18th-Century Characters, Including Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 34

[cahn]

And including Emperor Joseph II!

from Derek Beales: Joseph II, Volume 2: Against the World, 1780 - 1790:

Joseph's alleged comment to Mozart about the Entführung, "Too many notes", has been taken as evidence of his ignorance. But he probably said something like, "Too beautiful for our ears, and monstrous many notes." It is always necessary to bear in mind, when appraising the emperor's remarks, his peculiar brand of humor or sarcasm. He was usually getting at someone. And he did not use the royal "we". The ears in question were those of the Viennese audience, whom he was mocking for their limited appreciation of Mozart's elaborate music.

(though not gonna lie, I think it is a LOT of notes)

Comments

Re: Birthday Boy and His Dogs - The Graves, plus Source Problems

[mildred_of_midgard]

Fritz couldn't be talking about Rothenburg on the 29th of December, when he says that "j'ai perdu Biche, et sa mort a renouvelé en moi la perte de tous mes amis, de celui surtout qui me l'avait donnée", because that's also the day Rothenburg supposedly died, which you'd think Fritz would mention if it had already happened.

You're right! I didn't catch that. Yeah, if Rothenburg died when everyone thinks he died, but Biche died a year *later*, then Biche's death could remind Fritz of Rothenburg. But the same day is weird!

Everyone else seems to be saying Rothenburg and 1744, but I have not yet found a good primary source either.

Interesting, I don't think I had a year, even an unreliable one. Let us research this further!