MOZART AND THE PRACTICE OF SACRED MUSIC, 1781-91 a ...

several works for the German liturgy. 67 Variously listed as an organist, alto and violinist, he
certainly participated in performances as well. 68 Upon his arrival in Vienna in about 1788,
however, Süssmayr seems to have concentrated on secular music, writing a number of operas
and Singspiele in addition to symphonies, cantatas, minuets and chamber music. With the
exception of a number of insertion arias written for productions at the Burgtheater, none of
this music is known to have been performed. 69 Although the composer apparently enjoyed
the patronage of Ignaz, Graf Fuchs (1760-1838) and his brother Alois (c. 1766-1836), we
are largely in the dark as to Süssmayr’s activities and means of financial support in Vienna
until the summer of 1791. 70
Süssmayr appears to have supported himself in part by deputising at the Burgtheater.
In the week of 27 November to 3 December 1790, he was paid 26 fl “für geleistete extra
Dienste” at the theatre. 71 Although we know the operatic productions that week included
Guglielmi’s La pastorella nobile, Paisiello’s La molinara and Salieri’s Axur, it is not clear from
this entry what exactly Süssmayr’s services were. A year later, on 16 November 1791, the
Musikgraf Johann Wenzel Ugarte ordered, “den Teyber zur Aushilf des Weigl und
einstweilen den Siessmayer anzustellen.” 72 Weigl had been appointed Kapellmeister at the
67 For details see SmWV, 27-64 and the supplements at .
68 See Altman Kellner, Musikgeschichte des Stiftes Kremsmünster (Kassel: Bärenreiter, 1956), 499-506.
69 On the insertion arias, see the entries for SmWV 261, 275 and 285.
70 The autograph of the incomplete piano concerto SmWV 503 is headed “...dedicato al Sigr. Conte Sav. di
Fux.” while the autograph of the piano sonata SmWV 702 reads “...Composta e dedicata / al / Illustrissimo
Signore Luigi / Conte de Fux / dal suo umilissimo e divotissimo / Servidon / Francesco Saverio Siessmayr.” I
am grateful to Michael Lorenz for the identification. Ignaz was, among other things, master of the Herrschaft of
Schwanenstadt, the town in which Süssmayr was born; Friedrich Freiherr von Haan, “Auszüge aus den Sperr-
Relationen des N.-Ö. und K.k. N.Ö. Landrechts 1762-1852,” Jahrbuch der Gesellschaft Adler (1913): 1-2.
71 A-Wn, Theatersammlung, M 4000; Dexter Edge, “Mozart's Viennese Orchestras,” Early Music 20 (1992):
87 n40.
72 A-Whh, Kab. Kanzlei, Bd. 78e, No. 614. This entry was first cited in Gugitz, “Auszüge,” s.v. “Süssmayr,
Franz Xav., Musiker.” I am grateful to Michael Lorenz for transcribing it. In the same note, Ugarte ordered that
the trumpeter brothers Joseph and Karl Mayer and the timpanist Anton Eder should receive a supplemental
payment of 100fl; these payments are reflected in the annual account book.
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