File:Mozart, the story of his life as a man and artist - according to authentic documents and other sources (1908) (14578809798).jpg

Identifier: mozartstoryofhis02wild (find matches)
Title: Mozart, the story of his life as a man and artist : according to authentic documents & other sources
Year: 1908 (1900s)
Authors: Wilder, Victor, 1835-1892 Liebich, Franz, Mrs
Subjects: Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791
Publisher: New York : Charles Scribner's Sons
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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and demanding only in ex-change for his generosity that the secret should be wellkept and that they should bind themselves not to publishthe works which had been ordered. When once he hadobtained possession of the desired manuscript he wouldcopy it out himself, and forgetting to sign the composersname, he would cause the parts to be copied from hiswritten score and would then place them on to the desksof his favourite virtuosi,—for twice in each week hetreated himself to a concert of chamber music. When thepiece had been read, he would ask the instrumentaliststo guess the name of the composer, and the sly musicianswho had discovered his dodges, never failed to turn roundand assert that no one but himself was capable of writingsuch beautiful music. They had recognised his style,they would say, and indeed it was seldom possible to findso much talent allied to such deep modesty. After receiving a surfeit of admiring speeches, his ex-cellency would assume a humble air and waive the com-
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• (M !^ ^. >-! S :-H GO r CO +3 Ph O •ri bfi W (T) 1^ OD 0^ 0^ -: .22 <x)^^ ^ ^ CO m ■73 02 lis M 5S c3 0) «+-! ^ O oj eg s ^ O +3 0) ce •3 So*i S S ^ Mozart: The Man and the Artist. 353 pliments aside with a cunning smile, for after all the workreally was his—had he not ordered and paid for it ? Hehad no right to refuse such spontaneous and unanimouspraise. He was careful, however, to say as little as pos-sible, deeming that his listeners were sufficiently convincedby his tacit avowal and that therefore it was unnecessaryfurther to imperil his fame * Unfortunately Mozart was as little likely to suspect thisridiculous comedy as the major-domo was to guess orimagine the terror with which he had inspired the com-poser. The masters unnerved system had received asevere shock and as his thoughts continued to brood onthe subject, he ended by supposing the unexpected ap-parition to be a warning sent from above to admonish himto end his famous career by writing a work in ever

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