HOME | BIOGRAPHY | COMPOSITIONS | SELECTED ESSAYS | BIBLIOGRAPHY | RELATED SITES

Mozart's Thematic Catalogue: A Facsimile

In early 1784, Mozart apparently decided to become more organized. He began to keep track of his finances, and he began to keep a list of his new compositions. The finances were turned over to Constanze and eventually abandoned altogether. But Mozart, perhaps aware of the importance of his work, meticulously maintained his "thematic catalog" for the rest of his life.

On the cover he wrote: "Verzeichnüss aller meiner Werke vom Monath febrario 1784 bis Monath __________ 1___. Wolfgang Amadé Mozart." ["Catalog of all my works from the month of February 1784 until the month of __________ 1___."] The first entry, for the Concerto in E flat for Piano (K. 449), was made on Feb. 9, 1784. The final one, for the Masonic Cantata, "Laut verkünde unsre Freude" (K. 623), was made on Nov. 15, 1791, three weeks before his death.

Mozart's Thematic Catalogue: A Facsimile is the first complete facsimile of the composer's notebook. It is divided into four parts: a brief history of the catalog by Albi Rosenthal, a description of the manuscript by Alan Tyson (whose research into watermarks and paper types has cleared up many questions concerning Mozart's autograph scores), a transcription of the entries (by Tyson) and the facsimile itself.

Of the four, the most fascinating (of course) is the facsimile. Here, beautifully reproduced, are Mozart's own notes on his works along with his hastily sketched incipits (notations of the opening themes). Many entries are brief ("Ein Quartett. für 2 violin, viola e violoncello" for the Quartet in B flat for Strings, "Prussian," K. 589). Others include more details, such as the names of singers who appeared in the premiere performances of his operas.

The entries continue, five per page for 30 pages, before coming to an abrupt end. Several more pages follow, blank except for the neatly ruled staves for the incipits -- mute testimony to the tragedy of Mozart's death.

A brief paragraph introducing the transcription summarizes the importance of this unique document. "The work of interpretation will continue," it concludes, "but the Catalogue remains an unparalleled record of the working life of one of the greatest composers of all time and a vital source for an understanding of his development." Exactly so -- and the publisher deserves much credit for making it available to the general reader.