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4 | Music In The Age of Enlightenment

Mozart and the Concerto

Peter Kun Frary


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The popularity of the concerto grosso faded after the Baroque era. However, the solo concerto soldiered on, remaining a vital musical force to this day.

What is a Concerto?

Classical composers took the vestiges of the Baroque solo concerto and expanded it into a three-movement tour de force for virtuoso instrumental soloist and orchestra. The solo spotlights the skills of the performer and possibilities of the instrument. In the best concertos, there is a dialogue between soloist and orchestra, with both participants on equal footing.

The Bathing Pool | Hubert Robert, 1733-1808 | Metropolitan Museum of Art

Bathing Pool


piano icon Piano Concerto No. 23

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major K. 488 in 1786. He was at the top of his game and his opera, Le nozze di Figaro, premiered the same year. This concerto is scored for piano, flute, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns and a full string section.

Piano Concerto No. 23 | Autograph score | Bibliothèque nationale de France

Piano Concerto No. 23 | Autograph score | Bibliothèque nationale de France


Concerto Movements

Concertos share formal structures with the symphony. But, instead of four movements, the concerto normally features three movements in a fast-slow-fast tempo scheme. Like the symphony, the first movement is in sonata form. The slow and lyrical second movement uses various forms, but Mozart used ternary form (ABA) for Piano Concerto No. 23. Finally, the third movement is typically a fast paced rondo or sonata rondo form. In this case, Mozart choose rondo form.

Death of Socrates | J.L. David, 1748-1825 | Metropolitan Museum of Art

Death of Socrates


Double Exposition

The first movement of Piano Concert No. 23 uses the ubiquitous sonata form but with a twist: a double exposition. The first exposition is played by the orchestra while the soloist waits patiently. When the exposition repeats, the soloist enters. However, the repeat is not exact: modulations were added to increase tension and the piano embellishes the themes. Here's a breakdown of the double exposition sonata form used in Piano Concerto No. 23:

Exposition (A)

  • 00:00 First theme in tonic key (orchestra only)
  • 00:36 Transition theme
  • 00:59 Second theme
  • Codetta and cadence

Exposition Repeat (A')

  • 02:10 First theme in tonic key (piano and orchestra)
  • 02:40 Transition theme and modulation to new key
  • 03:10 Second theme in new key
  • Codetta and cadence in key of second theme

Development (B)

  • 04:38 Development theme introduced
  • Development of themes and motives (piano and orchestra)
  • Modulations to new keys
  • Transition to recapitulation

Recapitulation (A'')

  • 06:23 First theme in tonic key
  • 06:52 Transition theme
  • 07:21 Second theme in tonic key
  • 09:36 Cadenza (piano solo)
  • 10:40 Coda in tonic key
Before listening to the concerto, familiarize yourself with the themes. Mozart often bends the rules and his sonata form usually has something extra. In this case, two extra themes! The first theme is presented straightway by the orchestra:

First Theme | Piano Concert No. 23, first movement

First Theme


The bridge theme between the first and second themes of the exposition:

Bridge Theme

Bridge Theme


Second Theme

Second Theme


A development theme is introduced at the beginning of the development section:

Development Theme

Development Theme


Cadenza

Composers were often the soloist in their own concertos, and improvised a flashy solo in the second half of the movement called a cadenza. In the case of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23, he took the extra step of writing out the cadenza, although he was an incredible improviser. The cadenza begins at 09:36.

Piano Concerto No. 23: 1. Allegro | Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | If you wish to continue listening, the second movement, Andante, begins at 11:15. The third movement, Allegro assai, starts at 18:30.



Vocabulary

concerto, double exposition, cadenza


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