In the style of Mike Rowe’s “The Way I Heard It” and Paul Harvey’s “The Rest of the Story” this episode of the Piano Parent Podcast brings you a Musical Mystery; the lesser known story of someone or something you’ve likely heard about all your life.
Listen to the full episode here
I have long said that younger siblings have a huge advantage when they hear their older siblings practice piano. They hear songs before they try to read them or play them. They learn that you have to make a few mistakes before you can master a piece. Because of this, music and learning to play piano seems to come more naturally to little brothers and sisters. I think you will find that to be the case in today’s story about Chris’s Sister.
Double Feature
She was four and a half years old when Chris was born. Their father, a seasoned musician and performer; their mother, the stereotypical housewife of the 50’s, were delighted to have both a daughter and, now, a son, especially considering the death of five others of their children in infancy. Chris idolized his sister. She was patient and kind with him and he adored her. The two of them were inseparable to the point of creating their own imaginary kingdom where they reigned as king and queen.
When she began music lessons at the age of seven, it seemed only natural for Chris to want to play too. It didn’t matter that he was only three years old. He would toddle up to the keys and tinker with the sounds they made. To keep him amused and perhaps to motivate his daughter to keep playing, Chris’ father would place him on the bench and teach him some basic concepts. Chris took to that like wildfire and soon he and his big sister were making music together, playing duets of all sorts on all kinds of instruments.
When Chris’s father saw the exceptional talent of his children, he did what any proud father would do. He took to the road with his little prodigies and booked an extensive tour hitting all the major cities and having them perform for all the most important people.
Top Billing
If they were on tour today, no doubt Chris would receive top-billing. In fact, once the secret is revealed, you may be surprised to learn that Chris had a sister at all. But back in those days, it was Chris’ sister who received the most acclaim. One reviewer wrote, “Her playing is masterly”. Another described her as “one of the most skillful players in Europe.” Of Chris, it was said, “The poor little fellow plays marvelously.”
Hailed as the “Wonder Kids” Chris and his sister performed in all the major music centers of Europe; Munich,Germany, Paris, France, London, England. They wowed audiences of kings and queens with their masterful performances and a few surprises like playing blindfolded or with a towel covering their hands.
Along with cheers and accolades, the kids received lavish gifts. Their father received a healthy sum of money too. (Too bad touring among the aristocracy is an expensive endeavor). Chris’s sister and her little brother hobnobbed with royalty and famous musicians and learned to speak several different languages.
It was all a great adventure until Chris’ sister and her little brother did what most kids tend to do. They grew up. Growing up wasn’t a huge problem for Chris but it had a drastic impact on his sister.
Things are much, much different now
The story might be different if we were talking about Donny’s sister or Michael and Jermaine’s sister. Those ladies enjoyed great success performing with their brothers as well as making a name for themselves out on their own. Society in the 1980’s and 90’s delighted in female stars as much as their male counterparts.
Sadly, the same can’t be said of the 60’s and 70’s – that is, the 1760’s and 70’s – when Chris’s sister, Maria Anna was suddenly taken out of the limelight. On July 27, 1769, Maria Anna turned 18 – also known as “a marriageable age”. As such, it was no longer socially acceptable for her to be on tour, even with her father and brother. A female performing publicly and receiving pay for her work in those days was akin to a lady working in “the oldest profession” and could be scandalous for her reputation. As twisted as it sounds to our modern ears, Maria Anna, or Nannerl as her family called her, stopped her concert career and stayed home with her mother, for her own good.
She served a greater purpose
Though she wasn’t touring any longer, she still kept in touch with her father and her brother. The letters she wrote them are lost to us now. I don’t know if that is the result of unnecessary things getting lost in so much travel or simply the fact that men don’t tend to treasure these things like women do. For her part, Nannerl saved all the letters she received, upwards of 400 of them!
If she had still been on the road, what need would there have been for written correspondence? What would have been known of her brother after his death?
I believe it is Nannerl, Maria Anna, Chris’ sister, whom we have to thank that the life of the child baptized on January 27, 1756 as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart for short, has been preserved and remembered all these 264 years later.
Ultimately, the letters she saved served as excellent source material for Georg Nikolaus von Nissen in his pursuit of writing a definitive biography of Mozart. Incidentally, Georg was known as the “husband of Mozart’s widow” since he married Constanze years after Mozart’s death. You can see for yourself the next time you’re in Salzburg, if you can read German. It’s etched on Nissen’s tombstone.
So this next week, when you hear the accolades and celebrations of Mozart’s genius, enjoy them, they are well deserved; but be sure to remember and thank Chris’ sister, Maria Anna Mozart for her invaluable contribution to his memory.
Thanks for listening!
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