Techotic

Researchers in a French museum have uncovered an unknown piece of music handwritten by Mozart. The 18th century melody sketch is missing the harmony and instrumentation but the tune is complete. If it were to be sold at auction, experts predict it could easily fetch over $100k!

Ulrich Leisinger, head of research at the International Mozarteum Foundation in Salzburg, Austria, said there is no doubt that the single sheet was written by the composer.

“This is absolutely new,” Leisinger said in a telephone interview. “We have new music here.”

“His handwriting is absolutely clearly identifiable,” he added. “There’s no doubt that this is an original piece handwritten by Mozart.”

The work, described as the preliminary draft of a musical composition, was found by a library in Nantes in western France as staff were going through its archives. Leisinger says the library contacted his foundation for help authenticating the work.

“One can really get a feeling of what Mozart meant although we do not know how he would have orchestrated it.”

[via msnbc]