Major Musical Find: 22-Year-Old Mozart's Notebook Recovered in Paris

In what experts are describing as a “major discovery,” a handwritten manuscript belonging to a young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has been identified within the archives of France’s National Library (BnF).

The artifact, which is approximately $248$ years old, dates back to a period when the composer was just 22.

🎼 Overview of the Manuscript

The notebook was utilized by Mozart during a brief residency in Paris between May and July 1778. During this window, he served as a music instructor for Marie-Louise-Philippine de Bonnieres de Guines.

The contents of the book include:

• Daily pedagogical exercises designed for his harp-playing student.
• Seven distinct pieces written for both flute and harp (likely intended as duets for the student and her father).

The student's father, the Duke of Guines, was a prestigious flautist of the era and the individual who commissioned the famous Concerto for Flute and Harp.

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🔍 The Path to Discovery

The notebook was unearthed by Francois-Pierre Goy, a curator in the library's music division. In a stroke of serendipity, Goy was organizing a backlog of documents prior to his retirement.

Having analyzed other Mozart instructional materials only weeks prior, Goy noticed specific idiosyncratic markers in the script. He observed that:

1. The treble clefs were notably rounded and leaned slightly forward.
2. The bass clefs deviated from the standard style employed by French composers of the time.

Authentication Process

To verify the find, Goy performed a side-by-side comparison with known works, specifically the Concerto for Flute and Harp. He discovered that the notebook and the concerto shared identical stamps.

The document was officially authenticated in April 2026 by Armin Brinzing, the director of the Mozarteum Foundation in Austria.

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📜 Historical Context & Conflict

The journey of the notebook is as dramatic as the music itself. According to the BnF, the manuscript was part of two musical collections seized from the Duke of Guines' residence in 1794.

The Duke was a close associate of Marie-Antoinette and was forced to flee to England following the onset of the French Revolution, leading to the confiscation of his property.

While Mozart admired the Duke's proficiency, he was less impressed by his daughter's aptitude. This tension was exacerbated by a financial dispute:

• Mozart completes commissioned work.
• Duke of Guines pays the full agreed-upon fee.
• Head butler offers full payment $\frac{1}{2}$ of the owed amount.
• Mozart refuses the insulting offer.

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Related Mozart News:

• Michael Sheen is set to portray Salieri in a new production of Amadeus.
• A new Amadeus TV series is coming, starring Will Sharpe as the composer.
• Research continues into the lives of Mozart's children.