THE STORY OF WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZAIRT, Part 1

Welcome to Mozart month. We will begin with a biography in 3 parts by Thomas Tapper, 1915:




MOZART

The Story of
A Little Boy and His Sister
Who Gave Concerts












The composer whom we call WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART was called Wolferl when he was a little boy. He had a sister, MARIA ANNA, who was called NANNERL. Nannerl was five years older than her brother. She had lessons from her father on a kind of piano called a harpsichord.

Here is a picture of one.



MOZART'S HARPSICHORD





When Wolferl was three years old he used to listen to Nannerl's playing. He always watched and listened when Papa Mozart gave her a harpsichord lesson. Little as he was, he would often go to the harpsichord and try to pick out tunes with his chubby fingers. His father noticed that Wolferl could remember quite a little of the music that Nannerl was practising.


And here is a picture of Wolferl trying to reach the keys so as to play the melody of his sister's lesson.



THE INFANT MOZART AT THE PIANO.




When Wolferl was four years old he began to take lessons. While he practised no one ever spoke to him because he was so serious about it. If other children came to play with Nannerl he would make music for their games and marching; playing in strict time all the while.





Here is Nannerl's picture when she grew up to be a young lady.



MOZART'S SISTER.




Father Mozart loved both of his children deeply and often played with them. The violin was the instrument he liked best and little Mozart had daily lessons in his home. Here we see him playing while his sister sings.



A MOZART FAMILY TRIO.




In this picture we see Papa Mozart, who was a very fine player on the violin. Wolferl and Nannerl are playing the piano.



MOZART PLAYING WITH HIS FATHER AND SISTER.