Mozart’s Symphony No. 29 in A Major is one of the earlier works in which Mozart truly found his own voice as a composer. As Maynard Solomon writes in Mozart – A Life, “at a certain point in his development, a gifted young composer… speaks in a tongue that has not previously been heard….” The principal theme of this piece is instantly familiar to even the occasional listener of classical music, and the Allegro’s blend of energetic counterpoint and memorable melodies will please the most modern teenager or jaded concertgoer.
At age 18 (1774), Mozart had already completed 28 works that are today known as symphonies, although a number of the earliest works are very basic in form and scope. The “Allegro moderato” (first movement), presented here in a string arrangement, contains that delicate Mozartian balance between graceful lyricism and his signature tempestuous energy and intensity. Mozart, during his later years, recognized this symphony’s beauty and performed it as a regular part of concerts given across Europe.
SmartMusic has several arrangements of this movement available from various publishers, for both concert band and string orchestra.
Audio Sample: String Orchestra arrangement by Robert McCashin
Audio performed by The Washington Pops, The Washington Winds and/or The Studio A Big Band, Conducted by Edward S. Petersen. (P) Studio Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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