Mozart Symphony no.41

Date

1788

Overview

Last, longest and most famous symphony.

Overall form

Longest symphony, especially the final mvt. Usually with early symphonies, the 1st and 2nd are the longest and last more light-hearted but this has the emphasis on the final mvt. This foreshadows the developments of Beethoven and latern romantic composers

2nd mvt

Typical mature classical andante 2nd mvt in sonata form with expressive and lyrical tune at opening. This gets decorated with complex embellishments and counter melodies. Reduced instrumentation - leaves out timpani and trumpets. In the typical subdominant key

4th mvt/finale

Weighty. Combines fresh melodies with complex imitative counterpoint. In the coda, he combines all 5 main themes of last mvt in complex fugato texture

Texture

In final mvt, in the coda, he combines all 5 main themes of the final mvt in a complex fugato texture