The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-09
MOZARTS REQUIEM.

ance and manner was introduced
II have been commissioned, sir, said he
''by person of considerable Importance, to
call upon you"
"Who is he ?" interrupted Mozart.
'He does not wish to be known"
"Well, what does he want ?"
''He has Just lost a person whom ne ten
derly loved, and whose memory will be eter-
nally dear to him. He is desirous OF annually
commemoratino this mournful event by
solemn service. for which he requests you to
compose a Requiem.
Mozart. who had often wished to try his
slill ON n work of such an elevated and pa
thetic STYLE, and who was, moreover, much
struck by the grave and mysterious manner of
the stranger, undertook to compose the re-
quired Requiem.
employ all your genius on this work,
said the stranger; 'it is destined for a con-
noisseur."
$50 much the BETTER said Mozart
''What time do you require? p
"a month.
every well, in a months time I shall return.
What price do you set upon your work ?"
Zone hundred ducats.'
The stranger counted them out, and disap-
peared
Mozart remained for some time deeply i'm
mersed in thought. Always subject to pro-
found and gloomy melancholy not altogether
unmingled with superstition, the delicate state
of his health together with the natural reac-
tion of the over-excitement of his life at
Schikaneders, rendered him, at this time
still more liable to such fits; and the peculiar
manner of the unknown impressed him very
forcibly as being almost supernatural. Sud
denly, calling for pens, ink and paper he set
to work, and continued writing for several
days without intermission; but at last he fell
senseless on the floor and had to give up for
q time.
1t was, perhaps, fortunate thing that at
this time he received commission to com
pose an opera, on the occasion of the corona
ton of the Emperor at Prague. 1t took away
his mind from the gloomy presages which
occupied it while engaged at the Requiem;
and, moreover, his whole attention would
have to be given to the opera, as it was re-
quired at onee and accordingly he and his
wife, together with his pupil, Sussmayer, set
out for Prague about the 18th of August.
But just as they were starting an event oc-
Cured which brought back to Mozarts mind
all the gloomy thoughts occasioned by the Re-
QUEEN. As he was stepping into the carriage
the unknown suddenly appeared before him
again, with the question:
''What about the Requiem now?'
Mozart explained that it was impossible to
keep his word.
''Giye yourself no uneasiness," said the
stranger. Nnat further time do you re-
quire ?"
Another month; the work has interested
me more than l expected, and l have ex-
tended it beyond what 1 at first designed"
in that case it is but just to increase the
premium; here are fifty ducats more.
''Who then, are you, sir?' exclaimed Mozart.
''That is nothing to the purpose: in q
months time will return"
Mozart Immediately called O servant and
told him to follow the strange unknown; but,
from want of ability or attention, the man
failed and Mazart was more than ever con-
vinced that this was no ordinary being but
messenger from the other world.
On his return from Prague to Vienna, in
September, Mozart Immediately put the
finishing touches to 'Die Zauberhote," which
was produced ON the Both of the month, with
immense success. He then resumed the
Requiem, at which he worked with enthu-
siasm, for he was determined that it
should be the most durable monument of his
genius. During the whole of this time he
was plunged in melancholy and detection
approaching monomania He had an idea that
he had been poisoned, and nothing seemed to
cheer him. His friends called ON him at in
tervals and tried to arouse him, but he an
swered in monosylables, and continued at his
score. His wife tried to talk him out of his
fancies, but with tears in his eyes he would
answer
mo, no. 1 am but too we'll convinced that
I cannot last long 1 have certainly been
poisoned. L cannot rid myself of this idea. D."
At last, by direction of a physician, she
took the score from him, which for time
had the desired effect; and he was so far re-
covered in November that he attended meet
ing of the Masonic body, of which he was an
enthusiastic member. At this meeting was
performed little cantata which he had just
composed for them, '"The Praise of Friend
ship" and its success greatly revived him.
Owing to the decided improvement in his
health, he was permitted to resume the Re
QUEEN once more; but with it his former i'll
ness returned. Towards the end of Novem-
ber his hands and feet began to swell and lost
almost all power of motion; and he was re-
moved to his bed, from which he never rose
again. His intellectual faculties We're still
unimpaired, and his sole desire now was to
finish the Requiem as quickly as possible,
Sussmayer being constantly with him, receiv-
ing instructions as to effects to be produced
in its composition.
On the 9th of December, the day of his
death, some friends performers in Schika-
neders theatre) visited him, and the ruling
passion was strongly exemplifed. HE de
sired the score of the Requiem to be brought,
says one OF his biographers, land 1T was suns
by his visitors round his bed, himself taking
the alto part. Setback sung the soprano, Hofe
(hls brother-in-law) the tenor, and Gorl tn,
bass. They had proceeded as far as the frs
bars of the Lachrymosa, when Mozart wa
seized with violent fit of weeping, and th'
score was put aside It may appear incredibly
that Mozart should be in a condition to SIM
after an illness of a fortnights duration
which biu vraolrpaeg Snoh tha