An audience of approximately 40-50 showed up to an event being held at the Beale Memorial Library on Jan. 27, for renowned 18th century German music composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s 258th birthday this year.
Up to host the event and perform was 14-year-old child prodigy Mercedes Barcella. However, Mercedes was unable to complete her performance due to a medical condition known as tachycardia.
Tachycardia is abnormally rapid heart rate, which can lead to more serious symptoms.
The condition began to present itself about a year ago and has prevented the prodigy from giving formal concerts since then. The Beale Memorial Library concert was to be her comeback, to which she said, “I’m sorry to every one that came today, I thought this would finally be it.”
Family members present included her mother, father, and sister, who meant to play the violin alongside Mercedes that evening. The family said they had been very excited. Her 11-year-old sister Celeste Barcella mentioned that during visits to the hospital, Mercedes played for the children who stayed there.
Mercedes had hoped to be able to complete the performance for her idol’s birthday. The event was stalled due to a series of mini attacks, which began minutes after beginning to play her first piece. She abruptly stopped, stood up and apologized to the audience saying she would return shortly.
While Mercedes was attempting to recover in the back, her sister Celeste began to give a brief biography of Mozart’s life to keep the audience entertained. Mercedes returned about ten minutes later before suffering a second bout.
Celeste faced technical difficulties when attempting to show an audience a power-point presentation. While library staff members and Celeste tried to fix the equipment, 11 audience members left. It wasn’t long after that when the mother soon joined her second daughter on the stage to inform the audience that her daughter would be unable to continue.
“She loves people and playing for them. She is very sorry,” she said.
It took Mercedes about fifteen minutes to emerge from the back after everybody had left, but when she did, she was eager to share more about herself and her master, Mozart. Mercedes began playing the piano around the age of 12 and within two months she was already composing music.
Around six months later, she was giving performances on a stage and when she reached a year of playing, her mother said she had completely mastered the piano.
The family has attempted finding a piano teacher to advance the prodigy further, but has been unable to find someone who surpasses the child’s own skill.
“She never had a piano teacher, never,” her mother said. “She learned from one day to another just using the piano sheet music, but she plays only Mozart. That is the thing, only Mozart’s original music sheets.”
When asked about her abilities and musical taste, Mercedes responded, “I’m backwards 200 years. I don’t like today’s music; I stick to classical. It is so much more complex.”
Mercedes added that it is important for everyone to listen to classical music, not only because of its beauty, but because she feels dedicating a little to it each day helps connect individuals to themselves.
Today, people still bring up what is known as “The Mozart Effect,” the notion that classical music such as his can help people relax, and also make them smarter.
“I believe that is why people today do not like it,” Mercedes said. “There are so many instruments that intermingle and the diversity might be what causes the brain to strain itself.
“It is trying to pay attention to all these different pieces.”
She cited the legendary pianist’s effect on herself, although the first time she heard him she found it boring, she explained that after looking further she realized it was something very elaborate and necessary. It has not only improved her ear, but as she says, “There is just something about his music that draws up oneself to reflect upon themselves.”
Mercedes and Celeste plan on reattempting the Mozart memorial and they urge classical music aficionados and personal fans to stay posted.