New-York tribune., 1920-01-18
2koe~be Gock<
~9o~o1o

musicians, transcribine them and then
giving them out as his own. 1t Is even
said that once he produced ono of
Mozart's symphonies as his own work.
and was only detected by one Of the
musicians who had played it in Vienna.
Having resolved to pursue this dis
honest plan with relation to ire
Qulem," he dispatched trusty steward,
man named Leutgeb, to Mozart with
instructions how to act so as to secure
the coveted work under pledge Of
strictest secrecy and in such manner
that discovery would be impossible.
Leutgeb was tall and thin, main
tanned solemn air and was dressed
In somber gray; his appearance and
the singular terms of the proposition
which he brought in an unsigned letter
from the count made a strange i'm
preston on Mozart. The character of
the work appealed to him, however,
and after consulting his wife he de-
clded to accept the commission The
price he demanded was either so OF
100 ducats (here the accounts dis
agree and there is no certainty); he
dld not know when the mass would be
finished, but he asked, without learn
ing, where. he should deliver it. Soon
after this interview the messenger with
the mysterious manner returned, paid
down the price asked and added that
the demand had been SO modest that
the patron who was ordering the work
would add to it a considerable sum on
Mozart might write as he pleased, but
must not make an effort to discover
his patron. Thus the commission was
given.
A Prcmonition Of Death
&kn~
opera 'La Ciemenza di Tito. !" He and I
his wife were stepping into the car
rage when the messenger in gray
pulled Nine. Mozart's dress. "What
Will now become Of the REQUIEM 2" he
asked. Mozart urged the necessity of
his journey, said he could not send
notice to his unknown patron and
promised to take up the work immedi-
ately on his return. The answer
seemed to satisfy the messenger. 1t
Mozart returned again to Vienna. and
faithful to his promise. he began The
Requiem"
The completion Of "The Mario Finite"
compelled a brief interruption. but the
opera was performed on the 3Oth of
| the month, and after that. it annears
Mozart devoted himself almost excin,
s'vely to the work which now had taken
supernatural hold on him. His imap-
lnation was excited by the mystery
surrounding It, and being bodily feeble
at the time (from an attack of sickness
wnlcn rev on him at Prague), he would
He could not Danish 1t from his mind
however, apd night and day found him
at the labor of composition. His wife.
VINO saw the change come over him
with deep concern, tried various means,
to enliven him, but in vain. She would
take him to drive in the Prater. but he
would sit still, with settled melan-
cnoly on his features. sunk in thought.
1t was during one Of these drives that
ne ne told her of his foreboding of death.
i - an wrlting the Requiem for my
ms ms melancholy, but he only replied:
"No, no! l feel it too strongly.
am not much longer for this world"
he conceived fantastic ideas about the
messenger who had brought the COM
mission, and his friends could not turn
him from them. His wife, fearful Of
the consequences of his mental depres-
sion and increasing physical weakness,
consulted physician, and at his sug-
gest,on took the Requiem" out Of his |
hands. Then he rallied, and on No
Free Masons. The success Of this little
work and the enthusiasm Of his friends
IN the fraternity seemed TO have re-
stored his spirits, and at his REQUEST
the score Of the "Requiem" was E siven
to him again and he began to write
with new zeal. His strength had been
overestimated, however; he rclapsed
into his former melancholy, grew
reaker and finally was brought to his
Death Of tho Composer
He would not abandon his task. hev.
ever. He kept writing materials on his