W.-A. Mozart: Sa Vie Musicale et Son Œuvre, Volume 1

What it is

This is the first volume of a French scholarly biography of Mozart, written by Teodor de Wyzewa with Georges de Saint-Foix, published in 1912. It covers Mozart's life from childhood to full maturity and includes a chronological catalogue of his compositions.

Why it matters

Written over a century after Mozart's death, this book is part of a tradition of detailed musicological study of his life and works. It shows how scholars pieced together Mozart's biography from letters, documents and musical scores, and reflects the ongoing fascination with his childhood as a touring prodigy alongside his father Leopold and sister Marianne.

Look closer

• Why might a biography written more than a century after Mozart's death still be useful to historians?
• What kinds of evidence would the authors have needed to create a catalogue of his works?
• How might a French biography differ from one written in German or English?