The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-01-02
THE LITTLE MUSIC.KING.

In the year 17G1, any one looking into
the sitting room of the chapel-master of
Saltzburgh might have seen little figure
bent over table busily scratching away
with pen and ink. The childish hand hard
ly knew how to hold the pen, but hurried
along with marks and dots and strange
looking characters, smeared with ink, and
now and then blackened with a huge blot
as the pen dashed from ink to paper with
trembling eagerness. The door opened,
and the chapel master entered with a
friend, but the little curly head did not
stir.
What are you doing, my SOM"
81 am composing concerto for the
harpsichord, papa. l have nearly finished
the first part"
"Let me see.'
"No, please; 1 have not yet finished
The father took the paper, however, and
showed it to his friend. They both laugh
ed heartily at the scrawl; but on looking
more attentively, the chapel-master said:
"See, it is really composed by rule; but
it is too difficult; no one could play it,
alt must be we'll studied before it is
played" said the boy. "See, this is the
way it begins" And running to the harp
sichord, he succeeded in playing enough Of
it to show what his idea was.
1t was indeed musical composition,
correctly composed, but containing such
great difficulties that an able musician
would have found it impossible to execute
it on the harpsichord.
The chapel master was Leopold Mozart,
and the little composer, only five years old,
was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, afterward
SO celebrated in the musical world.
Two years before, he had stood listening
at the fireside while his papa gave "a music
lesson to his sister Anna.
"Thou teachest Nunnerl, papa; teach
me too"
"But thou art baby, Wolferl; wait,
my little man.
But when the lesson was over, and papa
gone, the little fellow went to the harpsi-
chord, and, standing on tiptoe, CROPPED
among the keys, with his baby fingers
stretched wide apart, till he found and
played perfect chord. Papa's music cal
caught the sound, and he rushed back into
the room to find that his baby had indeed,
all alone, found his way into the beautiful
tone world.
After that, music lessons were for him
too, and he was never far away when
Nunnerl was at the harpsichord, but, perch.
ed on his fathers knee, followed every
movement and tone, and often played the
lesson after her from memory.
The next year the family removed tc
Munich, and the two children were present
ed at the Court, and played before Francis
l., the Emperor, to the wonder and delight
of all who heard them.
Before Wolfgang was eight years old,
and Anna twelve, they had performed al
the Courts of Vienna, Paris, Munich and
London. At Vienna they saw and played
with the little Marie Antoinette, and Wolf
gang shocked the fine Court ladies by
jumping into the lap Of the Empress for {
kiss. He could play the works of Bach
Handel and other masters, and in England
composed six sonatas, which he dedicated
to the Queen.
Returning to France, they travelled abou
in that country and in Holland, and Wolf
gang played on the organs of most of thu
churches and monasteries.
One evening, being caught in thunde
storm, they took shelter in monastery
The monks were at supper, and did no
know of their guests arrival. But soon
wonderful music began to steal into thu
hall from the chapel, sometimes sweet ant
sad, then wild and stormy; now a single
voice with pleading tones, again grea
chorus of response; now the rolling of thu
thunder and the booming of the wind, ano
as these died away, soft, clear, sum!
strain, telling that the storm was over
The Fathers were in great alright; on
and another stole into the dark chapel t.
listen, and they counted themselves owe
and over again to be sure they were al
there. But at last a light was brought
the strangers were discovered, and Wolf
gang greatly enjoyed their amazement
terror and delight. They could not believe
it was he who had played such music, 81
far beyond what even Brother Ambrose
played-their fine musician. They though
it was a spell-an enchantment-a hol.
charm-a miracle. And when at last con
WINGED that he was true mortal boy, they
lavished the kindest hospitality on the
Mozarts, and babe them God speed on thu
morrow with many blessing.
At the conservation of church belong
ing to the Orphans Home in Vienna, Mo
zart composed the music for the occasion
and conducted it, although only twelve
years of age. AT thirteen, lie went tt
Rome with his father, and there, in the
Sstine Chapel, below the grand painting
Of "The Last Judgment" which Mchae
Angelo had painted three hundred year.
before, he heard the wonderful music O
"The Miserere."
MS Is only performed III noly week pl
the Pope's choir, and no one has ever beer
allowed to have copy of the music, OF
even to see it. But so astonishing wa.
little Mozart's memory, that, on his return
from the chapel, he not only wrote out the
music correctly, but could also sing it per
fectly-a feat which made him the musical
wonder of the age.-Emily Noyes, in St
Nicholas for January.
Is Temperate Drinking Safe!