing will come through his hands, and even if +it does, he will not venture to say a word. Now, once for all, +believe that I have the most eager longing to embrace you and my +beloved sister. If it were only not in Salzburg! But as I have +not hitherto been able to see you without going to Salzburg, I do +so gladly. I must make haste, for the post is just going. + +My cousin is here. Why? To please me, her cousin; this is, +indeed, the ostensible cause. But--we can talk about it in +Salzburg; and, on this account, I wished very much that she would +come with me there. You will find a few lines, written by her own +hand, attached to the fourth page of this letter. She is quite +willing to go; so if it would really give you pleasure to see +her, be so kind as to write immediately to her brother, that the +thing may be arranged. When you see her and know her, she is +certain to please you, for she is a favorite with every one. + +Wolfgang's pleasantries, in the following; letter to his cousin, +show that his good humor was fully restored. He was received at +home with very great rejoicings, and his cousin soon followed +him. + + + +125. + +Salzburg, May 10, 1779. + +DEAREST, sweetest, most beauteous, fascinating, and charming of +all cousins, most basely maltreated by an unworthy kinsman! Allow +me to strive to soften and appease your just wrath, which only +heightens your charms and winning beauty, as high as the heel of +your slipper! I hope to soften you, Nature having bestowed on me +a large amount of softness, and to appease you, being fond of +sweet pease. As to the Leipzig affair, I can't tell whether it +may be worth stooping to pick up; were it a bag of ringing coin, +it would be a very different thing, and nothing less do I mean to +accept, so there is an end of it. + +Sweetest cousin, such is life! One man has got a purse, but +another has got the money, and he who has neither has nothing; +and nothing is even less than little; while, on the other hand, +much is a great deal more than nothing, and nothing can come of +nothing. Thus has it been from the beginning, is now, and ever +shall be; and as I can make it neither worse nor better, I may as +well conclude my letter. The gods know I am sincere. How does +Probst get on with his wife? and do they live in bliss or in +strife? most silly questions, upon my life! Adieu, angel! My +father sends you his uncle's blessing, and a thousand cousinly +kisses from my sister. Angel, adieu! + +A TENDER ODE. [Footnote: A parody of Klopstock's "Dein susses +Bild, Edone"] + +TO MY COUSIN. + +THY sweet image, cousin mine, + Hovers aye before me; Would the form indeed were thine! + How I would adore thee! I see it at the day's decline; I see it +through the pale moonshine, And linger o'er that form divine + +By all the flowers of sweet perfume + I'll gather for my cousin,--By all the wreaths of myrtle-bloom + I'll wreathe her by the dozen,--I call upon that image there To +pity my immense despair, And be indeed my cousin fair + +[Footnote: These words are written round the slightly sketched +caricature of a face.] + + + +FORTH PART. +MUNICH.--IDOMENEO. +NOVEMBER 1780 TO JANUARY 1781. + + + +PART IV. + + + +MOZART now remained stationary at Salzburg till the autumn of +1780, highly dissatisfied at being forced to waste his youthful +days in inactivity, and in such an obscure place, but still as +busy as ever. A succession of grand instrumental compositions +were the fruits of this period: two masses, some vespers, the +splendid music for "Konig Thamos," and the operetta "Zaide" for +Schikaneder. At length, however, to his very great joy, a +proposal was made to him from Munich to write a grand opera for +the Carnival of 1781. It was "Idomeneo, Konig von Greta." At the +beginning of November he once more set off to Munich in order to +"prepare an exact fit," on the spot, of the different songs in +the opera for the singers, and to rehearse and practise +everything with them. The Abbate Varesco in Salzburg was the +author of the libretto, in which many an alteration had yet to be +made, and these were all to be effected through the intervention +of the father. + + + +126. + +Munich, Nov. 8, 1780. + +FORTUNATE and pleasant was my arrival here,--fortunate, because +no mishap occurred during the journey; and pleasant, because we +had scarcely patience to wait for the moment that was to end this +short but disagreeable journey. I do assure you it was impossible +for us to sleep for a moment the whole night. The carriage jolted +our very souls out, and the seats were as hard as stone! From +Wasserburg I thought I never could arrive in Munich with whole +bones, and during two stages I held on by the straps, suspended +in the air and not venturing to sit down. But no matter; it is +past now, though it will serve me as a warning in future rather +to go on foot than drive in a diligence. + +Now as to Munich. We arrived here at one o'clock in the forenoon, +and the same evening I called on Count Seeau [the Theatre +Intendant], but as he was not at home I left a note for him. Next +morning I went there with Becke. Seeau has been moulded like wax +by the Mannheim people. I have a request to make of the Abbate +[Gianbattista Varesco]. The aria of Ilia in the second act and +second scene must be a little altered for what I require,--"Se il +padre perdei, in te lo ritrovo" This verse could not be better; +but now comes what always appeared unnatural to me,--N.B. in an +aria,--I mean, to speak aside. In a dialogue these things are +natural enough, for a few words can be hurriedly said aside, but +in an aria, where the words must be repeated, it has a bad +effect; and even were this not the case, I should prefer an +uninterrupted aria. The beginning may remain if he chooses, for +it is charming and quite a natural flowing strain, where, not +being fettered by the words, I can write on quite easily; for we +agreed to bring in an aria andantino here in concert with four +wind instruments, viz. flute, hautboy, horn, and bassoon; and I +beg that you will let me have the air as soon as possible. + +Now for a grievance. I have not, indeed, the honor of being +acquainted with the hero Del Prato [the musico who was to sing +Idamante], but from description I should say that Cecarelli is +rather the better of the two, for often in the middle of an air +our musico's breath entirely fails; nota bene, he never was on +any stage, and Raaff is like a statue. Now only for a moment +imagine the scene in the first act! But there is one good thing, +which is, that Madame Dorothea Wendling is arci-contentissima +with her scena, and insisted on hearing it played three times in +succession. The Grand Master of the Teutonic Order arrived +yesterday. "Essex" was given at the Court Theatre, and a +magnificent ballet. The theatre was all illuminated. The +beginning was an overture by Cannabich, which, as it is one of +his last, I did not know. I am sure, if you had heard it you +would have been as much pleased and excited as I was, and if you +had not previously known the fact, you certainly could not have +believed that it was by Cannabich. Do come soon to hear it, and +to admire the orchestra. I have no more to say. There is to be a +grand concert this evening, where Mara is to sing three airs. +Tell me whether it snows as heavily in Salzburg as here. My kind +regards to Herr Schikaneder [impresario in Salzburg], and