Confutatis and Lacrimosa by Mozart

What does it look like when a genius is at work? For Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, there are endless voices and notes in his head that are waiting to be spilled out onto paper. This scene from Amadeus is the climactic element in the movie where he lies on his death bed dictating his musical ideas to his “archenemy” Antonio Salieri in order to complete his next big masterpiece, the Requiem Mass in D Minor. This widely-known war between Salieri and Mozart (and ultimately Salieri killing Mozart), is, of course, a myth. But, it makes for a dramatic movie plot. Ironically, requiems are associated with death and mourning, typically using the proper of mass as their text. The timing was uncanny; Mozart was writing funeral music for someone else while he was withering away himself. Unfortunately, the Requiem was never finished,  but another possible but highly mythical theory is that one of his students was at his bedside notating the master’s ideas as Salieri did here.

There are many creative people around me. It’s a blessing and a curse. I easily become inspired by their vivid imagination and colorful ideas that come so naturally for them. I am also reminded that I do not possess a wild inventiveness like that of my peers. Therefore, I love to see artists at work. I love watching athletes compete. Before all that ingenuity settled in Mozart’s mind, there were over twenty years of rigorous training to get to this particular moment where during his final days, he left a legacy with notes that were trapped in his head. What are you willing to do for years, faithfully living a mundane yet disciplined life in order to achieve greatness? It’s much easier to give up and think that something better is out there. While that may be true, you will not know until you achieve your first dream, which is the one you’re holding onto today.

For a polished performance of Confutatis and Lacrimosa, click here.