Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart – the Lviv (Lemberg) Mozart
Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart was the son of one of the most famous baroque classical music composers – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. But, for most of his life, Mozart son lived in Lviv Ukraine.
Most people associate Mozart music with music by Wolfgang Mozart. Interestingly, Franz Xaver often used the name Wolfgang Amadeus when performing at classical music concerts or publishing his classical music with music licensing companies of the day.
Although not considered a great among European composers, Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart left a legacy of baroque classical music.
Why is Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart Called The Other Mozart?
Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart sculpted by Volodymyr Tsisaryk
Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart (1791 – 1844) was born on July 26, 1791. At birth he was given the name Franz Xaver. His famous father, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791), died four months after his youngest son’s birth.
According to various sources, Franz Xaver’s mother, Constanze Weber Mozart (1762 – 1842), added the name Wolfgang to his name later, conceivably as a memory to her late husband. There does not appear to be any evidence that a legal name change was done. Certainly, during his lifetime, Franz Xaver was often referred to within musical circles as the other Mozart.
Growing up, the only memory the young Franz Xaver had of his father were the stories he was told by his mother, Constanze. According to various sources, his father's many professional acquaintances never ceased to impart on the young Franz Xaver information on his father's greatness.
During his performance tour of Europe in 1819 – 1821 Franz Xaver frequently used the name Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Son (Jr) – a marketing ploy par-excellence or an indication of a deep rooted inferiority complex. The experts differ on their interpretation.
Agnes Selby states the following: «Young Wolfgang never knew his real father, only a God-like figure whom at first he tried to emulate. The realization that he lacked his father's genius brought to an end his own aspirations and locked him into an existence of self-doubt and unfilfilled longing for a greatness he knew he could never achieve» (quoted from Mozart's Sons: The Legacy of a Genius by Agnes Selby).
On the other hand, Liubov Kyjanovska, professor at the Lviv Academy of Music, presents a somewhat different point of view claiming that Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart «was instrumental in the establishment of professional music centers» in the Lemberg (Lviv) city of the Hapsburg Empire. Accordingly, in time, Franz Xaver's expertise, contacts and influence resulted in the creation of the Galician Music Conservatory and later, the present-day Lviv Academy of Music.
Using his knowledge of music and personal, as well as, family connections in the music world, Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart was able to organize many musical events in and around the city of Lemberg, providing a solid foundation for the city's future cultural and musical development.
For the residents of Lviv Ukraine, Franz Xaver Mozart is not the other Mozart. Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart is The Mozart associated with Lviv Ukraine.
Can I Listen to Mozart – Franz Xaver Wolfgang – Works?
Cantata for Orchestra and Voice
A rarely performed but beautiful cantata piece for singers and orchestra by Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart is The First Day of Spring op.28 (Der erste Frühlingstag).
The Cantata was composed in 1827 for 2 sopranos, tenor, bass, choir (in German, not Italian) and string orchestra. At the time when he composed it, Franz Xaver was living in Lviv.
The First Day of Spring was dedicated to commemorate the visit to Lemberg of the Empress consort of Austria, Caroline Augusta of Bavaria (1792 – 1873). The work was published in piano accompaniment form in Vienna in March 1829 and an original publication (a new window will open) is currently housed at the Mozarterium in Vienna.
Listen to classical music and view a live performance of The First Day of Spring op.28 (Der erste Frühlingstag) by Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart.
The above is an excerpt of a performance on March 1, 2012 in Lviv Ukraine performed in its entirety at the Lviv Philharmonia by the Galician Academic Chamber Choir and the Lviv Virutosos Chamber Orchestra. The original string orchestra score was reworked by composer Viktor Kaminsky (b.1953). Conducted by Myron Yusypovych.
Where Did Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart Live for Most of His Life?
The First Day of Spring
For most of his life, Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart lived in and around the city of Lviv in Ukraine. Wolfgang Mozart Jr. spent 30 years of his life (1808 – 1838) in the vicinity of the City of Lemberg which is what Lviv was called during the rule of the Habsburg-Lorraine Monarchy (1780 – 1918).
During the Austrian Empire (1804 – 1867), Lviv (Lemberg) was the empire’s 5th largest city – after Vienna, Budapest, Prague and Trieste. Lemberg (Lviv) was the capital of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria (1772 – 1918), a crown land of the Empire.
At the time, most highly placed, administrative positions within the Kingdom were appointed by the Habsburg Monarchy. As a rule, they were speakers of German. Hence, it was relatively easy for the young Mozart, who spoke German, to move from Vienna to Lemberg and begin his professional carreer.