beg him +to excuse my not yet sending him the aria, for I have not been +able to finish it entirely. + + + +127. + +Munich, Nov. 13, 1780. + +I WRITE in the greatest haste, for I am not yet dressed, and must +go off to Count Seeau's. Cannabich, Quaglio, and Le Grand, the +ballet-master, also dine there to consult about what is necessary +for the opera. Cannabich and I dined yesterday with Countess +Baumgarten, [Footnote: He wrote an air for her, the original of +which is now in the State Library at Munich.] nee Lerchenteld. My +friend is all in all in that family, and now I am the same. It is +the best and most serviceable house here to me, for owing to +their kindness all has gone well with me, and, please God, will +continue to do so. I am just going to dress, but must not omit +the chief thing of all, and the principal object of my letter,-- +to wish you, my very dearest and kindest father, every possible +good on this your name-day. I also entreat the continuance of +your fatherly love, and assure you of my entire obedience to your +wishes. Countess la Rose sends her compliments to you and my +sister, so do all the Cannabichs and both Wendling families, +Ramm, Eck father and son, Becke, and Herr del Prato, who happens +to be with me. Yesterday Count Seeau presented me to the Elector, +who was very gracious. If you were to speak to Count Seeau now, +you would scarcely recognize him, so completely have the +Mannheimers transformed him. + +I am ex commissione to write a formal answer in his name to the +Abbate Varesco, but I have no time, and was not born to be a +secretary. In the first act (eighth scene) Herr Quaglio made the +same objection that we did originally,--namely, that it is not +fitting the king should be quite alone in the ship. If the Abbe +thinks that he can be reasonably represented in the terrible +storm forsaken by every one, WITHOUT A SHIP, exposed to the +greatest peril, all may remain as it is; but, N. B., no ship--for +he cannot be alone in one; so, if the other mode be adopted, some +generals or confidants (mates) must land from the ship with him. +Then the king might address a few words to his trusty companions, +and desire them to leave him alone, which in his melancholy +situation would be quite natural. + +The second duet is to be omitted altogether, and indeed with more +profit than loss to the opera; for if you will read the scene it +evidently becomes cold and insipid by the addition of an air or a +duet, and very irksome to the other actors, who must stand, by +all the time unoccupied; besides, the noble contest between Ilia +and Idamante would become too long, and thus lose its whole +interest. + +Mara has not the good fortune to please me. She does too little +to be compared to a Bastardella [see No. 8], (yet this is her +peculiar style,) and too much to touch the heart like a Weber +[Aloysia], or any judicious singer. + +P.S.--A propos, as they translate so badly here, Count Seeau +would like to have the opera translated in Salzburg, and the +arias alone to be in verse. I am to make a contract that the +payment of the poet and the translator should be made in one sum. +Give me an answer soon about this. Adieu! What of the family +portraits? Are they good likenesses? Is my sister's begun yet? +The opera is to be given for the first time on the 26th of +January. Be so kind as to send me the two scores of the masses +that I have with me, and also the mass in B. Count Seeau is to +mention them soon to the Elector; I should like to be known here +in this style also. I have just heard a mass of Gruan's; it would +be easy to compose half a dozen such in a day. Had I known that +this singer, Del Prato, was so bad, I should certainly have +recommended Cecarelli. + + + +128. + +Munich, Nov. 15, 1780. + +The aria is now admirable, but there is still an alteration to be +made recommended by Raaff; he is, however, right, and even were +he not, some courtesy ought to be shown to his gray hairs. He was +with me yesterday, and I played over his first aria to him, with +which he was very much pleased. The man is old, and can no longer +show off in an aria like that in the second art,--"Fuor del mar +ho un mare in seno," &c. As, moreover, in the third act he has no +aria, (the one in the first act not being so cantabile as he +would like, owing to the expression of the words,) he wishes +after his last speech, "O Creta fortuiiata, O me felice," to have +a pretty aria to sing instead of the quartet; in this way a +superfluous air would be got rid of, and the third act produce a +far better effect. In the last scene also of the second act, +Idomeneo has an aria, or rather a kind of cavatina, to sing +between the choruses. For this it would be better to substitute a +mere recitative, well supported by the instruments. For in this +scene, (owing to the action and grouping which have been recently +settled with Le Grand,) the finest of the whole opera, there +cannot fail to be such a noise and confusion in the theatre, that +an aria, would make a very bad figure in this place, and moreover +there is a thunderstorm which is not likely to subside during +Raaff's aria! The effect, therefore, of a recitative between the +choruses must be infinitely better. Lisel Wendling has also sung +through her two arias half a dozen times, and is much pleased +with them. I heard from a third person that the two Wendlings +highly praised their arias, and as for Raaff he is my best and +dearest friend. I must teach the whole opera myself to Del Prato. +He is incapable of singing even the introduction to any air of +importance, and his voice is so uneven! He is only engaged for a +year, and at the end of that time (next September) Count Seeau +will get another. Cecarelli might try his chance then +serieusement. + +I nearly forgot the best of all. After mass last Sunday, Count +Seeau presented me, en passant, to H.S.H. the Elector, who was +very gracious. He said, "I am happy to see you here again;" and +on my replying that I would strive to deserve the good opinion of +His Serene Highness, he clapped me on the shoulder, saying, "Oh! +I have no doubt whatever that all will go well--a piano piano si +va lontano." + +Deuce take it! I cannot write everything I wish. Raaff has just +left me; he sends you his compliments, and so do the Cannabichs, +and Wendlings, and Ramm. My sister must not be idle, but practise +steadily, for every one is looking forward with pleasure to her +coming here. My lodging is in the Burggasse at M. Fiat's [where +the marble slab to his memory is now erected]. + + + +129. + +Munich, Nov. 22, 1780. + +I SEND herewith, at last, the long-promised aria for Herr +Schikaneder. During the first week that I was here I could not +entirely complete it, owing to the business that caused me to +come here. Besides, Le Grand, the ballet-master, a terrible +talker and bore, has just been with me, and by his endless +chattering caused me to miss the diligence. I hope my sister is +quite well. I have at this moment a bad cold, which in such +weather is quite the fashion here. I hope and trust, however, +that it will soon take its departure,--indeed, both phlegm and +cough are gradually disappearing. In your last letter you write +repeatedly, "Oh! my poor eyes! I du not wish to write myself +blind--half-past eight at night, and no spectacles!" But why do +you write at night, and without spectacles? I cannot understand +it. I have not yet had an opportunity of speaking to Count Seeau, +but hope to do so to-day, and shall give you any information I +can gather by the next post. At present all will, no doubt, +remain as it is. Herr Raaff paid me a visit yesterday morning, +and I gave him your regards, which seemed to please him much. He +is, indeed, a worthy and thoroughly respectable man. The day +before yesterday Del Frato sang in the most disgraceful way at +the concert. I would almost lay a wager that the man never +manages to get through the rehearsals, far less the opera; he has +some internal disease. + +Come in!