AUTHOR: WOLFGANG MOZART

LANGUAGE: MUSIC

DATE: 1791

PAGE #: 138

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 8.75 X 11.75 IN

View this manuscript in the Digital Library

HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: MOZART COMPOSED PART OF THE REQUIEM IN VIENNA IN LATE 1791, BUT IT WAS UNFINISHED AT HIS DEATH ON 5 DECEMBER 1791. A COMPLETED VERSION DATED 1792 BY FRANZ XAVER SUSSMAYR WAS DELIVERED TO COUNT FRANZ VON WALSEGG, WHO COMMISSIONED THE PIECE FOR A REQUIEM SERVICE TO COMMEMORATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF HIS WIFE’S DEATH ON 14 FEBRUARY.
THE AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT SHOWS THE FINISHED AND ORCHESTRATED INTROIT IN MOZART’S HAND, AND DETAILED DRAFTS OF THE KYRIE AND THE SEQUENCE DIES IRAE AS FAR AS THE FIRST EIGHT BARS OF THE LACRIMOSA MOVEMENT, AND THE OFFERTORY. IT CANNOT BE SHOWN TO WHAT EXTENT SUSSMAYR MAY HAVE DEPENDED ON NOW LOST “SCRAPS OF PAPER” FOR THE REMAINDER; HE LATER CLAIMED THE SANCTUS AND AGNUS DEI AS HIS OWN.

REPRODUCTION DETAILS: OUR HARDCOVER BOOKS ARE MADE WITH REAL WOOD FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT AND BACK COVERS AS WELL AS THE SPINE. THE LEATHER IS A 4 OZ COWHIDE, FROM A SMALL SUPPLIER IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE LEATHER IS ADHERED TO THE COVERS WITH GLUE AND MOLDED INTO THE SHAPE AT THE HAND OF OUR LOCAL ARTISANS. THE SIGNATURES/PAGES ARE HANDSEWN USING A LIBRARY BINDING METHOD. THE SEWN BOOK IS BOUND WITH A STRONG ADHESIVE GLUE THAT MAKES THE BINDINGS LAST, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LARGER BOOKS. WE ALSO ADD A THICK MULL CLOTH TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BINDING, DRYING IN BETWEEN EACH LAYER, A TRADITIONAL WAY TO MAKE THE BINDING STIFF, STRONG, AND RESILIENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

NOTE: ALL OF OUR FACSIMILES ARE MADE TO ORDER. PLEASE ALLOW 4-6 WEEKS FOR NOTIFICATION OF SHIPMENT.