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diff --git a/5307.txt b/5307.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..49bb95f --- /dev/null +++ b/5307.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8844 @@ +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 *** + + + + +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. 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