--Herr Panzacchi! [who was to sing Arbace]. He has +already paid me three visits, and has just asked me to dine with +him on Sunday. I hope the same thing won't happen to me that +happened to us with the coffee. He meekly asks if, instead of se +la sa, he may sing se co la, or even ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la. + +I am so glad when you often write to me, only not at night, and +far less without spectacles. You must, however, forgive me if I +do not say much in return, for every minute is precious; besides, +I am obliged chiefly to write at night, for the mornings are so +very dark; then I have to dress, and the servant at the Weiser +sometimes admits a troublesome visitor. When Del Prato comes I +must sing to him, for I have to teach him his whole part like a +child; his method is not worth a farthing. I will write more +fully next time. What of the family portraits? My sister, if she +has nothing better to do, might mark down the names of the best +comedies that have been performed during my absence. Has +Schikaneder still good receipts? My compliments to all my +friends, and to Gilofsky's Katherl. Give a pinch of Spanish snuff +from me to Pimperl [the dog], a good wine-sop, and three kisses. +Do you not miss me at all? A thousand compliments to all--all! +Adieu! I embrace you both from my heart, and hope my sister will +soon recover. [Nannerl, partly owing to her grief in consequence +of an unfortunate love-affair, was suffering from pains in the +chest, which threatened to turn to consumption.] + + + +180. + +Munich, Nov. 24, 1780. + +I beg you will convey to Madlle. Katharine Gilofsky de Urazowa my +respectful homage. Wish her in my name every possible happiness +on her name-day; above all, I wish that this may be the last time +I congratulate her as Mademoiselle. What you write to me about +Count Seinsheim is done long ago; they are all links of one +chain. I have already dined with, him once, and with Baumgarten +twice, and once with Lerchenfeld, father of Madlle. Baumgarten. +Not a single day passes without some of these people being at +Cannabich's. Do not be uneasy, dearest father, about my opera; I +do hope that all will go well. No doubt it will be assailed by a +petty cabal, which will in all probability be defeated with +ridicule; for the most respected and influential families among +the nobility are in my favor, and the first-class musicians are +one and all for me. I cannot tell you what a good friend +Cannabich is--so busy and active! In a word, he is always on the +watch to serve a friend. I will tell you the whole story about +Mara. I did not write to you before on the subject, because I +thought that, even if you knew nothing of it, you would be sure +to hear the particulars here; but now it is high time to tell you +the whole truth, for probably additions have been made to the +story,--at least, in this town, it has been told in all sorts of +different ways. No one can know about it better than I do, as I +was present, so I heard and witnessed the whole affair. When the +first symphony was over, it was Madame Mara's turn to sing. I +then saw her husband come sneaking in behind her with his +violoncello in his hand; I thought she was going to sing an aria +obligato with violoncello accompaniment. Old Danzi, the first +violoncello, also accompanies well. All at once Toeschi (who is a +director, but has no authority when Cannabich is present) said to +Danzi (N. B., his son-in-law), "Rise, and give Mara your place." +When Cannabich saw and heard this, he called out, "Danzi, stay +where you are; the Elector prefers his own people playing the +accompaniments." Then the air began, Mara standing behind his +wife, looking very sheepish, and still holding his violoncello. +The instant they entered the concert-room, I took a dislike to +both, for you could not well see two more insolent-looking +people, and the sequel will convince you of this. The aria had a +second part, but Madame Mara did not think proper to inform the +orchestra of the fact previously, but after the last ritournelle +came down into the room with her usual air of effrontery to pay +her respects to the nobility. In the mean time her husband +attacked Cannabich. I cannot write every detail, for it would be +too long; but, in a word, he insulted both the orchestra and +Cannabich's character, who, being naturally very much irritated, +laid hold of his arm, saying, "This is not the place to answer +you." Mara wished to reply, but Cannabich threatened that if he +did not hold his tongue he would have him removed by force. All +were indignant at Mara's impertinence. A concerto by Ramm was +then given, when this amiable couple proceeded to lay their +complaint before Count Seeau; but from him, also, as well as from +every one else, they heard that they were in the wrong. At last +Madame Mara was foolish enough to speak to the Elector himself on +the subject, her husband in the mean time saying in an arrogant +tone, "My wife is at this moment complaining to the Elector--an +unlucky business for Cannabich; I am sorry for him." But people +only burst out laughing in his face. The Elector, in reply to +Madame Mara's complaint, said, "Madame, you sang like an angel, +although your husband did not accompany you;" and when she wished +to press her grievance, he said, "That is Count Seeau's affair, +not mine." When they saw that nothing was to be done, they left +the room, although she had still two airs to sing. This was +nothing short of an insult to the Elector, and I know for certain +that, had not the Archduke and other strangers been present, they +would have been very differently treated; but on this account +Count Seeau was annoyed, so he sent after them immediately, and +they came back. She sang her two arias, but was not accompanied +by her husband. In the last one (and I shall always believe that +Herr Mara did it on purpose) two bars were wanting--N. B., only +in the copy from which Cannabich was playing. When this occurred, +Mara seized Cannabich's arm, who quickly got right, but struck +his bow on the desk, exclaiming audibly, "This copy is all +wrong." When the aria was at an end, he said, "Herr Mara, I give +you one piece of advice, and I hope you will profit by it: never +seize the arm of the director of an orchestra, or lay your +account with getting at least half a dozen sound boxes on the +ear." Mara's tone was now, however, entirely lowered; he begged +to be forgiven, and excused himself as he best could. The most +shameful part of the affair was that Mara (a miserable +violoncellist, all here declare) would never have been heard at +court at all but for Cannabich, who had taken considerable +trouble about it. At the first concert before my arrival he +played a concerto, and accompanied his