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Saddened by the obvious disability, Wolfgang Mozart spread his hands wide, and waved his visitor to a seat opposite his, and speaking haltingly in French, asked his visitor how he might help.


Another paper was brought out for his perusal, and the words written thereon gladdened the composers' heart! "I wish to commission you to write a Concerto for full orchestra, flute and harp. I wish you to compose, annotate in your usual fashion, and assign instruments and sections. I would request that you also sign each and every page, Monsieur Mozart, so that true genius is recognised, no matter when the music is read!" Mozarts face broke into a wide smile, for he was as prone to flattery as the next, especially when his music was mentioned. Calling to the landlord, he asked his visitor, "You wish a glass of wine, Sir?"


A nod, and a smile were his answer, and he swiftly had a bottle and a second glass brought to the table. His visitor next produced a third paper, upon which was written further words which brought even more sunshine to the day, for the words written were very simple, "I am prepared to pay you fifty marks now, and a further seventy-five on completion of the work." As the proposed payment was more than Amadeus Mozart had received for many a month, and his debtors were always pressing and hounding him, he simply stuck out his hand, and shook upon the bargain. "When do you wish to hear my composition, Monsieur, I could have it played by the Staatsoper orchestra upon completion, and you would receive the applause due a benefactor of the music world?" but he was answered by a firmly shaken head, and another paper was thrust in front of him, but this time he was taken aback by its' contents. "My music shall not be performed for the moment, here in Vienna or any where else! I wish you to destroy all references to my commission upon its' completion, it should never be mentioned to any other person that you have completed such a work, and I wish you to hand to me, upon the completion, all notes, rough sketches and copies of the Concerto. I would, however, stress that your work shall be known and performed, with all publicity, when I alone desire. My one desire is for anonymity, and I hope that you can respect this, for that is the only way I can allow you to proceed!" Wolfgang had been born two hundred years prior to the coining of the phrase, 'the customer is always right' but knew instinctively when a decision had to be made. "It is rather unusual, for what composer

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