Our Journal

Exploring the Evidence

The Echo of the Pummerin Bell
The Echo of the Pummerin Bell

The powerful resonance of the Pummerin bell in Vienna may have influenced Mozart’s compositions, particularly Sarastro’s arias in The Magic Flute.

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The Forgotten Viennese Quartets
The Forgotten Viennese Quartets

Attributing Offertorium K.34 to Mozart is not just misleading, it reflects the careless methods used by 19th-century scholars to inflate his legacy. Without an autograph or solid evidence, this work should not be considered part of his output.”

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Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto: A Question of Authorship
Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto: A Question of Authorship

The Bassoon Concerto K.191 raises more questions than it answers. Long thought to have been composed for a Munich bassoonist, new evidence suggests Mozart had no clear performer in mind. The concerto’s disjointed movements and other dubious compositions attributed to Mozart add further complexity to his legacy

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The Uncertain Origins of Mozart’s Early String Quartets
The Uncertain Origins of Mozart’s Early String Quartets

Mozart’s so-called “Milanese Quartets” (K.155, 158, and 159) have long been subject to debate, primarily due to their ambiguous instrumentation and structural weaknesses. Were these works part of a larger series of orchestral divertimenti, hastily repurposed as string quartets? The answer remains elusive, reflecting the young composer’s struggles to find his own voice.

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When the Myth Collapsed
When the Myth Collapsed

Vienna exposed the myth: La Finta semplice was riddled with errors, and Wolfgang’s supposed opera genius was nothing more than Leopold’s fabrication. With their reputation in ruins, father and son turned to Italy, hoping to rewrite history.

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The London Notebook and the Vienna Disaster
The London Notebook and the Vienna Disaster

Far from the myth of a flawless young genius, Mozart’s London Notebook reveals musical struggles and guided exercises, while the Vienna opera disaster proved that his father played a far greater role in his compositions than legend would have us believe.

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Versailles, Vanity, and the Pursuit of Prestige
Versailles, Vanity, and the Pursuit of Prestige

Leopold Mozart’s letters transformed his son’s European tour into a carefully staged fantasy—filled with exaggerated encounters, fabricated royal admiration, and a relentless pursuit of social prestige. But how much of it was real?

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