Did Mozart really know the Musical offering by J.S.Bach?
I took a look at the article you mentioned in your question. I agree that the author does not provide certain evidence that Mozart knew this piece. As you probably know, questions of this type are difficult to answer. The following types of evidence could help support a claim that Mozart knew the piece: 1. List of the contents of the Baron’s library, preferably with dates of addition (you may be able to find this in a research library). 2. Correspondence from Mozart mentioning the piece. 3. Publication information for the Musical Offering. Would it have been available published, in manuscript, etc. 4. Musical quotations of the work in Mozart’s work. I am somewhat familiar with 2 and 4, and I do not know of any evidence offhand that would support that claim. Issues 1 and 3 would require a trip to library–something might pan out from that.
