DESCRIPTION:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Serenade No. 6 in D major, K. 239 "Serenata notturna" (1776)

00:00 - Marcia. Maestoso
04:04 - Menuetto - Trio
08:23 - Rondo. Allegretto

Performed by Jordi Savall and Le Concert des Nations. Recorded by Harmonia Mundi in 2005.

"The 'Serenata notturna' (K. 239), of January 1776, [is composed] for a concertino of two concertante violins, viola, and double bass, and a concerto grosso of string orchestra with timpani. From the standpoint of sound and melody it is one of the most enchanting of Mozart's early works; it consists of a March in 'majestic' tempo, a Minuet, with Trio for the concertino alone, and a Rondo with a graceful, Gallic theme—and one does not feel that any additional movements are required. The Rondo contains two intermezzi: a short Adagio like the stiffest kind of minuet, which has the effect of an introduction to the second, a rustic, primitive Allegro. Both are interpolations and undoubtedly citations that were known to the Salzburg audience; if we knew what they were we should have more definite information about the purpose for which the work was written. These notturni and divertimenti have this in common with the violin concertos: in the final rondos Mozart cracks a little joke for himself and his hearers; he condescends for a moment to the level of 'the people' and makes somewhat of a display of his own aristocratic nature when he returns to his wonted style; he points to rude bucolic beauties and then shows off his own splendid raiment. Not without reason were such serenades or cassations called Final-Musiken; for everyone looked forward to a musical pleasantry of this sort in the finale." - Alfred Einstein

Painting: Allegory of Astronomy, Joseph Fratrel