The Mozart Requiem: The Mystery Of Mozart's Requiem

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The Classical Period brought forward new musical innovation. The sudden change in emotion and contrast in the music from the classical era is one of the many fascinating topics. However, the topic most talked about to this very day is Mozart’s Requiem. The mystery of which parts were composed by Mozart puzzles many. Even the rumor that surrounds Mozart’s cause of death is fascinating. Peter Shaffer’s play Amadeus, added more controversy to this intriguing mystery. The mystery began when Count Franz von Walsegg, secretly asked Mozart to write the Requiem for his wife who had passed away. The Requiem for Walsegg’s late wife was to be performed on the anniversary of her death. Walsegg was known for secretly commissioning musical pieces and would …show more content…

The first composer she asked was Joseph von Eybler who was one of Mozart’s friends. Eybler worked on the score and later told Constanze that he could not finish it. Finally Constanze asked Franz Xaver Sussmayr, whom she allegedly had an affair with during Mozart’s life time. Sussmayr finished the Requiem and forged Mozart’s signature on the score. Constanze’s goal was to make Walsegg believe Mozart finished the Requiem. It is believed Constanze stated that Mozart left instructions on scraps of paper on how the piece should be completed after the public found out Sussmayr finished the …show more content…

Some speculate that Sussmayr may have taken as mush credit as possible. In addition, Sussmayr gave no credit to Eybler. Part of Mozart’s unfinished work of the Requiem was preformed privately at a theater as a tribute to Mozart. Its speculated that Constanze passed Sussmayr as one Mozart’s students that helped him write the score when he was sick in order to make Walsegg believe the Requiem was all the work of Mozart. However, there is no strong evidence to support this. Constanze even claimed that Mozart sang some of the sections to Sussmayr. Many question what parts were written by Eybler, Sussmayr, and Mozart. Many state that Constanze is responsible for the confusion in who wrote what. After she received commission for the Requiem she cautiously promoted the Requiem as the work of Mozart. In order to insure Walsegg would not take credit for this piece. In addition, she would also receive money every time the Requiem was preformed publicly. All of the claims made by Constanze have contributed to the mystery of the Requiem. It is complicated to figure out which of her claims are completely false and which are half-truths or

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