1796—Leipzig, Germany

Johann Hiller, cantor at St. Thomas Church (a position previously held by J.S. Bach), writes to lexicographer Gerber about the instrumental forces at his disposal: “Do come to see us sometime so that I can let you listen to the last but greatest work of Mozart, the Requiem, performed by my pupils! You will be astonished if you were to see my trumpeters, timpanists, horn-players, oboists, clarinettists, bassoonists, violinists and bass players, all in black coats, at which time I would still have a chorus to spare of 24 singers; even the trombones are now played in church by my students” (Bowles, Timpani 235).