Classical Music | Ensemble Music

Recorded on 07/01/2007, uploaded on 08/20/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

The serenade, like the divertimento, was a popular choice of musical accompaniment to social events in Mozart’s Austria. Quite often these serenades were composed for wind instruments since their venue was usually outdoors and were cheaper to employ than a full orchestra. Also due to their use as primarily background music, the serenade placed greater importance on tunefulness rather than any complex musical development or overt drama. In addition, their multi-movement pattern made them a sort of “light” symphony, though they often extended beyond the typical four movements.

Within his first years in Vienna, Mozart composed three serenades for rather large wind ensembles, of which the Serenade No. 10 in B-flat major is one. Mozart’s earlier serenades, written in Salzburg, were usually scored for smaller ensembles. For the Serenade No. 10, Mozart expanded his ensemble to thirteen instruments—a pair each of oboes, clarinets, basset horns (lower pitched clarinets) and bassoons, four horns and a string bass or contrabassoon (depending on an indoor or outdoor venue, respectively). The piece comprises a total of seven movements arranged in a more or less alternating fast-slow pattern: a Molto Allegro sonata form with a slow introduction; a Menuetto with two trios; an Adagio in E flat major, a second Menuetto, also with two trios; a Romanze beginning in a Adagio tempo but with a contrasting Allegretto middle section; a set of variations on an Andante theme; and, finally, a rondo finale. Among these movements, the Adagio third movement is perhaps the most easily recognizable, particularly to those familiar with the 1984 film on Mozart’s life, Amadeus.         Joseph DuBose

Courtesy of The International Festival-Institute at Round Top

Located in historic Round Top, Texas, The James Dick Foundation for the Performing Arts and its sole project, The International Festival-Institute at Round Top, were founded in 1971 by world-renowned concert pianist James Dick. Begun with a handful of gifted young pianists in rented space on the town square, the project is now an internationally acclaimed European-styled music institute for aspiring young musicians and distinguished faculty. Over a thirty eight year period and with the help of its patrons and friends, The James Dick Foundation for the Performing Arts has developed superb year round education and performance programs.