The So-Called Mozart Gene

RE: Two Centuries of Musical Genius, Daily Telegraph Letters, 24.4.06

Sir,
Whilst I concur with M Jones in his appreciation and assessment of the composers he mentions, these are from the Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods. How much time has he given to the music of the Renaissance, or the American Song Book, in which both, there resides genius.

Musical genius is a developing ability in the collective human mind, and as such is extant. It exists today, as it did in the time of Pergolesi. A closer study of his 'Stabat Mater' may provide the requisite stimuli. During the 20th century genre, one has only to delve into the songs of Richard Rodgers, Vladimir Dukelski (Vernon Duke), and Michel Legrand, or venture into the works of Faure or Durufle, as well as contemporary and past composers writing for television and film to discover genius. Any Hitchcock film score should hit the spot.

I believe there is a large body of 20th century work archived in this country, much from the former Eastern Bloc, perhaps housing the so-called Mozart gene, which is awaiting research, study and performance. ( And much will have been lost during and since WW2.) This costs! Would the Heritage Lottery Fund support this type of work, or pay an arranger to adapt and publish the work of, say, the greatest film composers, for today's musician to enjoy at home? I suspect not. We were fortunate indeed that the theme from 'Schindler's List' made it to the easy-to-play piano shelves. Are there versions for other instuments?

Patronage was at it's apogee throughout Europe, during the era M.Jones mentions; excellence was sought out, nurtured and encouraged, and valued in it's own time. Therefore the outpourings of the composers mentioned were relatively safe. In these days of mediocrity in all things and equality for all, real patronage, such as it exists now, is spread thin. Changes in society, and the social order, coupled with stifling by the state, do not foster the ideal conditions for genius to flower, nor for the lay-person to recognise it. It does exist and there is music of today, which can demonstrate this. But it is not valued, and is hidden behind the dense layer of commercial and IT artifice, which plagues our society and classrooms.

Sadly, there is no doubt that there will also be an individual or two in today's society whose musical genius has been trampled on by the hordes of average and below, encouraged by successive governments to swamp the higher education system from top to bottom. Genius goes underground but it is still with us. After all, genes adapt and evolve. The so-called individual Mozart gene (and incidentally, manifested in not only the field of music,), whilst one of the rarest, and the collective form even rarer, still exists, and it's latest mutation will be in our very midst without our collective awareness. We must wait for the next great age of patronage to come around to bring it once more into flower. Or perhaps it has already flowered in the dark. When it is discovered it may oust Mozart from his throne. An exciting prospect indeed!

24.4.06
(unpublished)