ALTHOUGH the first two programmes this season have concentrated on more modern composers, Peter Curbishley took us back, this week, to the 18th century with an erudite presentation cryptically named Mozart and his Paper.
It was based largely on the work of the late Alan Tyson. Although Mozart's music is so well known there remain mysteries concerning his compositions.
We learned that at the time Mozart was composing, paper was so expensive that musicians were often unable to acquire more than limited supplies.
Samples varied and it is from the watermark of the paper that we know where an individual piece was written. This often provided insights into Mozart's compositional process and showed that some compositions took time, often several years, before reaching fruition. The Hunt Quartet, for example, may have taken four years. Other mysteries were then exposed. The Horn Concerto in D presents an enigma: did Mozart write the rondo or not? Although the greater part of the manuscript was found in Krakow, the rondo turned up later in St Petersburg, but in a different handwriting.
The next programme is on November 3, when Anthony Powell will introduce us to The Births of Genius, with music by Strauss, Elgar, Debussy and others. New members are welcome. Further details at salisburyrms.org.
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