It’s the story of hidden treasures and attics, all over again. Not a copy of the constitution, this time, nor a hitherto unknown Rubens on the back of a canvas. But just about as neat: A genuinely new, and by all accounts genuine keyboard miniature by the young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The attic was that of a brass-band Kapellmeister and church musician in the Lech river valley, Tyrol. The Mozart-piece, part of a 160 page strong collection of keyboard works, titled: “Allegro molto” by “Del Signore Giovane Wolfgango Mozart”. “Givoane”, as in “junior” to distinguish the bit from several other, also authentic inclusions by his father, “Del Signore Mozart”.
Musicologist Hildegard Herrmann-Schneider unearthed it, and the Mozarteum Foundation (Stiftung Mozarteum Salzburg) brought it to light earlier today, which included a performance by Florian Birsak on Mozart’s own fortepiano. Here’s an excerpt of the Allegro, most probably written when Mozart was 11:
Excerpt from the “Allegro molto” by W.A.Mozart, perf. Florian Birsak.
The entire 84 bar long work, lasting something shy of four minutes with its two repeats, will be released on iTunes tomorrow, Saturday, March 24rd. More information at http://allegro.mozarteum.at/