It was not until the 17th century that the cathedral’s Directors of Music was named ‘Domkapellmaster’ (master of cathedral music). We know the names of 21 cantors which are mentioned in surviving documents from 1356 to 1500. The name cantor however can refer either to a soloist singing in a service or to the canon being in charge. In later centuries, during the final years of the Director of Music’s life, they had an unpaid adjunct who would be permitted to succeed the Director of Music. Names and dates are known in only very few cases.

The most famous among them was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. A few months before his death – likely on 28 April 1791 – he applied to the magistrate of Vienna for the position of Adjunct to the Director of Music at St. Stephen’s.

As the cathedral’s then Director of Music, Leopold Hofmann, was seriously ill, Mozart hoped to be awarded his position in the event of his death. He received a positive response on 9 May.

But it was not to be: Hofmann regained his health, Mozart did not become the Cathedral’s Director of Music and died the same year. Though it cannot be proven, it is very probable that Mozart occasionally replaced the ailing Director of Music, Hofmann, at the cathedral and thus played music at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in the final six months before his death.