Victor Rerick
The Arts in NYC
October 7, 2012
Professor Graff
The Mozart Letters: Exploring Mozart’s Personality
The name Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has become synonymous with instrumental genius and creativity with not only those who religiously practice his masterpieces, but even with those who have once ventured to pick up an instrument. He is perhaps the most well known, and highly esteemed artist, in musical history. Yet despite the near universal recognition of his music, very few people know the details, or even the general structures, of the society and family in which Mozart was raised and molded. His story becomes like that of many historical figures; a single moment or achievement viewed as if it happened inside a black hole. Even in our history textbooks, where context is essential, we often ignore the events that led to the World Wars, the prior thinking that spurred the Renaissance, or in this case, the unique upbringing that inspired a musical prodigy. It is through closer examination of Mozart’s personal letters to family, friends, and business colleagues, that we can begin to appreciate not only his musical talent, but his more personal side. His personality, emotions, beliefs, and motivations all shine through his series of preserved letters, providing us with a fascinating glimpse, into one of music’s most mesmerizing minds.
Like most contemporary professional artists, Mozart’s craft was not only his passion; it was his source of income. This dual role of music in Mozart’s life, as both an artistic outlet, and a means of financial provision, was one that Mozart would struggle with contentiously. He tried to find the precarious balance between the two, but often failed, especially later in his life. In a 1786 letter to the Royal Groom of Chambers, Sebastian Winter, we are offered a glimpse of Mozart as not only a musician, but a businessman. During a time period when proper entertainment (especially that fit for kings) was in short supply, live performers such as Mozart could often amass significant wealth playing for the royal and the wealthy. Mozart was a master of flattery, but more so in writing than in person. His maturity took an odd course of development, and a certain social awkwardness does shine through his letters. But for the most part, Mozart commended the pen as adroitly as the bow, and managed to pluck at the heart strings of those he needed favors from (of which there were many). In this particular letter, Mozart essentially begs for the opportunity to play for the Prince. Due to social costume, he must disguise his motives as pure, and claims that his business proposal “arises from an impulse of genuine zeal to serve his Highness diligently” (230). But at the heart of Mozart’s letter, is the genuine impulse for the acquisition of material resources. Mozart requests that if the Prince would so desire, Mozart would humbly accept a yearly compensation in exchange for musical performances. Mozart claims that with a consistent salary he would be able to “work with a collected mind, being sure of having that work to do”. A similar concern is present in almost all of his business letters. He remarks to Michael Puchberg that it is “inconvenient, nay, impossible, to live from own installment to another!” (237). Although Mozart may seem sly in his attempt to gain admittance to the Prince’s Court, he is simply following the expected business model. Mozart would rely on such methods to provide for his himself and his wife throughout his short life.
Mozart’s letters to his family members, especially his sister, reflect Mozart’s more childish side. In his letters to family and friends, he is almost always quick to share a joke, or even make fun of the person to whom he was writing. Other than business, the only topics that Mozart seemed to take seriously were love and death. He writes to his sister, who informed him of his father’s death, that IF she “desires a kind and loving brother to care for you, you will find one on every occasion” (234). He not only grieves for his father, but also tries to comfort his distressed sister by offering his full love and brotherly support. A similar tone is found in his heartfelt letters to his wife. He often uses poetic language when speaking to her, declaring his love through any number of metaphors he can think of. While traveling, he scribbles a letter to his wife remarking that when thinking of her he both cries and smile, all the while staring at her portrait whenever he can (240).
Mozart’s letters provide invaluable insight into the mind of one of the world’s greatest composers. By reading them we can see that he was not only a musician, but a human. And as such he shared with us moments of humor, sadness, joy and stress, and all of the other melodies of the human condition.
