Mozart and His Starling: A Musical Bond Beyond the Ordinary
In the vibrant musical world of 18th-century Vienna, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart formed an unexpected and remarkable friendship with a starling, a pet that not only charmed him with its mimicry but also left a unique mark on one of his compositions. This tale of a bird’s influence on a musical genius, culminating in a heartfelt farewell, is a delightful chapter in Mozart’s life, blending creativity, affection, and a touch of whimsy.
A Starling’s Arrival
On May 27, 1784, Mozart purchased a starling in Vienna, captivated by its ability to mimic melodies with astonishing precision. Starlings are natural mimics, capable of replicating sounds—human speech, tunes, or even noises—after just a few exposures. Mozart, ever attuned to musicality in all its forms, was enchanted by the bird’s talent. The starling quickly became more than a pet; it was a companion and, in a way, a collaborator.
Mozart noted that the bird didn’t just repeat melodies—it added personal variations, tweaking notes or rhythms in a way that sparked his curiosity. This creative interplay suggests the starling served as a kind of musical prompt, perhaps inspiring Mozart during his prolific composing period. The bird’s improvisations likely resonated with Mozart’s own playful approach to composition, where he often experimented with unexpected twists.
A Feathered Co-Composer
The starling’s most famous contribution came with Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 17 in G major, K. 453, composed around the same time. One day, the bird sang the concerto’s opening 17 notes but with its own flair: it added a coda (an embellished ending) to the last bar of the first complete measure and swapped a natural G for a G♯ in the following measure. Mozart, struck by the bird’s version, reportedly adopted these changes, making the starling’s rendition the definitive version of the concerto’s theme.
This anecdote, while charming, is debated among scholars. Some suggest the story may be apocryphal or exaggerated, as primary sources (like Mozart’s own writings) don’t explicitly confirm the starling’s direct influence on K. 453. However, Mozart’s detailed notebook entry about the bird’s mimicry of the concerto, including the G♯ alteration, lends credibility to the tale. Whether the starling truly shaped the final score or simply inspired Mozart’s creativity, the story highlights his openness to finding inspiration in unexpected places.
A Grand Farewell
The starling lived with Mozart for three years, bringing joy until its death on June 4, 1787. Deeply affected, Mozart organized an elaborate farewell for his feathered friend. He held a sumptuous funeral, complete with a procession, and buried the starling in the garden of his Vienna home. To honor the bird, he composed a funeral poem, a heartfelt and slightly tongue-in-cheek tribute that reflected both his affection and his flair for the dramatic. The poem, written in German, mourned the starling’s loss while celebrating its lively spirit.
This extravagant gesture was typical of Mozart, whose sense of humor and emotional depth often intertwined. The funeral may have been partly playful, but it also underscored the genuine bond he felt with the bird—a bond rooted in their shared musicality.
A Legacy of Inspiration
The story of Mozart and his starling is more than a quirky footnote; it reveals the composer’s boundless curiosity and his ability to find beauty in the world around him. The starling, with its mimicry and improvisations, mirrored Mozart’s own genius for transforming simple ideas into profound music. Whether or not the bird directly shaped K. 453, its presence in Mozart’s life highlights how even a small creature could spark joy and creativity in one of history’s greatest musical minds.
Today, the tale of the starling endures as a reminder that inspiration can come from the most unexpected sources—sometimes, even a tiny bird with a golden voice.
