Mozart And Freemasonry
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For the last seven years of his life
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...
was a Mason. The Masonic order played an important role in his life and work.


Mozart's lodges

Mozart was admitted as an apprentice to the Viennese
Masonic lodge A Masonic lodge (also called Freemasons' lodge, or private lodge or constituent lodge) is the basic organisational unit of Freemasonry. It is also a commonly used term for a building where Freemasons meet and hold their meetings. Every new l ...
called "Zur Wohltätigkeit" ("Beneficence") on 14 December 1784.Solomon 1995, 321 He was promoted to Fellow on 7 January 1785, and became a Master Mason "shortly thereafter". Mozart also attended the meetings of another lodge, called ("True Concord"). According to
Otto Erich Deutsch Otto Erich Deutsch (5 September 1883 – 23 November 1967) was an Austrian musicologist. He is known for compiling the first comprehensive catalogue of Franz Schubert's compositions, first published in 1951 in English, with a revised edition pu ...
, this lodge was "the largest and most aristocratic in Vienna. ... Mozart, as the best of the musical 'Brothers,' was welcome in all the lodges." It was headed by the naturalist
Ignaz von Born Ignaz Edler von Born, also known as Ignatius von Born (, , ) (26 December 1742 in Alba Iulia, Grand Principality of Transylvania, Habsburg monarchy – 24 July 1791 in Vienna), was a mineralogist and metallurgist. He was a prominent freemason ...
. Mozart's own lodge "Zur Wohltätigkeit" was consolidated with two others in December 1785, under the Imperial reform of Masonry (the ''Freimaurerpatent'', "Masonic Decree") of 11 December 1785, and thus Mozart came to belong to the lodge called "Zur neugekrönten Hoffnung" (New Crowned Hope). Based on surviving Masonic documents, Mozart was well regarded by his fellow Masons. Many of his friends were Masons. During his visit to Vienna in 1785, Mozart's father Leopold also became a Mason.


