A previously unknown string trio was discovered in Leipzig.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s catalogue of compositions just gained a surprising new addition. Researchers at the Leipzig Municipal Libraries have unearthed a previously unknown work written during his teenage years. The piece, a 12-minute string trio titled Ganz kleine Nachtmusik (A Little Night Music), consists of seven miniature movements in C major, composed for two violins and a bass.
Köchel Catalogue Update Brings New Discovery
The discovery was made while researchers compiled a new edition of the Köchel catalogue, the comprehensive index of Mozart’s works that has been in circulation for over 160 years. Though not penned in Mozart’s hand, experts believe the transcription — written in dark brown ink on handmade paper — dates back to around 1780. The manuscript is thought to have been preserved by Mozart’s sister as a personal keepsake.
A Glimpse into Mozart’s Early Genius
What makes this find especially significant is the glimpse it provides into Mozart’s early experiments with chamber music. Until now, the young composer was chiefly recognized for his keyboard works, operas, and symphonies. Ganz kleine Nachtmusik was likely written in the mid-to-late 1760s, around the time Mozart completed his first symphony at age eight and before his first trip to Italy. This new piece showcases the prodigy’s early genius beyond the more familiar arias and symphonies.
Reviving a Long-Lost Masterpiece
Ulrich Leisinger, head of research at the International Mozarteum Foundation, speculates that the trio may have been a composition written for his sister, possibly for her name day.
Ganz kleine Nachtmusik will be performed for the first time in centuries at the Leipzig Opera next week.
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