MOZART, JOHN CHRYSOST01.1 WOLFGANG THEO primus, a celebrated composer, was born at Salzburg, in Bavaria, on the 17th of January, 175 6. From the earliest age he testified the strongest predilection for music, which induced his father, who was organist of the prince's chapel, to discontinue the instruction of others, in order to devote himself to his tuition, and that of a sister, about four years older. After learning the harp sichord during a year, the flights of his genius were so rapid, that he exercised his own invention in original compositions at the age of only five, and attempted no tation, which could be hardly decyphered. Being carried to Munich, along with his sister, both of them perform ed before an audience at Bavaria, and also in presence of the Emperor, Francis I. at Vienna, with equal appro bation.
In 1763, Mozart publicly performed a concerto on the violin at Munich ; and having exhibited his talents in different towns of Germany, he was carried to Paris, where he played the organ of the king's chapel before the French court. An engraving of him, in which both his father and sister are introduced, was published in this city in 1764, describing him " composer and mas ter of music, aged seven years." Mozart next reached London, where he excited great admiration: And doubts being entertained whether his real age was not disguised under a juvenile appearance, Mr. Barrington obtained a certificate of his birth by means of the Ba varian ambassador, It was proved by experiment, that he actually understood composition as a science ; and at a concert given by himself and his sister, all the symphonies performed were his own. Precocious chil dren have appeared in Britain, both before and since that period, as Dubourg and Clegg, performers on the violin, and Kruntzen on the harpsichord, of an earlier date ; and in later times, Pinto, Gattie, and Miss Tree mearn, who, at eight or nine years old, played a violin concerto in Covent Garden Theatre, in 1817. Mrs. Billington's talents, also, were exhibited at the age of seven, and in her eleventh year she played a concerto composed by herself. Some of these had greater diffi culties to execute ; but none, except Mozart, was born a musician, whose skill in the science was enlarging gradually until the last hour of his existence. The fa
mily returned to Salzburg in 1766.
The two young musicians performed in the presence of the Emperor, Joseph II. at Vienna, in 1768, when Mozart was commanded by that sovereign to compose the music for a comic opera, which was approved, but never brought out. NVIten only twelve years old, how ever, he composed and directed the performance of a mass for the dedication of a church. Ile was accustom ed at this time, on receiving an air in company, to set parts to it without retiring.
Mozart next visited Italy, where he experienced the most flattering reception ; but the Neapolitans insisting that there was some, hidden charm in a ring which he wore during his performance, he removed it, to show there was none. He was elected member of the Phil harmonic society of Bologna, and received an order of knighthood from the Pope. A mass called the Mi ni-ere is performed at Rome, in the Sixtine chapel, twice during Passion Week, by choristers only, with an effect which no other band has been able to produce, insomuch that Leopold I. of Austria having obtained a copy from the Pope, he suspected a spurious composi tion had been imposed on him, and sent an envoy to remonstrate with his Holiness. The musicians being prohibited to give copies of it, Mozart, by an astonisliing effort, committed the whole to memory ; he wrote it down at home, after the first performance, and on the second occasion carried it in his hat for correction.
Having previously undertaken to compose the music for a serious opera, to be produced at the carnival of Bo logna, he wrote Alithridates in his fifteenth year, which was performed on twenty successive nights ; and dining four or five years, partly occupied in excursions through out Italy and Germany, he engaged in several works at the desire of illustrious personages. His parents con stantly accompanied him in his travels, for he was so completely devoted to his art as to be regardless of all personal interests.