Symphony in F major (K. 75) - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg conducted by Hans Graf.
I - Allegro: 0:00
II - Menuetto: 2:58
III - Andantino: 6:23
IV - Allegro: 11:02
Mozart's Symphony in F major (K. 75) was composed between March and August 1771, after returning to Salzburg from his first Italian journey with his father Leopold. As with several of Mozart's unnumbered symphonies, the authorship is debated. Only a set of parts remained in the possession of Leipzig publisher Breitkopf & Härtel, which were destroyed during World War II. However, most Mozart experts consider the work authentic. Unusually for the times, the minuet and slow movement have their places reversed. Premiere date and performers involved are unknown.
Between 1769-73, the young Mozart and his father Leopold made three Italian journeys. The first, an extended tour of 15 months, was financed by performances for the nobility and by public concerts, and took in the most important Italian cities. The second and third journeys were to Milan, for Wolfgang to complete operas that had been commissioned there on the first visit. From the perspective of Wolfgang's musical development, the journeys were a considerable success, and his talents were recognised by honours which included a papal knighthood and memberships in leading philharmonic societies. Wolfgang's Italian triumphs proved short-lived however; he failed to obtain a court position, and despite the critical and popular successes of his Milan operas, he was not invited to write another, and there were no further commissions from any of the other centres he had visited.
The first movement is structured as a sonatina. It begins with an animated and cheerful main theme in F major, introduced in forte between violins and oboes in a call and response fashion. A rhythmic and lively second theme in C major also appears, making effective use of forte-piano dynamic contrasts. We find no real development of the material, instead a substantial transition for solo strings comprises the central part. The main themes are then recapitulated in the home key of F major, ending the movement with a firm coda.
The second movement is a minuet in ternary form. It opens with a false slow start as if it were an andante, possibly one of Mozart's musical jokes to surprise audiences of his time. The two-part main theme in F major is then introduced, more melodic and cantabile than rhythmic and dance-like. Each part is repeated. The central trio section is scored for solo strings, presenting a two-part variation of the theme in B-flat major, each part being also repeated. The minuet is then recapitulated in its entirety, ending with an elegant coda.
The third movement is written in sonata form. It begins with a lyrical main theme in B-flat major, introduced by muted violins, violas and characterized by the use of trills and falling figures. A second theme in F major is also exposed by violins, being more rhythmic. This entire exposition is then repeated, after which comes a very short development in which tonality modulates to G minor and D major. New motives are introduced as well, but they quickly lead to the recapitulation of the material in the home key of B-flat major. This section is also repeated, ending the movement with serenity.
The fourth movement is structured as a sonatina. It opens with a lively and animated main theme in F major, presented by full orchestra and again making effective use of forte-piano dynamic contrasts. It directly leads to a rhythmic second theme in C major, dance-like in its contours. This exposition is then repeated. We find no real development section, instead being a transition with the second theme in B-flat major. The material is then recapitulated in the home key of F major. This second section is also repeated, ending the work suddenly without a discernible coda.
Picture: Anonymous portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at the age of 13 in Verona (1770, attributed to Giambettino Cignaroli or Saverio Dalla Rosa).
Musical analysis partially written by myself. Source: tinyurl.com/28...
To check the score: tinyurl.com/2x...