Masonic ideology and Masonic music

Mozart's position within the Masonic movement, according to Maynard Solomon, lay with the rationalist, Enlightenment-inspired membership, as opposed to those members oriented toward
mysticism Mysticism is popularly known as becoming one with God or the Absolute (philosophy), Absolute, but may refer to any kind of Religious ecstasy, ecstasy or altered state of consciousness which is given a religious or Spirituality, spiritual meani ...
and the
occult The occult () is a category of esoteric or supernatural beliefs and practices which generally fall outside the scope of organized religion and science, encompassing phenomena involving a 'hidden' or 'secret' agency, such as magic and mysti ...
. This rationalist faction is identified by Katharine Thomson as the Illuminati, a masonically inspired group which was founded by Bavarian professor of canon law
Adam Weishaupt Johann Adam Weishaupt (; 6 February 1748 – 18 November 1830)''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'Vol. 41, p. 539van Dülmen, Richard. ''Der Geheimbund der Illuminaten''. Stuttgart: Frommann-Holzboog, 1975.Stauffer, Vernon. '' ew Englandand the B ...
, who was also a friend of Mozart. The Illuminati and rationalist Masons espoused the Enlightenment-inspired, humanist views proposed by the French philosophers
Jean-Jacques Rousseau Jean-Jacques Rousseau (, ; ; 28 June 1712 – 2 July 1778) was a Republic of Geneva, Genevan philosopher (''philosophes, philosophe''), writer, and composer. His political philosophy influenced the progress of the Age of Enlightenment through ...
and
Denis Diderot Denis Diderot (; ; 5 October 171331 July 1784) was a French philosopher, art critic, and writer, best known for serving as co-founder, chief editor, and contributor to the along with Jean le Rond d'Alembert. He was a prominent figure during th ...
. For example, they contended that social rank was not coincident with nobility of the spirit, but that people of lowly class could be noble in spirit just as nobly born could be mean-spirited. This view appears in Mozart's operas; for example, in ''
The Marriage of Figaro ''The Marriage of Figaro'' (, ), K. 492, is a ''commedia per musica'' (opera buffa) in four acts composed in 1786 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with an Italian libretto written by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It premiered at the Burgtheater in Vienn ...
'', an opera based on a play by
Pierre Beaumarchais Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (; 24 January 1732 – 18 May 1799) was a French playwright and diplomat during the Age of Enlightenment. Best known for his three #Figaro plays, Figaro plays, at various times in his life he was also a watc ...
(another Freemason), the low-born Figaro is the hero and the Count Almaviva is the boor. The Freemasons used music in their ceremonies (see ''
Masonic music Masonic music has been defined as "music used in connection with the ritual and social functions of freemasonry." Two major types of music used in masonic lodges are lodge songs, played to keyboard accompaniment before or after meetings, or during ...
''), and adopted Rousseau's humanist views on the meaning of music. "The purpose of music in the asonicceremonies is to spread good thoughts and unity among the members" so that they may be "united in the idea of innocence and joy", wrote in a contemporary edition of Masonic songs. Music should "inculcate feelings of humanity, wisdom and patience, virtue and honesty, loyalty to friends, and finally an understanding of freedom". These views suggest a musical style quite unlike the style of the
Galant The galant style was an 18th-century movement in music, visual arts and literature. In Germany a closely related style was called the '' empfindsamer Stil'' (sensitive style). Another close relative is rococo style. The galant style was drawn in ...
, which was dominant at the time. Galant style music was typically melodic with harmonic accompaniment, rather than
polyphonic Polyphony ( ) is a type of musical texture consisting of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody, as opposed to a musical texture with just one voice ( monophony) or a texture with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords ...
; and the melodic line was often richly ornamented with trills, runs and other virtuosic effects. The style promoted by the Masonic view was much less virtuosic and unornamented. Mozart's style of composition is often referred to as "humanist" and is in accord with this Masonic view of music. The music of the Freemasons contained musical phrases and forms that held specific
semiotic Semiotics ( ) is the systematic study of semiosis, sign processes and the communication of Meaning (semiotics), meaning. In semiotics, a Sign (semiotics), sign is defined as anything that communicates intentional and unintentional meaning or feel ...
meanings. For example, the Masonic initiation ceremony began with the candidate knocking three times at the door to ask admittance. This is expressed musically as a dotted figure: This figure appears in Mozart's opera ''
The Magic Flute ''The Magic Flute'' (, ), K. 620, is an opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. It is a ''Singspiel'', a popular form that included both singing and spoken dialogue. The work premiered on ...
'' in the overture, suggesting the opening of the Masonic Master Mason's degree.Thomson (1977) p. 42 According to Katherine Thomson, there are many other examples of specific musical symbols taken from the Masonic rites that appear throughout Mozart's compositions. These include the use of suspensions to indicate friendship and brotherhood, the use of three-part harmony to emphasize the special significance of the number three in Freemasonry, and special rhythms and harmonies to signify fortitude and other attributes. Notwithstanding these manifestations of Freemasonry in Mozart's music and activities, some scholars question Mozart's personal commitment to Masonic ideology. Peter Paul Fuchs notes that Mozart was a devout Catholic, a religion that threatened Freemasons with excommunication. "Mozart was pulled in various directions stylistically and probably personally. There is little evidence that he found these tensions troubling... " he writes. However, in his book ''Mozart and the Enlightenment'' Nicholas Till demonstrates that Mozart's original lodge "Zur Wohltätigkeit" (At Beneficence) was a reform-Catholic lodge following the tenets of the Italian liberal theologian Ludovico Muratori and was committed in particular to the Catholic ideal of charity. And musicologist David J. Buch notes that many of Mozart's musical devices identified with Masonry have precedents in non-Masonic music as well. For example, the three notes, which originate from the French genre of "le merveilleux", already appear in the musical theater of the early 18th century. The three chords in the overture can be found in many other 18th-century stage works, such as Traetta's ''Armida'' and Gazzaniga's ''La Circe'', operas that have no connection with Freemasonry.


