Introduction to the Course
Writing Like Mozart
0009-0003-4067-9222These videos are designed for those of you who would like to read Mozart’s old German manuscripts and write like Mozart.
Mozart, as far as we know, never attended school. How could he have? He spent much of his childhood traveling across Europe, performing.
Yet, he learned to read and write, most likely taught at home by his father, Leopold, and his elder sister, Nannerl.
Mozart was born in 1756 in Salzburg and died in Vienna in 1791. The script he learned and used throughout his life was the standard German cursive of the time: Kurrent.
The Kurrent script, which is quite different from the Latin script we use today, was banned by decree in Germany in 1941.
To write and read like Mozart, it is highly recommended to first master the writing and reading of this particular script.
Once you have learned its distinctive shapes and characteristics, you will find that deciphering not only Mozart’s letters and manuscripts but also earlier and later German scripts becomes significantly easier.
Additionally, mastering Kurrent will help you read old printed Gothic (Fraktur) typefaces, which were commonly used for books and documents in Mozart’s time.
This course is primarily intended for Mozart enthusiasts who wish to study his life and works directly from the original sources.
It is also suitable for those who want to deepen their knowledge of music history and read historical documents in their original form.
Perhaps this course will also be of interest to young people who, before or during their university studies, would like to learn to interpret Mozart’s handwriting—to understand exactly how he wrote, what his script looked like, and what made it unique compared to that of his contemporaries.
Is knowledge of German required?
No, fluency in German, either spoken or written, is NOT a prerequisite. However, please keep in mind that this course is not a German language tutorial.
What writing tools should you use?
If you would like to try writing in Kurrent, a fountain pen or a traditional dip pen with a nib is highly recommended.
🖊 Ballpoint pens are unsuitable and should be avoided.
🪶 Goose or bird feathers are not necessary—out of respect for animals—but in Mozart’s time, schoolbooks freely depicted and encouraged their use, as shown in this example from a contemporary textbook.
Let’s get started! 🎥
“This course is primarily intended for Mozart enthusiasts who wish to study his life and works directly from the original sources."
MozartrazoM
For more revelations on the Mozart family’s hidden history, read Mozart in Italy—a groundbreaking investigation into the myths and realities behind one of history’s most manipulated musical figures.
📖 Mozart in Italy: Available now!
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