: Mozart wrote only the first eight measures of the Lacrimosa before his death.
: Analyzes arrangements since the 1940s, specifically highlighting the diverse interpretations by scholars like Franz Xaver and Clemens Kemme . mozarts_lacrimosa
: Reports suggest Mozart wept while attempting to sing the alto part of the Lacrimosa on his deathbed, just hours before passing away. : Mozart wrote only the first eight measures
: Utilizes traditional methods to evaluate the form, orchestration, and thematic content of various completions. : Utilizes traditional methods to evaluate the form,
: Explores the 1960 discovery of the "Amen" sketch by Wolfgang Plath , which suggested Mozart intended the Lacrimosa to end with a grand fugue rather than Süssmayr’s plagal cadence.
This paper is particularly valuable because it moves beyond the standard historical narrative of Franz Xaver Süssmayr completing the work. Instead, it examines how modern scholars and composers have attempted to "correct" or "re-imagine" the Lacrimosa based on Mozart’s original eight-bar manuscript and later-discovered sketches. Key Academic Focus Areas