Monday 26 January 2015

On the 259th Anniversary of the
Birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart


Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
was born on the 27th of January in 1756.
Today marks the 258th anniversary of his birth.
The following are my thoughts and images
from a visit in 2009 to his memorial
at St. Marx cemetery.

A wreath of roses and spring flowers
had been laid at the foot
of the grave stone marker,
and a white candle was burning nearby.

It has been snowing in Vienna, all week.
I imagined little Wolferl
being born on a day like this:
A heavy snow storm in the early morning hours,
with the clouds parting at noon,
allowing for a few minutes of sunshine
to caress the face of the newborn genius.

A bouquet of pale yellow roses
had been left by another Mozart loving soul.
They were frozen stiff,
as if to enshrine their beauty forever.
It warmed my heart thinking that someone
had come out all the way,
walked up the long hill,
maybe in a snow storm as I did,
to offer this token of love.

Another friend
had brought a single rose,

gently posing it
on the angel's pedestal.

A red rose kissed
by the winter morning's sun.

An angel,
keeping watch,
pensively,
cloaked in sunlight.

258 years,
so many years full of music, his music,
source of untold delights and
unimaginable moments of sheer joy.

Somewhere in these hallowed grounds,
Wolfgang Amadeus was laid to rest,
yet his music is with us, to this day.
Music of the spheres
brought down to earth,
not by celestial bodies,
but by a human genius.

The wreath,
a gift by Pension Mozart.
Photographed on 27 January 2009
at Vienna's St. Marx Cemetery
First published in 2009

Images and Text © by Merisi

22 comments:

  1. Merisi, I love seeing this very special post tonight every bit as much as I did when your first posted it.

    Again, let us toast going for a walk on a winter's day.

    xo

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Frances!
      It so happens that one of my children also has birthday today (due date was the 25th, but I willed her to wait a little longer ;-) )

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    2. Wishing a very Happy Birthday to that lucky child of yours, Merisi. xo

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  2. I find it poignant that he's remembered so well on his birthday, but not surprising. His music is his legacy, and it's as strong today as it was when he was alive. People will still be listening to his work in another two centuries.

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    Replies
    1. So true, Mozart is truly immortal. His music will live on as look as mankind will.

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  3. 259 years later, and still flowers at the memorial. That's something!

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  4. I went there yesterday, at sunset, because I may not make it today.
    It has been snowing throughout the night, snowflakes are still swirling from the sky.

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  5. He was one of the best musicians in the world.

    Tomás.

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    Replies
    1. No doubt about it, and to think how many moments of beauty so many people have experienced ever since!

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  6. I've got "eine kleine nachtmusic" ringing in my ears after walking through this post

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    1. Happened to my last night, as I was there at sunset, Gerald! ;-)

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  7. I have been to Vienna a couple of times, but I have never visited this graveside before. So thanks for the images.

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    Replies
    1. Mersad,
      towards the end of April is a wonderful time to visit St. Marx, when the lilacs that line the paths are in bloom. It is magical all through the year, a place that speaks of peace.

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  8. Always magical, your picture posts, and timing.
    Listening right now to the C Minor Waisenhaus mass

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, K! :-)
      I returned there yesterday, at sunset, and today, at lunchtime.
      We'll see if I manage to post some.
      LG,
      M.

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  9. It is wonderful that after so many years, someone takes the time and money to lay beautiful flowers at his grave. He lives on and always will as long as there are music lovers.

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  10. A BEAUTIFUL POST.........and those FLOWERS...........wow........AMAZED that the candle still flickers in that weather!

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  11. Beautiful! Happy Birthday Wolfy!

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  12. Very beautiful I am sure he would be thrilled to be remembered at his 259th birthday We should all be so lucky!!

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  13. Have visited his home but not his grave. Stunning pictures.

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