List of Mozart's Masonic compositions

The following is a list of surviving works that Mozart composed for performance at gatherings of Masons. *Song for tenor and piano, "Auf die feierliche Johannisloge: 'O heiliges Band der Freundschaft treuer Brüder (O sacred bond of friendship between true brothers), K 148/125h, (1772) *Cantata for two tenors, male chorus, and orchestra, ''Dir, Seele des Weltalls'', K. 429/468a (fragment, completed by M. Stadler) (1783) *Song for tenor and piano, "Lied zur Gesellenreise: Die ihr einem neuen Grade", K. 468, "for use at installation of new journeymen" (1785) *Cantata for tenor, male chorus, and orchestra, ''Die Maurerfreude'' (The Mason's Joy) K. 471 (1785) *'' Maurerische Trauermusik'' (Masonic Funeral Music), K. 477/479a (1785), for orchestra, composed for an actual Masonic funeral *Two songs for tenor, male chorus, and organ used for the opening and closing ceremonies of the lodge in Austria "Zur neugekrönten Hoffnung": **"Zur Eröffnung der Freimaurerloge: 'Zerfließet heut', geliebte Brüder, K. 483 (1786) **"Zum Schluß der Freimaurerloge: 'Ihr unsre neuen Leiter, K. 484 (1786) *Little German Cantata (''Kleine Deutsche Kantate'') entitled ''Die ihr des unermeßlichen Weltalls Schöpfer ehrt'', for tenor and piano, for use at meetings of the "Colony of the Friends of Nature", K. 619 (1791) * ''Laut verkünde unsre Freude'' (Little Masonic Cantata), for two tenors, bass, male chorus, and orchestra, K. 623 (1791) *Song for male chorus and orchestra, "Laßt uns mit geschlungen Händen", K. 623a, ("for the close of the lodge" and intended final chorus to K. 623) (1791; attribution uncertain) The story and music of his opera ''
The Magic Flute ''The Magic Flute'' (, ), K. 620, is an opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. It is a ''Singspiel'', a popular form that included both singing and spoken dialogue. The work premiered on ...
'' is also considered to have strong Masonic influences.


List of fellow Masons

The following is a partial list of family members, patrons, and colleagues who were Masons. *
Joseph Haydn Franz Joseph Haydn ( ; ; 31 March 173231 May 1809) was an Austrian composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. He was instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the string quartet and piano trio. His contributions ...
– friend and colleague (attended only one meeting) * Joseph Lange – brother-in-law of Mozart's wife * Prince Lichnowsky – friend and patron *
Leopold Mozart Johann Georg Leopold Mozart (November 14, 1719 – May 28, 1787) was a German composer, violinist, and music theorist. He is best known today as the father and teacher of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and for his violin textbook ''Versuch einer grün ...
– father * Michael von Puchberg – friend and lender of money *
Gottfried van Swieten Gottfried Freiherr van Swieten (29 October 1733 – 29 March 1803) was a Dutch-born Austrian diplomat, librarian, and government official who served the Holy Roman Empire during the 18th century. He was an enthusiastic amateur musician and is be ...
– patron * Angelo Soliman – Royal Servant and Masonic Leader * Anton Stadler – friend and colleague (clarinetist) * Otto Heinrich von Gemmingen-Hornberg – friend, brother and founder of Wohltätigkeit (Charity) Lodge * Emanuel Schikaneder – Librettist of ''
The Magic Flute ''The Magic Flute'' (, ), K. 620, is an opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. It is a ''Singspiel'', a popular form that included both singing and spoken dialogue. The work premiered on ...
'' Mozart's grandfather Johann Georg, a bookbinder, was raised among the extended Mozart family in Augsburg, in the house of Johann's own grandfather David Mozart. David and his children were distinguished architects and master ''operative'' (craft) masons of the Augsburg guild (as contrasted to ''speculative'' freemasons). But close affinities among operative and speculative existed in this period.


Notes and references

Notes References


Sources

* Braunbehrens, Volkmar (1990). ''Mozart in Vienna''. New York: Grove and Weidenfeld. * Deutsch, Otto Erich (1965). ''Mozart: A Documentary Biography''. Stanford: Stanford University Press. * * Solomon, Maynard (1995). ''Mozart: A Life''. HarperCollins. *Thomson, Katherine (1977). ''The Masonic Thread in Mozart''. London: Lawrence and Wishart. . *Till, Nicholas (1992). ''Mozart and the Enlightenment'', London: Faber


External links


"Mozart’s masonic music"
Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon official website {{Mozart masses
Freemasonry Freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry) consists of fraternal groups that trace their origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternity in the world and among the oldest still-existing organizati ...
Freemasonry *