wife, taking Danzi's place +without saying a word either to Danzi or any one else, which was +allowed to pass. The Elector was by no means satisfied with his +mode of accompanying, and said he preferred his own people. +Cannabich, knowing this, mentioned to Count Seeau, before the +concert began, that he had no objection to Mara's playing, but +that Danzi must also play. When Mara came he was told this, and +yet he was guilty of this insolence. If you knew these people, +you would at once see pride, arrogance, and unblushing effrontery +written on their faces. + +My sister is now, I hope, quite recovered. Pray do not write me +any more melancholy letters, for I require at this time a +cheerful spirit, a clear head, and inclination to work, and these +no one can have who is sad at heart. I know, and, believe me, +deeply feel, how much you deserve rest and peace, but am I the +obstacle to this? I would not willingly be so, and yet, alas! I +fear I am. But if I attain my object, so that I can live +respectably here, you must instantly leave Salzburg. You will +say, that may never come to pass; at all events, industry and +exertion shall not be wanting on my part. Do try to come over +soon to see me. We can all live together. I have a roomy alcove +on my first room in which two beds stand. These would do +capitally for you and me. As for my sister, all we can do is to +put a stove into the next room, which will only be an affair of +four or five florins; for in mine we might heat the stove till it +is red-hot, and leave the stove-door open into the bargain, yet +it would not make the room endurable--it is so frightfully cold +in it. Ask the Abbate Varesco if we could not break off at the +chorus in the second act, "Placido e il mare" after Elettra's +first verse, when the chorus is repeated,--at all events after +the second, for it is really far too long. I have been confined +to the house two days from my cold, and, luckily for me, I have +very little appetite, for in the long run it would be +inconvenient to pay for my board. I have, however, written a note +to the Count on the subject, and received a message from him that +he would speak to me about it shortly. By heavens! he ought to be +thoroughly ashamed of himself. I won't pay a single kreutzer. + + + +131. + +Munich, Dec. 1, 1780. + +THE rehearsal went off with extraordinary success; there were +only six violins in all, but the requisite wind-instruments. No +one was admitted but Count Seeau's sister and young Count +Seinsheim. This day week we are to have another rehearsal, with +twelve violins for the first act, and then the second act will be +rehearsed (like the first on the previous occasion). I cannot +tell you how delighted and surprised all were; but I never +expected anything else, for I declare I went to this rehearsal +with as quiet a heart as if I had been going to a banquet. Count +Seinsheim said to me, "I do assure you that though I expected a +great deal from you, I can truly say this I did not expect." + +The Cannabichs and all who frequent their house are true friends +of mine. After the rehearsal, (for we had a great deal to discuss +with the Count,) when I went home with Cannabich, Madame +Cannabich came to meet me, and hugged me from joy at the +rehearsal having passed off so admirably; then came Ramm and +Lang, quite out of their wits with delight. My true friend the +excellent lady, who was alone in the house with her invalid +daughter Rose, had been full of solicitude on my account. When +you know him, you will find Ramm a true German, saying exactly +what he thinks to your face. He said to me, "I must honestly +confess that no music ever made such an impression on me, and I +assure you I thought of your father fifty times at least, and of +the joy he will feel when he hears this opera." But enough of this +subject. My cold is rather worse owing to this rehearsal, for it +is impossible not to feel excited when honor and fame are at +stake, however cool you may be at first. I did everything you +prescribed for my cold, but it goes on very slowly, which is +particularly inconvenient to me at present; but all my writing +about it will not put an end to my cough, and yet write I must. +To-day I have begun to take violet syrup and a little almond oil, +and already I feel relieved, and have again stayed two days in +the house. Yesterday morning Herr Raaff came to me again to hear +the aria in the second act. The man is as much enamored of his +aria as a young passionate lover ever was of his fair one. He +sings it the last thing before he goes to sleep, and the first +thing in the morning when he awakes. I knew already, from a sure +source, but now from himself, that he said to Herr von Viereck +(Oberststallmeister) and to Herr von Kastel, "I am accustomed +constantly to change my parts, to suit me better, in recitative +as well as in arias, but this I have left just as it was, for +every single note is in accordance with my voice." In short, he +is as happy as a king. He wishes the interpolated aria to be a +little altered, and so do I. The part commencing with the word +era he does not like, for what we want here is a calm tranquil +aria; and if consisting of only one part, so much the better, for +a second subject would have to be brought in about the middle, +which leads me out of my way. In "Achill in Sciro" there is an +air of this kind, "or che mio figlio sei." I thank my sister very +much for the list of comedies she sent me. It is singular enough +about the comedy "Rache fur Rache"; it was frequently given here +with much applause, and quite lately too, though I was not there +myself. I beg you will present my devoted homage to Madlle. +Therese von Barisani; if I had a brother, I would request him to +kiss her hand in all humility, but having a sister only is still +better, for I beg she will embrace her in the most affectionate +manner in my name. A propos, do write a letter to Cannabich; he +deserves it, and it will please him exceedingly. What does it +matter if he does not answer you? You must not judge him from his +manner; he is the same to every one, and means nothing. You must +first know him well. + + + +132. + +Munich, Dec. 5, 1780. + +The death of the Empress [Maria Theresa] does not at all affect +my opera, for the theatrical performances are not suspended, and +the plays go on as usual. The entire mourning is not to last more +than six weeks, and my opera will not be given before the 20th of +January. I wish you to get my black suit thoroughly brushed to +make it as wearable as possible, and forward it to me by the +first diligence; for next week every one must be in mourning, and +I, though constantly on the move, must cry with the others. + +With regard to Raaff's last aria, I already mentioned that we +both wish to have more touching and pleasing words. The word era +is constrained; the beginning good, but gelida massa is again +hard. In short, far-fetched or pedantic expressions are always +inappropriate in a pleasing aria. I should also like the air to +express only peace and contentment; and one part would be quite +as good--in fact, better, in my opinion. I also wrote about +Panzacchi; we must do what we can to oblige the good old man. He +wishes to have his recitative in the third act lengthened a +couple of lines, which, owing to the chiaro oscuro and his being +a good actor, will have a capital effect. For