A notebook of Mozart's musical manuscripts containing compositions and lessons he gave to the Duchess de Guines has been discovered, thanks to the persistence of an employee at the National Library of France.
On 2 February, François-Pierre Goy, who has a passion for reading unknown musical manuscripts, chose the untitled notebook from among 20 others he decided to examine before his imminent retirement, according to the head of the music department at the National Library of France.
While leafing through the notebook, he was astonished to discover manuscripts in the hand of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791), whose authenticity was confirmed by experts.
The notebook contains around 12 "composition lessons" and daily exercises that the Austrian composer gave between May and July 1778 to Marie-Louise-Philippine de Bonnières de Guines, a harpist and daughter of the renowned flautist the Duke de Guines.
The notebook's 44 pages also contain 7 pieces for flute and harp, the last of which is incomplete. The pieces will be performed for the first time on Sunday, on the occasion of the Fête de la Musique, by musicians from the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France during a concert at the National Library.
The manuscripts will be displayed on that occasion before being transferred later to the National Library museum. The pieces will be broadcast on Monday on Radio France Musique at 3:00 p.m. (1300 GMT).