Dear fellow Mozartians!
I hope you enjoy much love and affection on Valentine’s Day— and perhaps some red-foil-wrapped pistachio and chocolate Kugeln with Mozart’s picture on top!
As a fun Valentine’s game, I invite you to muse on the question: what does Mozart have to do with love? Perhaps his sister Nannerl shared a clue in a childhood anecdote about Wolfie composing his first pieces, stopping and looking into the air as he said: ”I am trying to find the notes that love each other!”
While his endearing statement might seem simply naive, it puts forth a concept: love as a basis for musical relationships! Did Mozart instinctually perceive the natural relationships of overtones and their underlying and compelling order (usually described in terms of mathematical ratios) as a form of love? Although we might not consciously consider it, could this also be at the heart of our “love” of (i.e. great interest and pleasure in) his music?
If it is true that we love those who love us, do we perhaps perceive a kind of “love” through his music that we respond to in kind? Do Mozart's pure triadic (and diatonic) relationships induce us to trust (completely, with abandon) that he will bring resolution to potential conflicts of elemental musical forces? Is this how his music has lifted our spirits, improved our outlooks and captured our hearts more times than we can remember? Is this why we want to share Mozart’s music with others, to show them love? Does this mean that Mozart’s music helps us love each other more?
While these musings make a fun Valentine game, I do think that ultimately Mozart’s music shows us our capacity— not only to love each other better, but also to appreciate great art, particularly the art of his music. This is more exciting than Mozart Kugeln!
Discovering the relationships of Mozart's music—and especially how to present them in our performances—is what the Joy of Mozart is all about. Stay tuned with us to “rediscover" Mozart in this way!
The Q & A
Q from TC: “I was in Berlin recently, and there was a house where Mozart supposedly lived for a while; what did he do there?”
Dear TC,
Oh, it's time to get your hands on the letters of Mozart and his family that document his life while he was traveling! Berlin is one of many cities where Mozart indeed spent time (including, sadly, in 1789—see details in the letters). Seek out translations by Emily Anderson, Robert Speathling, Hans Mersman— all are worthy reads!
Q from SJ, DS and others: “When will the method be ready?
Dear All,
The method—for performing five types of notes in Mozart’s music according to his expression markings—is quite an undertaking. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the method is taking due time as well. Illustrations for the method's progressive exercises for students are currently being refined. Editing of the correlating manual for performers and teachers is almost complete! It explains the method as a response to the challenges of producing Mozart's system of sounds that bring his music to life on today’s piano, as well as crucial tips on how to teach the method to students. The Joy of Mozart site will announce when the two books are available! Meanwhile, you can read a helpful orientation to the method in the article on the Joy of Mozart website (free) titled “Mozart: the Elephant in the Classroom.” Enjoy!
Happy Valentine’s dear friends! As Mozart wrote,
I kiss your hand a thousand times!
Mary