example, after the +strophe, "Sei la citta del pianto, e questa reggia quella del +duol," comes a slight glimmering of hope, and then, "Madman that +I am! whither does my grief lead me?" "Ah! Creta tutta io vedo." +The Abbato Varesco is not obliged to rewrite the act on account +of these things, for they can easily be interpolated. I have also +written that both I and others think the oracle's subterranean +speech too long to make a good effect. Reflect on this. I must +now conclude, having such a mass of writing to do. I have not +seen Baron Lehrbach, and don't know whether he is here or not; +and I have no time to run about. I may easily not know whether he +is here, but he cannot fail to know positively that I am. Had I +been a girl, no doubt he would have come to see me long ago. Now +adieu! + +I have this moment received your letter of the 4th December. You +must begin to accustom yourself a little to the kissing system. +You can meanwhile practise with Maresquelli, for each time that +you come to Dorothea Wendling's (where everything is rather in +the French style) you will have to embrace both mother and +daughter, but--N. B., on the chin, so that the paint may not be +rubbed off. More of this next time. Adieu! + +P.S.--Don't forget about my black suit; I must have it, or I +shall be laughed at, which is never agreeable. + + + +133. + +Munich, Dec. 13, 1780. + +Your last letters seemed to me far too short, so I searched all +the pockets in my black suit to see if I could not find something +more. In Vienna and all the Imperial dominions, the gayeties are +to be resumed six weeks hence,--a very sensible measure, for +mourning too long is not productive of half as much good to the +deceased as of injury to the living. Is Herr Schikaneder to +remain in Salzburg? If so, he might still see and hear my opera. +Here people, very properly, cannot comprehend why the mourning +should last for three months, while that for our late Elector was +only six weeks. The theatre, however, goes on as usual. You do +not write to me how Herr Esser accompanied my sonatas--ill, or +well? The comedy, "Wie man sich die Sache deutet," is charming, +for I saw it--no, not saw it, but read it, for it has not yet +been performed; besides, I have been only once in the theatre, +having no leisure to go, the evening being the time I like best +to work. If her Grace, the most sensible gracious Frau von +Robinig, does not on this occasion change the period of her +gracious journey to Munich, her Grace will be unable to hear one +note of my opera. My opinion, however, is, that her Grace in her +supreme wisdom, in order to oblige your excellent son, will +graciously condescend to stay a little longer. I suppose your +portrait is now begun, and my sister's also, no doubt. How is it +likely to turn out? Have you any answer yet from our +plenipotentiary at Wetzlar? I forget his name--Fuchs, I think. I +mean, about the duets for two pianos. It is always satisfactory +to explain a thing distinctly, and the arias of Esopus are, I +suppose, still lying on the table? Send them to me by the +diligence, that I may give them myself to Herr von Dummhoff, who +will then remit them post-free. To whom? Why, to Heckmann--a +charming man, is he not? and a passionate lover of music. My +chief object comes to-day at the close of my letter, but this is +always the case with me. One day lately, after dining with Lisel +Wendling, I drove with Le Grand to Cannabich's (as it was snowing +heavily). Through the window they thought it was you, and that we +had come together. I could not understand why both Karl and the +children ran down the steps to meet us, and when they saw Le +Grand, did not say a word, but looked quite discomposed, till +they explained it when we went up-stairs. I shall write nothing +more, because you write so seldom to me--nothing, except that +Herr Eck, who has just crept into the room to fetch his sword +which he forgot the last time he was here, sends his best wishes +to Thresel, Pimperl, Jungfer Mitzerl, Gilofsky, Katherl, my +sister, and, last of all, to yourself. Kiss Thresel for me; a +thousand kisses to Pimperl. + + + +134. + +Munich, Dec. 16, 1780. + +HERR ESSER came to call on me yesterday for the first time. Did +he go about on foot in Salzburg, or always drive in a carriage, +as he does here? I believe his small portion of Salzburg money +will not remain long in his purse. On Sunday we are to dine +together at Cannabich's, and there he is to let us hear his +solos, clever and stupid. He says he will give no concert here, +nor does he care to appear at court; he does not intend to seek +it, but if the Elector wishes to hear him,--"Eh, bien! here am I; +it would be a favor, but I shall not announce myself." But, after +all, he may be a worthy fool--deuce take it! cavalier, I meant to +say. He asked me why I did not wear my Order of the Spur. I said +I had one in my head quite hard enough to carry. He was so +obliging as to dust my coat a little for me, saying, "One +cavalier may wait upon another." In spite of which, the same +afternoon--from forgetfulness, I suppose--he left his spur at +home, (I mean the outward and visible one,) or at all events +contrived to hide it so effectually that not a vestige of it was +to be seen. In case I forget it again, I must tell you that +Madame and Madlle. Cannabich both complain that their throats are +daily becoming larger owing to the air and water here, which +might at last become regular goitres. Heaven forbid! They are +indeed taking a certain powder--how do I know what? Not that this +is its name; at all events, it seems to do them no good. For +their sakes, therefore, I took the liberty to recommend what we +call goitre pills, pretending (in order to enhance their value) +that my sister had three goitres, each larger than the other, and +yet at last, by means of these admirable pills, had got entirely +rid of them! If they can be made up here, pray send me the +prescription; but if only to be had at Salzburg, I beg you will +pay ready money for them, and send a few cwt. of them by the next +diligence. You know my address. + +There is to be another rehearsal this afternoon of the first and +second acts in the Count's apartments; then we shall only have a +chamber rehearsal of the third, and afterwards go straight to the +theatre. The rehearsal has been put off owing to the copyist, +which enraged Count Seinsheim to the uttermost. As for what is +called the popular taste, do not be uneasy, for in my opera there +is music for every class, except for the long-eared. A propos, +how goes on the Archbishop? Next Monday I shall have been six +weeks away from Salzburg. You know, dear father, that I only stay +there to oblige you, for, by heavens! if I followed my own +inclinations, before coming here I would have torn up my last +diploma; for I give you my honor that not Salzburg itself, but +the Prince and his proud nobility, become every day more +intolerable to me. I should rejoice were I to be told that my +services were no longer required, for with the great patronage +that I have here, both my present and future circumstances would +be secure, death excepted, which no one can guard against, though +no great misfortune to a single man. But anything in the world to +please you. It would be less trying to me if I could only +occasionally escape from time to time, just to draw my breath. +You know