Mozart: A Life in Letters: A Life in Letters (24 page)

P.S: This pen is as coarse as I am.

Wasserburg, 23 Sept. 1777.
undecima hora nocte tempore
.
⁶

I think I left my diplomas
⁷
at home. – – Could you send them on
as soon as possible? Half past 6 in the morning. 24 Sept. Your most obedient son,

Wolfgang Amadé Mozart

My Dears,

It was with the greatest pleasure that I received dear Wolfg.’s letter this morning. Herr Bullinger,
¹
too, has just read it and laughed uproariously – he sends you his best wishes. I’m very pleased to hear that you’re both well: for my own part, I’m now much better, thank God. After you’d left, I came upstairs very wearily and threw myself into an armchair. I made every effort to curb my feelings when we said goodbye, in order not to make our farewell even more painful, and in my daze forgot to give my son a father’s blessing. I ran to the window and called after you but couldn’t see you driving out through the gates, so we thought you’d already left as I’d been sitting for a long time, not thinking of anything. Nannerl was astonishingly tearful and it required every effort to comfort her. She complained of a headache and terrible stomach pains, finally she started to be sick, vomiting good and proper, after which she covered her head, went to bed and had the shutters closed, with poor Pimpes beside her. I went to my own room, said my morning prayers, went back to bed at half past 8, read a book, felt calmer and fell asleep. The dog came and I woke up. She made it clear that she wanted me to take her for a walk, from which I realized that it must be nearly 12 o’clock and that she wanted to be let out. I got up, found my fur and saw that Nannerl was fast asleep and, looking at the clock, saw that it was half past 12. When I got back with the dog, I woke Nannerl and sent for lunch. Nannerl had no appetite at all; she ate nothing, went back to bed after lunch and, once Herr Bullinger had left, I spent the time
praying and reading in bed. By the evening Nannerl felt better and was hungry, we played piquet, then ate in my room and played a few more rounds after supper and then, in God’s name, went to bed. And so this sad day came to an end, a day I never thought I’d have to endure. On Wednesday, Nannerl went to church early. In the afternoon we had target-practice.
²
Herr Bullinger won for Sallerl,
³
he played for both Mama and Sallerl, and so Mama has won 11 kr., whereas Wolfg. has lost 4 kr. Herr Bullinger and Katherl
⁴
played with us till 6, and the day ended with the Rosary, which I say for you every day. This morning I sent for Herr Glatz
⁵
of Augsb., and we agreed that in Augsb. you should stay
at the Lamb in the Heilige Kreuzgasse
, where lunch costs 30 kr. per person, the rooms are attractive and the most respectable people stay – English, French, etc. You’ll also be very close to the church of the Holy Cross, and my brother Franz Alois is also nearby in the Jesuitengasse.
⁶
So you shouldn’t say anything to Herr Albert, as it’s too expensive at the 3 Moors,
⁷
he asks an extraordinary amount for the rooms and each meal works out at 45 or even 48 kr. per person. If you go to Augsb., Wolfg. should arrange to be taken at once to the
organ-builder, Herr Stein
,
⁸
who hasn’t seen him since he was 7 and is unlikely, therefore, to recognize him. He can say that he’s come from Innsbruck with a commission to inspect his instruments. Herr Glatz tells me that Herr Stein, Herr Bioley and Herr Fingerlin
⁹
are in a position to organize
a particularly good concert. You must also call on Herr
Christoph von Zabuesnig
, who wrote that beautiful German poem about you in Salzb.,
¹⁰
he’s a businessman and a scholar.
In Augsb
.
this gentleman may be able to arrange for something nice and impressive to be published in the papers
. Herr
Gasser
is the businessman who packed up my books without charging me a penny, took them to Frankfurt and brought back for me the money that he got for them, so you must call on him and thank him for me, it’s a favour that he can always do for me. My brother or his daughter
¹¹
will no doubt take you to see
His Grace
, the magistrate Herr von Langenmantel,
¹²
to whom you should give my most humble good wishes. Mama knows how well we know each other, we travelled to Salzb. together, when Herr von Heffner’s father was also present. You don’t have to wear your cross
¹³
at court, except in Augsburg, where you should wear it every day, for here it will earn you esteem and respect, as indeed it will wherever there is no ruling lord. If you want to visit the monasteries of the Holy Cross and St Ulrich, you can certainly do so and try out their organs. Herr Stein will no doubt show you his organ at the church of the Discalced Friars.
Herr Hilber’s son is at St Ulrich’s Monastery
.
¹⁴
NB: There is a certain organist and composer in Augsb.,
of whom the locals have been making a great fuss. I’ve forgotten his name.
¹⁵

