ONLY a few months before his death Mozart wrote a Concerto for his friend Stadler, a fine player of the Clarinet, for whom, two years before, he had composed a Quintet having a prominent part for his instrument.
Besides the Solo Clarinet, only a small Orchestra is employed--two Flutes, two Bassoons, two Horns, and Strings. There arc, as usual, three separate Movements.
FIRST MOVEMENT (Quick). Quietly the Clarinet and Strings set out on the suave, flowing First Main Tune ; after the first sentence the Full Orchestra takes it up, somewhat loudly, and this continues for a few moments. A few loud chords and a break suggest that we have come, so to speak, to the end of a paragraph, and shall have something new ; hut the Orchestra quietly goes on discussing the First Tune.
At last the Clarinet Soloist is allowed to take the lead, and he begins by decorating the First Tune, being given a very light background of Violins and Violas.
SECOND MOVEMENT. This is well known as a separate piece. It begins with a delightful singing melody, a sustained, expressive song for the solo instrument. In a short middle section, introducing varied matter, the Clarinet begins to add some graceful decoration to the melodic outline, and this artistic elaboration is continued when the original theme is resumed. More than once in this Movement (notably at the very end) we hear the rich lower notes of the Clarinet.
THIRD MOVEMENT. Rondo (Quick).
This Finale is a very gay, dainty dance-like piece in which one Tune returns time after time.
The Soloist performs practically every possible feat, and the Orchestra provides some exquisite little touches of colour. Yet one feels all the time that ' the music's the thing.' 10.0 FLORENCE HOLDING, with Orchestra Voi che sapete ('You who know')
Non so piu cosa son I know not what I am ') (' The Marriage of Figaro)
THE first song is sung by the lovelorn page, Cherubino, who worships his mistress with dog-like fidelity. In the Countess' presence her maid Susanna twits Cherubino about a song he has written to his mistress. The Countess bids him sing it. to Susanna's guitar accompaniment. So he sings this rather plaintive song of the pangs of love.
The second song is also sung by Cherubino, who, though he is in love with the Countess, is flirting with her maid. He steals from her a ribbon that belongs to the Countess, and placates the maid by giving her a song he has written about her mistress. 10.7 ORCHESTRA ' Jupiter ' Symphony-Slow Movement and Finale
Overture to ' The Seraglio '
THE nickname was not given to the Symphony by Mozart ; but while it does not apply to the whole work, it does aptly fit the first and last Movements, which have a fine Jovian breadth and vigour about them. There are four Movements in all, of which we are to hear the Second and Fourth.
SECOND MOVEMENT. (Fairly slow, and in a singing manner.) This opens with the Strings muted, singing a lovely tune. In this spirit the Movement continues. Listen for the charming passage in which a little sixnote motif is taken by various instruments in turn in this order : First Violin, Second Violin, Bassoon, First Violin, Oboe, Second Violin, Flute, Oboe, Flute, Oboe, Flute. This sort of delicate playfulness is characteristic of Mozart.
FOURTH MOVEMENT. (Very quick.) This opens with a passage (Strings alone) in which a sober, plain-song-like theme of four notes alternates with a flippant quicker one.
Observe this and a minute later you will be interested to see how the plain-song theme is given to all the stringed instruments in turn, in the manner of a Fugue (in order, Second Violins, First Violins, Violas, 'Cellos, Double-Basses).