how difficult it was to get away on this occasion; and +without some very urgent cause, there would not be the faintest +hope of such a thing. It is enough to make one weep to think of +it, so I say no more. Adieu! Come soon to see me at Munich and to +hear my opera, and then tell me whether I have not a right to +feel sad when I think of Salzburg. Adieu! + + + +135. + +Munich, Dec. 19, 1780. + +THIS last rehearsal has been as successful as the first, and +satisfactorily proved to the orchestra and all those who heard +it, their mistake in thinking that the second act could not +possibly excel the first in expression and novelty. Next Saturday +both acts are again to be rehearsed, but in a spacious apartment +in the palace, which I have long wished, as the room at Count +Seeau's is far too small. The Elector is to be in an adjoining +room (incognito) to hear the music. "It must be a life-and-death +rehearsal," said Cannabich to me. At the last one he was bathed +in perspiration. + +Cannabich, whose name-day this is, has just left me, reproaching +me for discontinuing this letter in his presence. As to Madame +Duschek, the thing is impossible at present, but I will do what I +can with pleasure after my opera is given. I beg you will write +to her and say, with my compliments, that next time she comes to +Salzburg we can square accounts. It would delight me if I could +get a couple of cavaliers like old Czernin,--this would be a +little yearly help; but certainly not for less than 100 florins a +year, in which case it might be any style of music they pleased. +I trust that you are now quite recovered; indeed, after the +friction performed by a Barisani Theres, you cannot be otherwise. +You have no doubt seen by my letters that I am well and happy. +Who would not feel happy to have completed such a great and +laborious work--and completed it, too, with honor and renown? +Three arias alone are wanting--the last chorus in the third act, +and the overture and ballet; and then--Adieu partie! + +One more indispensable remark, and I have done. The scene between +father and son in the first act, and the first scene in the +second act between Idomenco and Arbace, are both too long, and +sure to weary the audience, particularly as in the first the +actors are both bad, and in the second one of them is also very +inferior; besides, the whole details are only a narrative of what +the spectators have already seen with their own eyes. The scenes +will be printed just as they are. I only wish the Abbate would +point out to me how not only to curtail them, but very +considerably to curtail them; otherwise I must do it myself, for +the scenes cannot remain as they are--I mean, so far as the music +is concerned. I have just got your letter, which, being begun by +my sister, is without a date. A thousand compliments to Thresel-- +my future upper and under nursery-maid to be. I can easily +believe that Katherl would gladly come to Munich, if (independent +of the journey) you would allow her to take my place at meals. +Eh! bien. I can contrive it, for she can occupy the same room +with my sister. + + + +136. + +Munich, Dec 27, 1780. + +I HAVE received the entire opera, Schachtner's letter, your note, +and the pills. As for the two scenes to be curtailed, it was not +my own suggestion, but one to which I consented--my reason being +that Raaff and Del Prato spoil the recitative by singing it quite +devoid of all spirit and fire, and so monotonously. They are the +most miserable actors that ever trod the stage. I had a desperate +battle royal with Seeau as to the inexpediency, unfitness, and +almost impossibility of the omissions in question. However, all +is to be printed as it is, which at first he positively refused +to agree to, but at last, on rating him soundly, he gave way. The +last rehearsal was splendid. It took place in a spacious +apartment in the palace. The Elector was also within hearing. On +this occasion it was rehearsed with the whole orchestra, (of +course I mean those who belong to the opera.) After the first act +the Elector called out Bravo! rather too audibly, and when I went +into the next room to kiss his hand he said, "Your opera is quite +charming, and cannot fail to do you honor." As he was not sure +whether he could remain for the whole performance, we played the +concerted aria and the thunderstorm at the beginning of the +second act, by his desire, when he again testified his +approbation in the kindest manner, and said, laughing, "Who could +believe that such great things could be hidden in so small a +head?" Next day, too, at his reception, he extolled my opera +much. The ensuing rehearsal will probably take place in the +theatre. A propos, Becke told me, a day or two ago, that he had +written to you about the last rehearsal but one, and among other +things had said that Raaff's aria in the second act is not +composed in accordance with the sense of the words, adding, "So I +am told, for I understand Italian too little to be able to +judge." I replied, "If you had only asked me first and written +afterwards! I must tell you that whoever said such a thing can +understand very little Italian. The aria is quite adapted to the +words. You hear the mare, and the mare funesto; and the passages +dwell on the minacciar, and entirely express minacciar +(threatening). Moreover, it is the most superb aria in the opera, +and has met with universal approbation." + +Is it true that the Emperor is ill? Is it true that the +Archbishop intends to come to Munich? Raaff is the best and most +upright man alive, but--so addicted to old-fashioned routine that +flesh and blood cannot stand it; so that it is very difficult to +write for him, but very easy if you choose to compose commonplace +arias, as for instance the first one, "Vedromi intorno." When you +hear it, you will say that it is good and pretty, but had I +written it for Zonca it would have suited the words better. Raaff +likes everything according to rule, and does not regard +expression. I have had a piece of work with him about the +quartet. The more I think of the quartet as it will be on the +stage, the more effective I consider it, and it has pleased all +those who have heard it on the piano. Raaff alone maintains that +it will not be successful. He said to me confidentially, "There +is no opportunity to expand the voice; it is too confined." As if +in a quartet the words should not far rather be spoken, as it +were, than sung! He does not at all understand such things. I +only replied, "My dear friend, if I were aware of one single note +in this quartet which ought to be altered, I would change it at +once; but there is no single thing in my opera with which I am so +pleased as with this quartet, and when you have once heard it +sung in concert you will speak very differently. I took every +possible pains to conform to your taste in your two arias, and +intend to do the same with the third, so I hope to be successful; +but with regard to trios and quartets, they should be left to the +composer's own discretion." On which he said that he was quite +satisfied. The other day he was much annoyed by some words in his +last aria--rinvigorir and ringiovenir, and especially vienmi a +rinvigorir--five i's! It is true, this is very disagreeable at +the close of an air. + + + +137. + +Munich, Dec. 30. 