Klarinet Archive - Posting 000306.txt from 2006/04

From: "dnleeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] A note to university faculty
Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2006 17:12:54 -0400

If you are affiliated with a university that has a strong music
history department and/or a musicology department (and possibly
even an art history department), please contact me off line for a
lengthier discussion of something that either department would
find incredibly fascinating and historically valuable.

I am acting for a client who, while in Italy, purchased what he
thought was a collection of interesting antiques. It has turned
out to be, possibly, one of the most remarkable collections of
Mozartean memorabilia ever found. I reported on the collection
at the Mozarteum in Salzburg in September 2005, and 14 of the
items were put on display from December 2005 until March 2006.
I've spoken about the collection at the Beethoven center in San
Jose, CA, at the California State University in San Diego, and I
have invitations for several more such colloquia. The collection
was also written up in the Knight Ridder newspaper, the San Jose
Chronicle. It took four or five full pages.

In the fall, for the last part of the Mozart 250th year, I will
be giving identical colloquia at any university that wants to see
a powerpoint presentation containing portraits, art objects
(snuff boxes possibly given to Mozart at the court of Louis XV in
Paris), books, etc. There is no music in the collection. The
material is purely historical and of artistic value. It is hoped
that a book on the collection, written by me, will occupy the
entire issue of one of the Oxford University Press musical
journals, of which there are several.

Among the pieces that will be shown at such colloquia are
possible portraits of Mozart at 10, at 11, and at about 25,
portraits of his sister Nannerl at about 12, a portrait of his
mother ca. 1766, and a portrait of his grandmother painted
sometime before 1755. None of these portraits are known to have
existed.

Expenses and fees would be borne by the University extending the
invitation. It is the intention of the owner to sell the material
at some time in the future, at which point a colloqium on a
dispersed collection is not likely to be of interest. Also after
the 250th year is over, there will be some burnout, so now is the
time to act.

And would the kind owner of this list please do me the courtesy
of posting this note on his other lists, namely the ones for
flute, oboe, bassoon, etc.

If I am going to have a swan song, this is a hell of a one to
have.

Dan Leeson
DNLeeson@-----.net

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