Our Journal
Exploring the Evidence
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
The Contradictions Behind Mozart’s Horn Concerto K.412
The authenticity of Mozart’s Horn Concerto K.412 remains hotly debated, as the work bears numerous contradictions in its manuscript history. The first movement may be original, but what about the rest? The inclusion of Franz Xaver Süssmayr and later editorial meddling raises serious questions about what we are really listening to when we hear this ‘Mozart’ concerto.
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.”
The Questionable Attribution of Mozart’s Offertorium K.34
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.”
The Mysterious Case of Mozart’s Duets: An Unfinished Story
Mozart’s string duets have long been shrouded in mystery, from his father’s heavy influence in 1768 to his supposed act of charity for a dying Michael Haydn in 1783. These unfinished works reveal more about the composer’s life and struggles than they do about his musical genius.
The Misattribution of Mozart’s K.2 89a (K.6 73i): A Questionable Canon
K.2 89a (K.6 73i), attributed to Mozart, is riddled with issues—missing voices, incomplete harmonies, and even the absence of text. Should this piece really be in his catalogue?
The Borrowed Simplicity: Mozart’s Canons K.555, K.557, and K.562
The canons K.555, K.557, and K.562, often overlooked for their simplicity, reveal striking similarities with the works of Antonio Caldara. These three pieces, dated 1788, demonstrate how Mozart adapted and simplified Caldara’s contrapuntal structures, masking his influences while reflecting the galant style of the era.
Simplicity, Errors, and the Myth of Perfection
Mozart’s canons are not as complex as often claimed, with notable errors in K.553 and K.554, and the myth of “V’amo di cuore teneramente” K.348 being debunked.
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.