1780. + +A HAPPY New-Year! Excuse my writing much, for I am over head and +ears in my work. I have not quite finished the third act; and as +there is no extra ballet, but only an appropriate divertissement +in the opera, I have the honor to write that music also, but I am +glad of it, for now the music will be all by the same master. The +third act will prove at least as good as the two others,--in +fact, I believe, infinitely better, and that it might fairly be +said, finis coronat opus. The Elector was so pleased at the +rehearsal that, as I already wrote to you, he praised it +immensely next morning at his reception, and also in the evening +at court. I likewise know from good authority that, on the same +evening after the final rehearsal, he spoke of my music to every +one he conversed with, saying, "I was quite surprised; no music +ever had such an effect on me; it is magnificent music." The day +before yesterday we had a recitative rehearsal at Wendling's, and +tried over the quartet all together. We repeated it six times, +and now it goes well. The stumbling-block was Del Prato; the +wretch can literally do nothing. His voice is not so bad, if he +did not sing from the back of the throat; besides, he has no +intonation, no method, no feeling. He is only one of the best of +the youths who sing in the hope of getting a place in the choir +of the chapel. Raaff was glad to find himself mistaken about the +quartet, and no longer doubts its effect. Now I am in a +difficulty with regard to Raaff's last air, and you must help me +out of it. He cannot digest the rinvigorir and ringiovenir, and +these two words make the whole air hateful to him. It is true +that mostrami and vienmi are also not good, but the worst of all +are the two final words; to avoid the shake on the i in the first +word rinvigorir, I was forced to transfer it to the o. Raaff has +now found, in the "Natal di Giove," which is in truth very little +known, an aria quite appropriate to this situation. I think it is +the ad libitum aria, "Bell' alme al ciel diletto" and he wishes +me to write music for these words. He says, "No one knows it, and +we need say nothing." He is quite aware that he cannot expect the +Abbate to alter this aria a third time, and he will not sing it +as it is written. I beg you will send me an immediate reply. I +shall conclude, for I must now write with all speed; the +composing is finished, but not the writing out. + +My compliments to dear Thresel: the maid who waits on me here is +also named Thresel, but, heavens! how inferior to the Linz +Thresel in beauty, virtue, charms--and a thousand other merits! +You probably know that the worthy musico Marquesi, the +Marquessius di Milano, has been poisoned in Naples, but how? He +was enamored of a Duchess, whose rightful lover became jealous, +and sent three or four fellows to give him his choice between +drinking poison out of a cup and being assassinated. He chose the +former, but being an Italian poltroon he died ALONE, and allowed +his murderers to live on in peace and quiet. I would at least (in +my own room) have taken a couple with me into the next world, if +absolutely obliged to die myself. Such an admirable singer is a +great loss. Adieu! + + + +138. + +Munich, Jan. 3, 1780. + +MY head and my hands are so fully occupied with my third act, +that it would not be wonderful if I turned into a third act +myself, for it alone has cost me more trouble than the entire +opera; there is scarcely a scene in it which is not interesting +to the greatest degree. The accompaniment of the underground +music consists merely of five instruments, namely, three +trombones and two French horns, which are placed on the spot +whence the voice proceeds. The whole orchestra is silent at this +part. + +The grand rehearsal positively takes place on the 20th, and the +first performance on the 22d. All you will both require is to +bring one black dress, and another for every-day wear, when you +are only visiting intimate friends where there is no ceremony, +and thus save your black dress a little; and if my sister likes, +one pretty dress also, that she may go to the ball and the +Academie Masquee. + +Herr von Robinig is already here, and sends his regards to you. I +hear that the two Barisanis are also coming to Munich; is this +true? Heaven be praised that the cut on the finger of the +Archbishop was of no consequence! Good heavens! how dreadfully I +was alarmed at first! Cannabich thanks you for your charming +letter, and all his family beg their remembrances. He told me you +had written very humorously. You must have been in a happy mood. + +No doubt we shall have a good many corrections to make in the +third act when on the stage; as for instance scene sixth, after +Arbace's aria, the personages are marked, "Idomeneo, Arbace, &c., +&c." How can the latter so instantly reappear on the spot? +Fortunately he might stay away altogether. In order to make the +matter practicable, I have written a somewhat longer introduction +to the High Priest's recitative. After the mourning chorus the +King and his people all go away, and in the following scene the +directions are, "Idomeneo kneels down in the Temple." This is +impossible; he must come accompanied by his whole suite. A march +must necessarily be introduced here, so I have composed a very +simple one for two violins, tenor, bass, and two hautboys, to be +played a mezza voce, and during this time the King appears, and +the Priests prepare the offerings for the sacrifice. The King +then kneels down and begins the prayer. + +In Elettra's recitative, after the underground voice has spoken, +there ought to be marked exeunt. I forgot to look at the copy +written for the press to see whether it is there, and whereabouts +it comes. It seems to me very silly that they should hurry away +so quickly merely to allow Madlle. Elettra to be alone. + +I have this moment received your few lines of January 1st. When I +opened the letter I chanced to hold it in such a manner that +nothing but a blank sheet met my eyes. At last I found the +writing. I am heartily glad that I have got an aria for Raaff, as +he was quite resolved to introduce the air he had discovered, and +I could not possibly (N. B., with a Raaff) have arranged in any +other way than by having Varesco's air printed, but Raaff's sung. +I must stop, or I shall waste too much time. Thank my sister very +much for her New-Year's wishes, which I heartily return. I hope +we shall soon be right merry together. Adieu! Remembrances to +friends, not forgetting Ruscherle. Young Eck sends her a kiss, a +sugar one of course. + + + +139. + +Munich, Jan. 10, 1780. + +My greatest piece of news is that the opera is put off for a +week. The grand rehearsal is not to take place till the 27th--N. +B., my birthday--and the opera itself on the 29th. Why? Probably +to save Count Seeau two hundred gulden. I, indeed, am very glad, +because we can now rehearse frequently and more carefully. You +should have seen the faces of the Robinigs when I told them this +news. Louisa and Sigmund are delighted to stay; but Lise, that +SNEAKING MISERY, has such a spiteful Salzburg tongue that it +really drives me distracted. Perhaps they may still remain, and I +hope so on Louisa's account. In addition to many other little +altercations with Count Seeau, I have had a sharp contention with +him about the trombones. I call it so, because I was obliged to +be downright rude, or I never should have carried my