After 3 days … “Someone” died

Requiem

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Variation

Pondering back and forth, I could not decide on whom I should go with for lunch… I wanted a person who was special, but under difficult situation. I wanted one of the most creative figures in history who substantially affected the modern society. I wanted to grasp the unknown character of the figure: a character so unknown that most people would be surprised at. Considering, pondering, and “Thinking” for several days, I finally chose Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

O. Basic

Wolfgang Mozart is one of the most famous composers in classical music. He is also known as the genius of music. At the age of three, he was able to play several notes on the Klavier, the prior form of pianoforte. At the age of five, he composed his first musical piece. He subsequently composed several variations, sonatas, dance songs, and ceremonial pieces. He held concerts with his family in Austria, France, and Prussia. He composed his major works from 1786 to 1791. He composed more than 600 musical pieces in his life. Although he died early, his pieces are commented by critics as one of the most genuine and beautiful classical pieces in history. His famous pieces include "Symphony no.41", "Requiem", "Magic Flute", and "The Marriage of Figaro".

I. Who did I meet?

I would like to have lunch with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, one of the greatest musicians in history.

II. Why did I want to meet him?

There are two major reasons why I wanted to have lunch with Wolfgang Mozart.

First of all, I wanted to figure out the character and personality of the greatest musician in history. Through the dialogue, I wanted to not only feel sympathy with Mozart who was in harsh circumstances but also observe the true personality and devotion Mozart had in music. Through the dialogue, I will try to grasp what Mozart wanted to achieve, what Mozart regretted, and what Mozart felt proud of himself in his life. I also want to figure out the source of inspiration for him to compose such myriads of classical pieces.

Moreover, I wanted to deduce the characteristic of classical music at that time by having conversation with Mozart. The composer reflected social changes by changing his style of music continuously. The French revolution, the industrial revolution, the decline of the Austrian Empire: all these factors led Mozart to change his unique techniques found in concertos and operas. I also wanted to hear the style of music prevalent just after the French Revolution by listening to explanations about Requiem, one of the masterpieces in history.

II.1. Why did I visit him in Vienna?

I wanted to check out whether Mozart was well or not. I was concerned that I might not be able to meet the great composer again. So I walked straight ahead to his house in Alsergrund, Austria.

III. When did I visit him?

I met him precisely on December 2^nd, 1791 at one ‘o clock in the afternoon. This date was exactly three days before Mozart deceased. (Mozart deceased on December 5^th) By meeting him at this moment, I wanted to observe the true characteristic of the great composer as well as the intense situation he was suffering from. Many people say that the true voice of a character is shown when he is under intense situation. Also, Mozart might have predicted that he would soon die; he would be much likely to tell his own thoughts to other person so that he can relieve pressure he received from past experiences. Thus, I might be able to grasp the genuine thoughts of the great musician by having a conversation with him when he is intensely ill.

IV. How did I get back time?

The setting: I accidentally went back time from December 2nd, 2011 to December 2nd, 1791. A time machine was invented and I was chosen by a group of scientists who wanted to find out whether the time machine worked properly. (The setting is extremely unrealistic..;;)

V. Where did I meet him?

I would like to visit his house, which is located in the suburb of Alsergrund, Austria. Alsergrund is currently the ninth district of Vienna, Austria. In late 18^th century, Alsergrund was not one of the parts of Vienna; rather, the place was a local suburb close to the city. Since Mozart was extremely ill at that time, I will personally visit his house and have lunch with him. Maybe he would be lying in bed, enduring painful moments during the meeting. I would like to set the depressing but cheerful tone throughout the dialogue. Although he was facing harsh situations, Mozart was usually hopeful that he would rise up again.

VI. What I asked to him?

I wanted to ask Mozart three basic things. (actually I will create several specific questions based on these basic questions.)

The first question: “Why are you keep playing, composing, and even enjoying music even though you are under severe financial situation?” Mozart suffered from extreme financial difficulty. Yes, he succeeded in his earlier years when he composed several piano sonatas and violin sonatas. His economic life was also improving slightly in 1791, a year he deceased because of extreme illness. Still, he was suffering from extreme poverty because of political turmoil in France and Austria. I wanted to grasp the change in his attitude toward music. When he was successful, he might have felt passion toward music. Now in abject situation, he might have changed his attitude toward music. Maybe Mozart might ask me counter question, like this: Do you have devotion in playing music? I know that the standard of devotion in music is different between Mozart and me. However, I would like to answer to that question: Yes! I believe I have devotion toward music, especially on playing the piano.

The second question: “Can you describe about Requiem?” Requiem had been composed since 1791. However, the piece was incomplete because Mozart deceased before he ended the first act. I wanted to know these features: What feeling he wanted to convey in his masterpiece Requiem? What aspects of Requiem will he talk to me? (There is a tale that Mozart told about Requiem only to his student Sussmayr, but this tale also lacks possibility.) I wanted to imagine how Mozart would have completed Requiem based on techniques he used on other pieces such as operas, piano sonatas, and concertos. Unfortunately, Mozart might not give any answer to my question. He often did not talk or unleash anything about his new creations. He might give somewhat rude comments such as “How dare you ask that question!”

The third question: “Where do you gain inspiration from when you compose music?” Mozart’s composition is at once beautiful and somewhat fragile. Little sadness and disappointment flows beneath the beautiful melodies and harmonies. I wanted to ask Mozart what was the source of such hidden messages behind beautiful masterpieces. (Especially the piece “Oh, I give this piece to my mother”, also known as “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”.) I also wanted to ask how he feels when he creates several masterpieces. He might feel happiness from his grandiose feats. He might feel loneliness because of isolation from society.

The last question: “Would you like to look at the future?” I wanted to contrast the situation in 1790 and 2011. Maybe Mozart will have great interest and curiosity about his future. Although he will figure out that he will die soon, he will feel happiness that all of his musical pieces are universal and prevalent in modern society. I will show him the scene of concert through video clips from my i-phone (the great composer might have much more curiosity on the i-phone rather than on his future) and explain him about the prevalence of classical music in modern society. I am sure that Mozart will ask so many questions about modern society, about the development of classical music. I would like to give Mozart happiness and amazement before he closes his eyes forever.

** I was not sure in deciding when I should meet Mozart.