[19]Upon arriving at the Hague, Mozart’s sister was first taken ill, and then Mozart himself took a violent fever, which lasted several weeks. It was nearly two months before he could play in Holland.
[20]Johann Adolph Hasse, a distinguished dramatic composer, was born March 25, 1699. It was Hasse who said, after hearing Mozart’s “Ascanio in Alba,” written when he was thirteen years old, “This boy will throw us all into the shade.”
[21]Giovanni Battista Martini, usually called Padre Martini, was born at Bologna, April 15, 1706, and was one of the most learned musicians of his time. He left many compositions and some important works in musical literature.
[22]Carlo Broschi Farinelli, born at Naples, Jan. 24, 1705, was a famous soprano singer. He created a furore all over Europe, and received distinguished honors at many Courts.
[23]The Antiphonarium Romanum is a collection of the plain song melodies handed down in the Roman church by tradition, and compiled by Saint Gregory with many of his compositions added. For many centuries after his death it was regarded as the authority in church music. The chants adapted to the Psalms are the more important parts of plain song.
LIFE STORIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Translated from the German by
George P. Upton
Beethoven
Maid of Orleans
Mozart
William Tell
60 cents each