point. Next +Saturday the three acts are to be rehearsed in private. I got +your letter of the 8th, and read it with great pleasure; the +burlesque, too, I like very much. Excuse my writing more at this +time; for, in the first place, as you see, my pen and ink are +bad, and, in the second, I have still a couple of airs to write +for the last ballet. I hope you will send no more such letters as +the last, of only three or four lines. + + + +140. + +Munich, Jan. 18, 1780. + +PRAY forgive a short letter, for I must go this very moment, ten +o'clock (in the forenoon of course), to the rehearsal. There is +to be a recitative rehearsal for the first time to-day in the +theatre. I could not write before, having been so incessantly +occupied with those confounded dances. Laus Deo, I have got rid +of them at last, but only of what was most pressing. The +rehearsal of the third act went off admirably. It was considered +very superior to the second act. The poetry is, however, thought +far too long, and of course the music likewise, (which I always +said it was.) On this account the aria of Idamante, "No la morte +io non pavento" is to be omitted, which was, indeed, always out +of place there; those who have heard it with the music deplore +this. Raaff's last air, too, is still more regretted, but we must +make a virtue of necessity. The prediction of the oracle is still +far too long, so I have shortened it; but Varesco need know +nothing of this, because it will all be printed just as he wrote +it. Madame von Robinig will bring with her the payment both for +him and Schachtner. Herr Geschwender declined taking any money +with him. In the meantime say to Varesco in my name, that he will +not get a farthing from Count Seeau beyond the contract, for all +the alterations were made FOR ME and not for the Count, and he +ought to be obliged to me into the bargain, as they were +indispensable for his own reputation. There is a good deal that +might still be altered; and I can tell him that he would not have +come off so well with any other composer as with me. I have +spared no trouble in defending him. + +The stove is out of the question, for it costs too much. I will +have another bed put up in the room that adjoins the alcove, and +we must manage the best way we can. Do not forget to bring my +little watch with you. We shall probably make an excursion to +Augsburg, where we could have the little silly thing regulated. I +wish you also to bring Schachtner's operetta. There are people +who frequent Cannabich's house, who might as well hear a thing of +the kind. I must be off to the rehearsal. Adieu! + + +The father and sister arrived on the 25th of January, and the +first performance of the opera took place a few days afterwards; +then the family amused themselves for some little time with the +gayeties of the Carnival. The Archbishop had gone to Vienna; and, +desiring to appear in the Imperial city in the full splendor of a +spiritual prince, he had taken with him, in addition to fine +furniture and a large household, some of his most distinguished +musicians. On this account, therefore, Mozart, in the middle of +March, also received the command to go to Vienna. He set off +immediately. + +END OF VOL. I. + + + +CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. [LETTERS LISTED BY DATE] + + + +FIRST PART +ITALY VIENNA MUNICH +1770-1776 + + +LETTER + + 1. Salzburg, 1769 + 2. Verona, Jan 7, 1770 + 3. Milan, Jan 26, 1770 + 4. Milan, Feb. 10, 1770 + 5. Milan, Feb 17, 1770 + 6. Milan, Carnival, Erchtag, 1770 + 7. Milan, Mar 3, 1770 + 8. Bologna, Mar 24, 1770 + 9. Rome, April 14, 1770 +10. Rome, April 21, 1770 +11. Rome, April 25, 1770 +12. Naples, May 19, 1770 +13. Naples, May 29, 1770 +14. Naples, June 5, 1770 +15. Naples, June 16, 1770 +16. Rome, July 17, 1770 +17. Bologna, July 21, 1770 +18. Bologna, July, 1770 +19. Bologna, August 4, 1770 +20. Bologna, August 21, 1770 +21. Bologna, Sept 8, 1770 +22. Bologna, Sept 22, 1770 +23. Bologna, Sept 29, 1770 +24. Bologna, Oct 6, 1770 +25. Milan, Oct. 20, 1770 +26. Milan, Oct. 27, 1770 +27. Milan, Nov 3, 1770 +28. Milan, Dec 1, 1770 +29. Milan, Jan, 1771 +30. Venice, Feb 15, 1771 +31. Venice, Feb 20, 1771 +32. Verona, Aug 18, 1771 +33. Milan, Aug 23, 1771 +34. Milan, Aug 31, 1771 +35. Milan, Sept 13, 1771 +36. Milan, Sept 21, 1771 +37. Milan, Oct 5, 1771 +38. Milan, Oct 26, 1771 +39. Milan, Nov 2, 1771 +40. Milan, Nov. 24, 1771 +41. Milan, Nov 30, 1771 +42. Bologna, Oct 28, 1772 +43. Milan, Nov 7, 1772 +44. Milan, Nov, 1772 +45. Milan, Nov 21, 1772 +46. Milan, Nov 28, 1772 +47. Milan, Dec 5, 1772 +48. Milan, Dec 18, 1772 +49. Milan, Jan 23, 1773 +50. Vienna, Aug 14, 1773 +51. Vienna, Aug 21, 1773 +52. Vienna, Sept. 15, 1773 +53. Munich, Dec. 28, 1774 +54. Munich, Dec. 30, 1774 +55. Munich, Jan. 11, 1775 +56. Munich, Jan. 14, 1775 +57. Munich, Jan., 1775 +58. Salzburg, Sept. 4, 1776 + + + +SECOND PART. +MUNICH AUGSBURG MANNHEIM +SEPTEMBER 1777 to MARCH 1778 + + + +59. Wasserburg, Sept. 23, 1777 +60. Munich, Sept. 26, 1777 +61. Munich, Sept. 29, 1777 +62. Munich, Oct. 2, 1777 +63. Munich, Oct. 6, 1777 +64. Munich, Oct. 11, 1777 +65. Augsburg, Oct. 14, 1777 +66. Augsburg, Oct. 17, 1777 +67. Augsburg, Oct. 17, 1777 +68. Augsburg, Oct. 23, 1777 +69. Augsburg, Oct. 25, 1777 +70. Mannheim, Oct. 30, 1777 +71. Mannheim, Nov. 4, 1777 +72. Mannheim, Nov. 5 1777 +73. Mannheim, Nov. 8, 1777 +74. Mannheim, Nov. 13, 1777 +75. Mannheim, Nov. 13, 1777 +76. Mannheim, Nov. 14-16, 1777 +77. Mannheim, Nov. 20, 1777 +78. Mannheim, Nov. 22, 1777 +79. Mannheim, Nov. 26, 1777 +80. Mannheim, Nov. 29, 1777 +81. Mannheim, Dec. 3, 1777 +82. Mannheim, Dec. 6, 1777 +83. Mannheim, Dec. 10, 1777 +84. Mannheim, Dec. 14, 1777 +85. Mannheim, Dec. 18, 1777 +86. Mannheim, Dec. 20, 1777 +87. Mannheim, Dec. 27, 1777 +88. Mannheim, Jan. 7, 1778 +89. Mannheim, Jan. 10, 1778 +90. Mannheim, Jan. 17, 1778 +91. Mannheim, Feb. 2-4, 1778 +92. Mannheim, Feb. 7, 1778 +93. Mannheim, Feb. 14, 1778 +94. Mannheim, Feb. 19, 1778 +95. Mannheim, Feb. 22, 1778 +96. Mannheim, Feb. 28, 1778 +97. Mannheim, end of Feb, 1778 +98. Mannheim, Mar. 7, 1778 +99. Mannheim, Mar. 11, 1778 + + + +THIRD PART. +PARIS. +MARCH 1778 to JANUARY 1779 + + + +100. Paris, Mar. 24, 1778 +101. Paris, April 5, 1778 +102. Paris, May 1, 1778 +103. Paris, May 14, 1778 +104. Paris, May 29, 1778 +105. Paris, June 12 1778 +106. Paris, July 3, 1778 +107. Paris, July 3, 1778 +108. Paris, July 9, 1778 +109. Paris, July 18, 1778 +110. Paris, July 31, 1778 +111. Paris, Aug 7, 1778 +112. St Germains, Aug 27, 1778 +113. Paris, Sept 11, 1778 +114. Nancy, Oct 3, 1778 +115. Strassburg, Oct 15, 1778 +116. Strassburg, Oct 26, 1778 +117. Mannheim, Nov 12, 1778 +118. Mannheim, Nov 24, 1778 +119. Mannheim, Dec 3, 1778 +120. Kaisersheim, Dec 18, 1778 +121. Kaisersheim, Dec 23, 1778 +122. Munich, Dec 29, 1778 +123. Munich, Dec 31, 1778 +124. Munich, Jan 8, 1779 +125. Salzburg, May 10, 1779 + + + +FOURTH PART +MUNICH IDOMENEO +NOVEMBER 1780 to JANUARY 1781 + + + +126. Munich, Nov 8, 1780 +127. Munich, Nov 13, 1780 +128. Munich, Nov 15, 1780 +129. Munich, Nov 22, 1780 +130. Munich, Nov 24, 1780 +131. Munich, Dec 1, 1780 +132. Munich, Dec 5, 1780 +133. Munich, Dec 13, 1780 +134. Munich, Dec 16, 1780 +135. Munich, Dec 19, 1780 +136. Munich, Dec 27, 1780 +137. Munich, Dec 30, 1780 +138. Munich, Jan 3, 1781 +139. Munich, Jan 10, 1781 +140. 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