Wherever you are, always make sure that the innkeeper puts the boot-trees in your boots. – –

The music can always remain at the front in the trunk, but you should buy a large oilcloth and use both this and the old one to wrap it well, in order to ensure that it’s really safe.

I think I also need to remind you that the
Salzb
.
half-batzen
¹⁶
won’t be of any use to you from now on, not even in Munich. I don’t supose you’ve got any, but if you do, the Salzb. guard will be able to change them. Whether the batzen are any good, I don’t know, you need to enquire of Herr Albert about the smaller denominations.

I’d intended to be up by 9 this morning, but Herr Glatz found me still in bed, as did Sergeant Clessin, so I was unable to get up till 11. Everyone admires Wolfg.’s portrait. Herr Clessin thought you were coming straight back, as did Herr von Schiedenhofen, who called on us yesterday evening from 5 till 7; indeed, everyone thinks so.

If you leave Munich without being able to inform me, you must leave a note at the post office in Munich, stating:
If letters arrive with the following address – aè Monsieur Wolfgang Amadé Mozart Maître de Musique – please forward them to the landlord of the Lamb in the Heilige Kreuzgasse in Augsburg
.

You left behind the
trousers of your pike-grey suit
. If I can find no other opportunity to send them on, I’ll include them with the
Antretter music, a number of contredanses
, the
Adagio and Rondo
that was written for Brunetti
¹⁷
and anything else that falls into my hands, and give them to the messenger, who can send them to my brother in Augsburg in the event that he misses you – I don’t think he’s due to arrive until midday on Monday. There was a row yesterday between Haydn and
the Kapellmeister. The english horn concerto was to be rehearsed again after Vespers, even though it has already been performed once, and Ferlendis and Brunetti weren’t there; Haydn became angry and said that the rehearsal was in any case unnecessary and why should they wait for those Italian fools? Rust said that it’s he who gives the orders around here etc. – The service lasted till a quarter to 11, and an
Agnus Dei
by Haydn was again given as Rust wasn’t ready. The sonata was one of Wolfgang’s.
¹⁸

Don’t forget to obtain some letters of recommendation in Munich, especially from the bishop of Chiemsee.

Count Seinsheim could give you one to take with you to Würzburg, the bishop is his father’s brother. Nannerl and I send our good wishes to Mama and kiss you both a million times,
addio
.

