My father, Leopold[i], enjoyed a solid reputation as a music teacher. He was widely respected for his best-selling violin manual, Versuch einer gründlichen Violinschule[ii], a work that brought him recognition beyond Salzburg and convinced him that his expertise qualified him to shape music itself – beginning with his own son. He became my first instructor and my most exacting critic. Encouragement was present, though it often arrived disguised as correction.
Thanks to his devotion, our home was filled with instruments. Violins were everywhere. A harpsichord occupied a place of honor. There was even an organ, improbably large and comically oversized for the size of our living room, as though we were prepared at any moment to host a small cathedral service.
The person that captivated me most was my sister, Nannerl5. She was four years older and already played the keyboard with remarkable precision. To my young ears, her music sounded effortless, almost enchanted. I admired her deeply. Whether this admiration was fully returned is another matter. After all, few people welcome a baby genius arriving uninvited to share the spotlight. Still, it was inevitable that we would become inseparable. We were already a duo long before I learned how to tie my shoes.
[i] Johann Georg Leopold Mozart was a German composer, violinist, and music theorist. He was born in Augsburg on 14 November 1719 and died on 28 May 1787 (aged 67) in Salzburg.
[ii] Versuch Einer Gründlichen Violinschule (engl. How to Play Violin Like a Proper Gentleman) by Leopold Mozart was standard literature in German music education. 5 Maria Anna Walburga Ignatia “Marianne” Mozart (30 July 1751 – 29 October 1829), nicknamed Nannerl, was a highly regarded musician from Salzburg, Austria. At age 17, her career as a touring musician came to an end, though she continued to work at home teaching piano and performing on occasion.