Mozart

[Frederik Magle]

I've played two of his Church Sonatas which are original works for organ and orchestra - more or less small single-movement organ concertos, one of them even got a big solo cadenza - with the Aalborg Symphony orchestra some years ago. That was great fun and they are quite good (but then, what work by Mozart is not). Should be played more often.

[ses]

Well I have played it! How about his symphony#40 that we all know.
judy tooley

May I suggest no 41? Here you will find his finest fuga.

[Corno Dolce]

Hi Ms. Judy,

Many years ago I played the Overture to the "Marriage of Figaro" for a dear friends wedding. It is a piece that formly bubles with enthusiam and Joie de Vivre. His Fantasies for a Musical Clock are usually the straight "Organ" works of Mozart that people have come into contact with.

Here's the Fantasy in F-minor K.608 by Mozart in two parts:

+ "Mozart Fantasia k.608 - Part I " via YouTube

+ "Mozart Fantasia k.608 - Part II " via YouTube

Cheers,

Corno Dolce

[Contratrombone64]

Speaking of Mozart, I read a fascinating diary published last century (or maybe the one before last!) by the English publisher Novello. He (Novello) and his wife travelled from London to Salzburg and met up with Constanze, Nanerl (who was blind and bed ridden) and Mozart's son (whose name escapes me).

The reason for the trip was to give money to Constanze and Nanerl (who were both living in poverty). Constanze's second husband, George Nissen (the Danish Ambassador to Vienna) had died and left her with not much money. I'll get back to Nissen shortly. The sum of money was around 80 pounds (a small fortune in the 1830s), ans was donated by a group of Mozart lovers from London.

They plodded through Europe in horse and cart of course, and, on the way attended mass in each church or cathedral on the way to Salzburg. Vin Novello mentions a horrid organ in Belgium where the reeds sounded like paper blown through combs (made me laugh). Organ maintenance in the 1830s was not good, if you go by this fascinating document (published by Eulenburg). They finally get to Salzburg and meet up with Constanze, Nanerl and Mozart's son. Had a wonderful time and ask some fascinating questions of Constanze and Nanerl about their husband/brother. Well worth hunting this book out and reading it if you're a fan of Mozart.

Back to Nissen. In the days when I was learning Danish in Sydney, I was given a book called "Twice Perfectly Happy" by a Dane (can't remember the author's name sorry). Signed by the author (Lindquist??) anyway the book was given to me by my Danish teacher (who sadly died of cancer in 2005).

This book deals with Constanze's life in Copenhagen and the title aptly describes here views of both her husbands ...

[Flute'n'Pedal]

Hi ContraT,

I believe the author of the book you refer to is Viggo Sjoqvist.

LlL

[Contratrombone64]

flute - indeed - viggo Sjoeqvist it was indeed - mange tak

[Flute'n'Pedal]

ContraT: Det var så lidt. Actually, I just looked the title up in a publisher's catalogue. (I also looked up in an English-Danish dictionary how to say "You're welcome.") But I'm having more troubles with the book by Novello. Could you please give me more details--title and so on?

LlL

[Contratrombone64]

Flute 'n' Pedal I'll ring my friends and find get the name of the book. And report back.

A Mozart Pilgrimage.
The travel diaries of Vincent and Mary Novello in the year 1829

Published by Eulenburg

edited by Narina Medici and Rosemary Fuse

[Flute'n'Pedal]

Thanks a lot, ContraT. It'll be a birthday present for my husband, who is a great Mozart-lover.

[Contratrombone64]

I'm afraid you'll probably find it out of print ... try amazon or the like (or steal it from your local reference library).

[NEB]

Ohhhhh - now now CT. Let's not get too excited.

Try contacting the publisher direct - they might do you an archive copy (at a price of course). i.e. a copy of their archive copy...

[methodistgirl]

Did you guys know that last sunday was mozart's birthday? They played
Mozart on the speakers at Wal mart while I was shopping. The last sunday
in January this year.
judy tooley