Mozart's Requiem: Historical and Analytical Studies, Documents, Score [Hardcover]

Christoph Wolff (Author), Mary Whittal (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 11, 1994

Mozart's unfinished Requiem has long been shrouded in mystery. Mozart undertook the commission for an Austrian nobleman, little knowing that he was to write a requiem for himself. Inevitably, the secrecy surrounding the anonymous commission, the circumstances of Mozart's death, the unfinished state of the work, and its completion under the direction of Mozart's widow, Constanze, have precipitated two centuries of romantic speculation and scholarly controversy.
Christoph Wolff provides a critical introduction to the Requiem in its many facets. Part I of his study focuses on the tangled genesis and completion of the work and its fascinating early reception history until Constanze's death. Wolff summarizes the current state of research on the subject, provides new perspectives on Mozart's conception of the whole work, and surveys his contributions to the movements composed posthumously by his assistant, Süssmayr. Part II provides a musical analysis of Mozart's composition, including contextual, structural, and interpretive aspects. Part III consists of an annotated collection of the principal literary documents (1791-1839) that illuminate the fascinating early history of the Requiem.
The book concludes with a complete edition of the work that is at the center of Wolff's study, the authentic score of the Requiem--Mozart's fragment--supplemented by crucial excerpts from Süssmayr's 1792 Requiem completion.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

From the Inside Flap

"'When was the score of the Requiem completed?' is a question that everyone has asked; . . .but Wolff goes on to ask: 'Where do the technical and stylistic premises for the Requiem lie, and to what extent could these be taken into account after Mozart's death?' This question is rich in implications, central to the uniqueness of the work, and virtually undiscussed in the Mozart literature."--Thomas Bauman, co-author of Mozart's Operas

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 190 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press; annotated edition edition (November 11, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520077091
• ISBN-13: 978-0520077096
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,744,090 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough and Complete, August 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Mozart's Requiem: Historical and Analytical Studies, Documents, Score (Paperback)

Nothing is left for one to imagine after this reading. The mystery and circumstances of Mozart's great work is described in incredible detail in this book. It is really not an attempt by the author to prove or disprove theory and speculation about the compostion, but rather, to offer the reader the combined evidence accumulated throughout the years. These facts are then substaniated by quoting the source documents from books and essays that were written about the Requiem after Mozart's death. The author also includes letters as written by the key players as the Requiem controversy unfolded. I also very much appreciate the pictures of the original Mozart score and the printed score made available at the end of the book.

I must say that I am not learned in music, and I often found the book to be of difficult reading when musical terminology is used--and it is used quite often. Besides discussing the controversy, the author attempts to define Mozart's purpose and eventual composition of each movement. While fascinating to say the least, the use of musical terms can be overwhelming at times.

In all, I found this to be an exceptional book and I recommend it to anyone who loves the work of Mozart and especially that of his "Requiem."

David Pecnik

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Myth buster, December 28, 2010

By 

Vincent J. Rufino "music doc." (New jersey USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mozart's Requiem: Historical and Analytical Studies, Documents, Score (Paperback)

This book, by renown Bach and Mozart scholar and Harvard professor, Christoph Wolff is a must have for musicologists who specialize in music of the 18th century. Wolff discusses the several attempts to complete the work after Mozart's death, and portrays Constanze Mozart as a competent musician and entrepreneur who is concerned with the welfare of her children and care for her husband's legacy. Detailed analysis of each movement with the scholarly care one would expect from this august author.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mozart's Requiem, May 14, 2009

By 

Michael Bowen "Music Director" (Albuquerque, NM USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mozart's Requiem: Historical and Analytical Studies, Documents, Score (Paperback)

I found the Christoph Wolff book on Mozart's Requiem excellent. It is very thorough and informative. This book is a must have in the library of anyone wishing to perform the Mozart Requiem.