Klarinet Archive - Posting 000576.txt from 2003/05

From: "R. Williams" <rwilliams@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Basset Clarinet
Date: Fri, 23 May 2003 06:49:22 -0400

I'm in the process of reading Maynard Solomon's book "Mozart: A Life" which
discusses this from the perspective of letters between Leopold and
W.A.. Leopold in letters to his daughter mentions occasions where W.A. is
supervising the copying of manuscripts by a publisher. According to the
author, Mozart prior to leaving Salzburg and for a time in Vienna used
regular publishers, but there was a period in Vienna where Mozart in an
effort to retain more money did his own publishing. An expensive and risky
venture. He also became his own promoter for a time in Vienna, putting on
concerts for both himself and other artists, cutting out all the middlemen.
I think in todays terms we would call him Mozart, Inc.

What fascinated me was that evidently a normal first printing was around 20
copies. There is mention that a hugely successful piece by Mozart went
into 5-6 printings or some 70 copies. There is very little mention of K622
in the book, but evidently it wasn't at all unusual for Mozart to write
compositions as gifts and give the original manuscripts to friends and
musicians, particularly folks who needed a boost in their careers. So in
those cases it was from Mozart, to performer to publisher and what happened
in between, who is to say. It is also mentioned that on a few occasions he
would write a piece and give author credits to others. The cases mentioned
involved women of whom Mozart was fond.
Best
Rick

>From: Dan Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
>Subject: Re: [kl] Basset Clarinet
>
>It is interesting that you mention this. Mozart most frequently hired a
>copyist who worked in his home, and for two reasons. One, he wanted to
>supervise his work, and two, he wanted to avoid the man making a second
>copy that he might sell to an unscrupulous music publisher and which
>nullified Mozart's efforts to make money on the piece.

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