new
schools, its perennial freshness, grace, and beauty have made it
immortal.

The Requiem.

Mozart's "Requiem" was written in Vienna in 1791 and was left in an
unfinished state by the composer, who made suggestions and gave
instructions as to its completion even upon his death-bed; it was
literally his swan-song. No work by any composer has given rise to more
romantic stories or more bitter discussion. It was long the popular
belief that the "Requiem" was commissioned by a dark, mysterious
stranger, whose appearance impressed Mozart with the conviction that he
was a messenger of death; more than this, that he himself had been
poisoned, and that he was writing his own death-song, upon the order of
some supernatural power. There was some foundation for the belief, as the
commission was given in a very mysterious manner, and Mozart's health at
that time was so delicate that he had had several premonitions of death.
In his gloomy spirits he even said to his wife that he was writing his
own requiem. The actual circumstances attending the commission, though
they do not bear out the romantic versions of the story-tellers, are yet
of extraordinary interest.

The author of the commission was one Count von Walsegg, living in the
village of Stuppach, whose wife had died early in 1791. He was an amateur
musician of vast ambitions and small accomplishments, and had conceived
the idea of purchasing a requiem anonymously from Mozart and passing it
off as his own work. In pursuance of his scheme he despatched his
steward, named Leutgeb, a tall, solemn, mysterious looking person, with
an anonymous letter to Mozart, who at that time was in absolute poverty,
asking for the music and requesting him to name his own
price,--stipulating, however, that he should make no effort to discover
the identity of his patron. The unsuspicious Mozart accepted the
proposition, after consulting with his wife. He was about to begin work
upon it at once, when he received a commission to write the opera of
"Clemenza de Tito," in honor of the Emperor Leopold's coronation. This
occupied him several weeks, and when it was completed he decided upon a
visit to Baden. At the moment he was about to get into the carriage, the
mysterious stranger again appeared and inquired about the progress of the
"Requiem." Mozart excused himself, and replied that as soon as he
returned he would begin the work; and the stranger went away