Reverse Obfuscation - Mozart's Reference, circa 1800's

To: The Director of Musical Studies,
Salzburg Academy of Music,
Austria

You have requested I provide you with a reference and potential skills of one Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - an erstwhile student of this renowned establishment.

The regrettable delay in responding to your request is due - in part - to the difficulty I experienced in recalling the young person. He was, by no means, typical of so many of my former students - men who have since made their names and reputations in the military, political and commercial arenas. Mozart was rather puny!

Further research amongst some of my fellow teachers would appear to support this view. He was very precocious and rarely heeded the advice of the three music teachers assigned to him; preferring instead , to enjoin with another student (named, I believe, Franz List) in what I can only describe as experimental radical music of the most dubious nature. Something to do with subversive Polish movements. I do admit that his keyboard application and industry appeared to be positive, but would point out that his conceptual interpretation was not of our tradition.
Mozart was a dreamer, constantly nodding-off during arithmetic lessons and he showed very little enthusiasm for field sports.
I must reluctantly reveal that, on more than one occasion, Mr. Mozart was found guilty of desecrating his nature workbook by writing bizarre musical scores on the reverse side. Naturally, these so-called ‘preludes’ were destroyed.
As a tuner of the pianoforte, Mr. Mozart may have a limited opportunity to excel, however I would prefer to suggest the name of Bartholemy Snudt as a more accomplished musician.
I have the honor, sir, to remain your most obedient servant,

Auguste Sans-Sense,
Directeur des Ressources Humaines,
L’Ecole de Musique Militaire,
Paris, France

PS: By a strange coincidence, Mon. Snudt happens to be related to my wife’s cousin and he has been delighting Paris society all over the left bank. I am convinced that his musical talent will endure long after the name of Mozart has been forgotten.

---

Home Page	Concepts	Key Information	Developed Information	Putting The Pieces Together

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page

© 1996 xukor@mindspring.com