Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 250, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1917 — A Mozart Story. [ARTICLE]

A Mozart Story.

In the Sistine chapel In Rome the choir was chanting the famous “Miserere,” by Allegri, the copying of which was forbidden by the church under pain of excommunication. In a corner of the chapel a boy of fourteen listened with trained ear, greedily devouring a jealously guarded piece repeated twice. In his room the tone pictures transmitted to Mozart’s brain were recalled accurately and transcribed upon paper. The next day he sang the “Miserere” at a concert, accompanying himself on a harpsichord. ’All Rome, including the pope, was astounded. His holiness sent for him and instead of excommunicating him, heaped honors on Mozart, so extraordinary was the feat regarded.