Mozart on melody

“Melody is the essence of music”, continued he; “I compare a good melodist to a fine racer, and counterpointists to hack post-horses; therefore be advised, let well alone, and remember the old Italian proverb – ‘Chi sa piu, meno sa – Who knows most, knows least’.”

The Reminiscences of Michael Kelly, 1826.

Cited in: Marshal, Robert (1995) Mozart Speaks. Schirmer, p. 196.

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