W.A. Mozart, a child prodigy of the 18th century, composed over 600 works, including symphonies, operas, sonatas, and concertos, many of which remain essential to today’s classical repertoire.
Recently, researchers at the Leipzig Municipal Libraries uncovered a handwritten manuscript dating back to around 1780 while compiling a new edition of the Köchel catalog—a comprehensive list of Mozart’s works that has been in circulation for 160 years.
The manuscript features a string trio composed in C major for two violins and bass, consisting of seven miniature movements that total approximately 12 minutes. Now titled “Ganz kleine Nachtmusik,” the work has been cataloged in Köchel as KV 648.
Transcribed in dark brown ink on handmade paper, the manuscript is not in Mozart’s handwriting; however, it is believed to be a copy of his composition from the mid to late 1760s, credited to “Wolfgang Mozart.”
“Ganz kleine Nachtmusik” was recently performed at the unveiling of the new Köchel catalog in Salzburg and received its German premiere at the Leipzig Opera.
The Köchel catalog describes the piece as “preserved in a single source, where the attribution suggests it was composed before Mozart’s first trip to Italy.”
Ulrich Leisinger, head of research at the International Mozarteum Foundation and editor of the new Köchel, noted that Mozart’s father, Leopold, kept a record of his son’s chamber works.
Although all of these works have been lost, Leisinger stated, “It appears that, thanks to a series of fortunate circumstances, a complete string trio has survived in Leipzig.” He added, “Until now, we primarily knew the young Mozart as a composer of keyboard music, arias, and sinfonias.”
Leisinger also suggested that the manuscript was likely sourced from Mozart’s older sister, Maria Anna: “It is tempting to think she preserved the work as a keepsake of her brother. Perhaps he wrote the trio specifically for her name day.”
“Now we were fortunate that my professional responsibilities led me to Mozart,” he remarked. “We must exercise caution: many pieces are attributed to Mozart. Asserting that we are convinced this is a piece by the young Mozart requires considerable diligence.”
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