For strings, winds, and timpani: the largest range of instruments among Mozart's piano concertos
Piano Concerto C minor K. 491 by W. A. Mozart
Vienna (Austria) — March 24, 1786

Piano Concerto C minor K. 491 by W. A. Mozart
Vienna (Austria) — March 24, 1786
This concerto was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) in the winter of 1785–86
It is one of his best-known works in the genre one of only two minor-keyed concertos by Mozart
It contains evidence that he later enlarged and revised the score, rather than writing it out in a single draft as he often did
Piano Concerto C minor K. 491 by W. A. Mozart
- Kleines Klavierkonzert C K. 491 von Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Short Description
Not only is this one of the finest concertos by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, but it is also one of the most unique. It is one of only two concertos composed in a minor key and made use of the widest selection of instruments. Unlike most of his compositions, which were written in a single draft as it came to him, this manuscript shows evidence of various revisions. This was obviously one of Mozart’s more labor-intensive compositions, and it shows in the quality of the concerto.
Piano Concerto C minor K. 491 by W. A. Mozart
This concerto was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) in the winter of 1785–86 and finished on March 24th, 1786. Mozart’s Piano Concerto in C minor K.491 is one of his best-known works in the genre, not least because of the special character of its minor key – it is one of only two minor-keyed concertos by Mozart – and the dramatic contrast between the soloist and orchestra. It has the largest array of instruments among Mozart’s piano concertos and is scored for strings, woodwinds, horns, trumpets, and timpani. The original manuscript is a fascinating insight into the art of Mozart’s composition, e.g. he did not write out the soloist’s part in full because he intended to perform it himself. It is exceptional because it contains evidence that he later enlarged and revised the score, rather than simply writing it out in a single draft as he often did. On the one hand, this allows us to retrace his creative process, written in various colored inks, on the other hand, in some passages the definitive readings are almost illegible, especially in the piano part.
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Kleines Klavierkonzert C K. 491 von Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Type
- Manuscript on paper
- Origin
- Vienna (Austria)
- Date
- March 24, 1786
- Epochs
- Style
- Genre
- Artist / School
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
1 available facsimile edition(s) of „Piano Concerto C minor K. 491 by W. A. Mozart “
Piano Concerto C minor K. 491
- Publisher
- Bärenreiter-Verlag – Kassel, 2014
- Commentary
-
1 volume by Robert D. Levin
Languages: English, German - More Information
- Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
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