Music Appreciation 3e Kamien
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Piano Concerto, No. 23, A Major, K. 488 (Mvt. 1)

Instrumentation: piano, flute, clarinets (2), bassoons (2), French horns (2), strings

Form: sonata form

CD 2, Tracks 27-33, Duration 10:34

Exposition

First theme:

27) First theme (main melody) is presented in the strings in A major, legato,

:16 Winds, repeat opening of main melody an octave higher. Strings answered by winds; cadence to

Bridge:

28) Full orchestra, vigorous bridge theme,

Second theme group:

29) Violins, tender second theme, repeated notes in dotted rhythm.

16: Violins and bassoon, repeat second theme, flute joins.
:35 Full orchestra shifts to a major key. The winds then move to a minor key while alternating with the violins.
:48 Full orchestra, major key, cadence. Brief pause.
1:00 High woodwind phrase, orchestral chords. Brief pause.

Second Exposition

First theme:

30) Piano solo, main melody, low strings join, violins introduce
:07 Piano, varied repetition of main melody, rapid downward and upward scales.
:15 Full orchestra, bridge theme.
:27 Repeat of bridge section.

Second theme group:

:56 Piano solo, second theme.
1:11 Violins and flute repeat the second theme, piano joins.
1:35 Violins and piano present a repeated figure in minor.
2:06 Full orchestra, opening of bridge theme. Sudden pause.

Development

31) Strings, legato development theme.

:11 Piano solo with embellished version of development theme.
:24 Clarinet with section of development theme in minor key.
:31 Flute with section of development theme in major key.
:38 Woodwinds in high register with short section of development theme.
1:04 Strings in minor key, repeatedly alternate with piano and woodwinds.
1:25 Piano solo.
1:30 Orchestra enters. Long descents and ascents, rising chromatic scale leads to

Recapitulation

First theme:

32) Strings with main melody.
:15 Piano and woodwinds join.

Bridge:

:28 Full orchestra, bridge theme.
:35 Piano, running notes, strings accompany; staccato violins, high staccato winds, upward scale in piano. Brief pause.

Second theme group:

:55 Second theme returns in piano solo.
1:10 Second theme repeated in winds.
1:33 Violin and piano enter suddenly in a major key.
1:55 Piano only, development theme.
2:06 Clarinets and bassoons with development theme.
2:35 Full orchestra with bridge theme.
2:48 Strings and winds with development theme.
2:57 A shift to dotted rhythms.
3:00 The section concludes with the traditional 6/4 chord which signals the coming cadenza.

Cadenza

33) Extended piano solo; long trill closes into

Coda

1:00 Full orchestra, cadence.
1:12 High woodwind phrase; sudden full orchestra; sudden ending, trills in flutes and violins.

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