Mozart

Mon très cher Père
,

We arrived safely in Munich at half past 4 on the evening of the 24th; the first thing that was new is that we had to drive to the customs, accompanied by a grenadier with a fixed bayonet. The first familiar face that we saw on our way there was Sgr Consoli,
¹
who recognized me at once and who was indescribably happy to see me. He called on me the very next day. I can’t begin to tell you how delighted Herr Albert was. He really is a thoroughly decent man, and
our very good friend. Following my arrival, I remained at the keyboard till it was time to eat. Herr Albert still hadn’t returned home, but he finally arrived and we went down to supper together. There I met Monsieur Sfeer and a certain secretary, who is a very good friend of his. Both men send their best wishes. It was late when we got to bed, and we were tired after the journey. We were already up again at 7 on the 25th, but my hair was in such a mess that it wasn’t until ½ past 10 that I arrived at Count Seeau’s
²
and when I got there, I was told that he’d already gone hunting: patience! I then wanted to go and see the choirmaster, Herr Pernat, but he had gone off with Baron Schmidt to his estates. Herr Belval was very busy when I called on him and had time only to pass on his best wishes. Rossi arrived during lunch. Consoli came at 2, Becke
³
and Herr von Belval at 3.I paid a courtesy call on Frau von Durst, who is lodging near the Franciscans. At 6 I went for a short walk with Herr Becke. There is a certain Professor Huber
⁴
here – you may remember him better than I do – who says that he saw and heard me at young Herr von Mesmer’s the last time I was in Vienna. He’s not especially tall, nor is he especially short, but pale, with whitish grey hair and in his appearance he looks a bit like the under riding master. He’s also deputy intendant at the theatre; his job is to read the plays that they want to perform and to improve or ruin or lengthen or shorten them. He comes to Albert’s every evening. Today, Friday the 26th, I was at Count Seeau’s at ´ past 8. I was just entering the building when Madame Nieser, the actress, came out and asked me whether I was going to see the count. Yes. He’s still in his garden, and God knows when he’ll return. I asked her where his garden is, well, she said, I too want to speak to him, let’s go together. We’d scarcely reached the gates when the count came out to meet us, and was still some 12 paces away when he recognized me and called me by name. He was very polite. He already knew what had happened to me. We
went slowly up the steps, just the two of us; I told him briefly why I’d come. He said I should waste no more time but ask for an audience with His Highness the Elector. But if I couldn’t arrange this, I should put my case before him in writing. I begged him to say nothing about all this, – he gave me his word. When I told him that a good composer was badly needed here, he said: I know! I then called on the bishop of Chiemsee and was with him for half an hour. I told him everything. He promised to do all he could in this matter. He was going to Nymphenburg at 1 o’clock and gave me his word that he’d speak to Her Highness the Electress
⁵
about it. The court is returning on Sunday evening. At lunch today we were guests of Herr von Belval at Rasco’s; Rasco and the others – Herr von Lori,
⁶
Belval, Passauer

– all send their best wishes. We then called on Frau von Durst. She lives 3 flights up in Bürgermeister Schmädel’s house. Herr von Lori has rooms on the 2nd floor. From here we were collected by Herr Sigl
⁷
– he’s been married for 2 months – and all of us went to see Frau von Hofstetten; her husband isn’t here but will soon be returning. Franz Dufraisne is a court councillor but so far
sine auro
:
⁸
Sigl then drove Mama home as she’d promised Becke that she’d go and see a play with him, and I took Frau von Durst home and then went to the theatre, where we all met up again. They were playing
Henriette, Or She’s Already Married
.
⁹
At ½ past 11 this morning I went with Becke to see Fräulein von Seeau, who’s as pretty as a picture. Fräulein d’Hosson has made a very good match. He’s called Hepp. People say he’s very rich. Herr Johann Cröner
¹⁰
has been appointed deputy Konzertmeister on the strength of his coarse language. Two of his symphonies –
Dio mene liberi
¹¹
– have been performed here: the elector asked him: did you really write that? – – Yes, Your Highness. Who
taught you? – A schoolteacher in Switzerland – – people make such a fuss about composition – – but this schoolteacher told me more than all our composers here could tell me. Count Schönborn
¹²
arrived today with his wife, the archbishop’s sister. I happened to be at the theatre at the time: in the course of his conversation with them, Herr Albert told them that I was here and that I’m no longer in service. Both of them expressed their surprise. They simply refused to believe that I earned 12 fl. 30 kr. of blessed memory! They were just changing horses or else they’d have liked to have spoken to me. But I didn’t see them again. But how are things with you? How are you feeling? Mama and I hope that you’re both well.

I remain in the best of moods. I feel a great weight has been lifted from my mind now that I’ve left all that chicanery behind me! – – I’ve also got fatter. Herr von Wallau spoke to me in the theatre today, and I paid a courtesy call on Countess Larosée in her box. I must now leave a bit of space for Mama. Best wishes to the whole worshipful company of marksmen from 3 of its members, namely, me, Mama and Monsieur
Novac
, who comes to Albert’s every day. In the meantime, farewell, my dearest Papa; I kiss your hands innumerable times and embrace my scoundrel of a sister.