On October 22, 1808, the 17 year old Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart moved to the village of Pidkamin (Podkamien) situated about 65 km from Lviv. Here he became music teacher for the Count Baworowski family. Later, in September of 1811, Franz Xaver moved to the nearby village of Sarki to work for the Count von Janiszewski family. Finally, he decided to move to the city of Lemberg to become musical tutor for the Pogocki, Czartorinski and Sapheh children.
In 1813, Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart accepted a position with the family of the Chief Government Councillor (Hauptregierungsrat) Ludwig Cajetan von Baroni-Cavalcabò. He maintained an employer-employee, as well as a personal relationship with the family until the end of his life.
Some records appear to suggest that Franz Xaver Mozart also became the Kapellmeister for the Lemberg city theatre. Certainly, he was a competent vocal teacher, composer and organizor of many musical events in the city of Lviv.
During the Soviet period, when various aspects of Lviv history were discussed, the name of Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart was consistently suppressed. It was only quite recently, when Ukraine declared its independence that people began to talk about the youngest son of the genius, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Finally, facts that related to Franz Xaver Mozart, his living in Halychyna and his numerous activities in Lviv, appeared in the press…. Continue reading…. from a blog entry by Myron Yusypovych – March 19, 2013
Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart composed many pieces for the piano, some sonatas, quartets, a few pieces for voice, as well as choral music. By all accounts, he did not attempt opera music. The voice pices are called «songs» or «Lieder» in German. Most of his best works were composed during the period from 1808 to 1838, when Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart considered Lviv to be his home.
What Interesting Facts are there About Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Son
ranz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart was 4 months old when his famous father, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, passed away. Interestingly, it was shortly after the death of her husband that Constanze Weber Mozart began referrring to her youngest son as Franz Xaver Wolfgang. Officially, the child had been baptized as Franz Xaver.
At 4 months of age, Franz Xaver's father, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, passed away (December 5, 1791);
At 6 years of age, Mozart made his «musical debut» at a memorial concert dedicated to his father while singing the Papageno aria from The Magic Flute opera (November 15, 1797);
At 11 years of age, Wolfgang Amadeus Jr. composed a Rondo for piano and dedicated it to his mother Constanze (1802);
At 14 years of age, Franz Xaver played a self-composed Piano Cantata at a special concert in Vienna dedicated to Joseph Haydn (1732 – 1809) on his 73rd birthday (April 8, 1805);
At 17 years of age, Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart moved to Lemberg (Lviv), the capital of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria to become a tutor of music (October 22, 1808).
Much has been made in the listerature of Constanze's attempts to recreate a musical prodigy in the young Franz Xaver. Certainly, the musical milestones of father and son deserve a comparison.
Age
Mozart Sr.
Mozart Jr.
4
composed his first sonata
6
gave piano performances
publically sang Papageno aria
11
composed piano Rondo
12
composed first opera
14
had his opera was staged
perfomed for Joseph Haydn
16
regularly toured the major capitals of Europe with sister and father
17
moved to Lemberg (Lviv) and began to teach music
From 1819 to 1821, Franz Xaver undertook a major European tour performing his, his father's and other composers' works. He performed in Copenhagen, Berlin, Dresden, Milan, Slazburg, Warsaw, Elbing (Elbląg), Danzig (Gdansk) and other cities where he had musical contacts. During the tour, he often referred to to himself as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Son (Jr).
What Musical Events did Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart Organize in Lviv?
Requiem by W.A.Mozart
In 1826 in Lviv, Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart organized a choir with the Saint Cecilia Association (Cäcilien-Verein). Saint Cecilia (Sancta Caecillia) is the patron saint of musicians. Beginning with the 16th century, musical associations, choirs and academies named in her honour were popular in Europe.
According to archives in Lviv, the first performance of the Cäcilien-Verein choir took place on December 2, 1826. A special guest star that evening was the virtuoso violinist Karol Jósef Lipiński (1790 – 1861) who had been principal violinist and conductor of the opera orchestra in Lemberg from 1809 to 1817.
3 days later on December 5, 1826 and the 35th anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's death, his son, Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart, conducted his father's Requiem at the St. George's Ukrainian Greek Catholic Cathedral in Lviv. The Cäcilien-Verein choir performed. A present-day plaque commemorates the event.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart left an extensive musical legacy that is appreciated world-wide. His son, Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart, destined to walk, play and compose in his father's shadow, left a small, but unique legacy developed during his life in the City of Lviv, Ukraine for all to enjoy.
