Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-03-20
MOZART.
Paper Read Before the Woman's Musical
Club March Is, 1897.


Mozart, the subject of this after
Moons study, had but thirty-tive years
in which to finish his life work, and
his cary death is, perhaps, the great
est loss which the musical world has
suffered He laid the foundation for
the development of modern piano-forte
playing, and raised orchestral music to
a new level, and at the time of his
death was crossing the threshold of
that domain of larger and freer mus
ical forms in which Beethoven, and
after him Schumann, were destined to
do their best work.
That Mozart was among the foremost
of all composers is undoubted, and to
the truth of this estimate his work as
heard to-day will testify more elo-
uuently than any words. To fully en-
ter, however, into the true spirit Of the
inspirations of Mozart, the musician,
a sketch of the life of Mozart, the
man, is entitled. This will be taken
from the best authorities at hand.
Mozart, whom all musicians name
with reverence, stands before us like
the embodiment of childish JOY in life;
amiable benevolence and unprefen-
tiousness. He associated freely, and
apparently with equal enjoyment,
with aristocrats, learned men,
members of the orchestra, sing
ers and loungers in the tavern.
he was full OF fun, and he dearly loved
a Joke. He rode horseback. and took
great pleasure in playing billiards.,
bowls and in dancing. The race OF
Mozart has been idealized. He was
small. thin and pale, with a large head
end large nose; eyes well shaped, but
short-sighted, although he never wore
spectacles, he had plenty OF fine hair,
of which he was proud, and he was
vain of his hands and feet. He dressed
carefully and elegantly. He had
warm appreciation OF all that was good
and noble in music and mankind, loved
animals. and birds were particularly
dear to him. Whatever his religious
convictions may have been after ne
reached mans estate, he wrote to MS
father. on hearing of his illness, as
follows:
las death. strictly speaking, is the
true end and aim of our lives, have
for the last two years made myself SO
well acquainted with this true, pest
friend of mankind that his image no
longer terrifies. but Gains and con
soles me: and | thank God Tor giving
me the opportunity OF learning TO 'ooK
upon death as the key that unlocks
the gate of true bliss.
But to begin at the beginning OF the
life of this most spontaneous OF mu-
sicians, and in this respect-ln pure
creation-without doubt the greatest
of them ALL 1t has been maintained
that the infant prodigy as a rule 1alis
TO make good in later years the prom
ises of early youth but the career OF
Mozart illustrates noteworthy anu
brilliant exception. In his case the
most remarkable musical precoclty
rinened into the finest and most YER
sat;le genius. and his continued fertll-
ity of invention proved a fount OF IN
creasingly beautiful melody to tie day
of his death.
Born in Salisbury, 1156-dled III ll9l
that was the span OF lie llVeu py
The author Of seven hundred and Sixty
nine compositions, embracing the
grand masses of the Catholic church,
innumerable songs, minuets, concerlos,
sonatas. trios, quartets, symphonies
and of the great works Don Glovan-
nj, sThe Marriage of Figaro and
..-Tbe Magic Flute" The important
enochs in this short life were; Ability
n nlav on the harpsichord when not
vet four years of age; attempts at
composition in his fifth year, and the
beginning of musical tours to the
Courts of the principal soverelgns OF
Europe at the age of six. These We're
and continued to be, successful, Mozart
with his innocent and natural man
ners. showing not the least embar-
rassment in the presence of the great
people he met And it may be par
enthetically remarked that this child
like faith. sympathy and affection re-
NAMED his prominent characteristic
through life.
At the age of ten Mozart composed,
played upon the organ, harpslchofa'
violin and flute, sang and did every
think we'll. OF these childhood years
Grieg, the composer, says;
Next to the remarkable talent OF the
child Mozart, his precocity hrst e1-
cites our wonder. No less sur
prising than his concert performances
on the piano is his early mastery or
the technic of composition. The phe-
nomenon can be explained only by his
education Such a training perhaps
no other composer, not even Mendei-
ssohn. has had We know that Nc
zart's father who was himself an eX-
cellent musician. devoted his whole ide
and activity to the task of making
first of all a man of his son. while a.
the same time guiding and developing
his artistic gifts When we find young
Mozart writing in letter: After COD,
mana. comes at once, we understand
how he appreciated this father, and n
his touching filial love we find one ot
the pillars on which rests the purity
of his art"
AT the age of thirteen, Tin 1852
while in Rome with his father, mozart
heard. in the Sistine chapel, George
Allepri's celebrated "Miserere, COM
position which no one was allowed 10
produce elsewhere or copy, but which
he wrote down entirely from memory
The public attributed his power TO the
magic influences of ring he wore,
and insisted on his removing it
The years intervening between 1863
and 1881 were filled with disappoint-
ments and regrets, of which The death
of his devoted mother overshadow I'd all
and miligated against any pleasure
that might have accrued as the result
.4o,,ionoo IF and in