SYMPHONY No. 40
I. Molto Allegro
Viola | Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550 was written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1788. It is sometimes referred to as the "Great G minor symphony", to distinguish it from the "Little G minor symphony", No. 25. The two are the only extant minor key symphonies Mozart wrote. The first movement begins darkly, not with its first theme but with the accompaniment, played by the lower strings and divided violas. The technique of beginning a work with an accompaniment figure was later used by Mozart in his last piano concert (KV. 595) and later became a favorite of the Romantics.
Related Play-Along
