Which Mozart?

Which Mozart?

“Referring to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven by only their surname discriminates against black or female composers who are called by their full names, an academic has stated….

Mr White said… ‘White male composers [are] introduced with only surnames; full names for everyone else.’”

The Times

That Mozart’s only Mozart,
Not Amadeus too,
And what of Ludwig (— don’t start!)
Is really quite a coup.

Think what a slight to Leopold
When we speak of his works,
One must use both names, we’re told —
His son stole all the perks!

And then I think of CPE
(This really is a crime!)
Initialed always, never free!
Can’t he be Bach sometime?

Let Clara be the Schumann
And Fanny, Mendelssohn!
Their brothers? Don’t they make you yawn?
Let’s qualify each one!


Drew Nathaniel Keane