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Sinfonia Concertante in Eb Major, K297 (Levin) - FL/OB/HN/BSN/(PN)

Composer: Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus

Publisher: Barenreiter (Germany)

Edition: 58027

$43.00

Sinfonia Concertante in Eb Major, K297
for flute, oboe, horn, bassoon, and piano (orchestra)
by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) - Austrian composer
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Theme & Variations

From Mozart’s letters to his father we know that in 1778, during his sojourn in Paris, he wrote a Sinfonia concertante for flute, oboe, horn, bassoon and orchestra, for a quartet of wind instrumentalists likewise staying in that city. Mozart’s autograph manuscript however has disappeared, and with it any trace of the work.

In the nineteenth century there appeared, in manuscript copy, a Sinfonia Concertante in Eb Major for oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon and orchestra, for which Mozart was claimed to be the author. Despite the difference in scoring, this piece was identified with the Paris Sinfonia Concertante, then believed to be lost. Although it was long thought to be genuine, for the last twenty-five years or so serious doubts have been raised concerning its authenticity, with regard not only to the scoring of the solo parts but also its orchestration.

Robert Levin’s reconstruction proceeds on the assumption that the set of solo parts is basically genuine, but was recast for other instruments by an unknown arranger who rewrote the flute part for oboe and the oboe part for clarinet. In Levin’s opinion, however, the orchestral parts are spurious. In his reconstruction he has reconstituted the solo quartet mentioned in Mozart’s letters (flute, oboe, horn and bassoon) and written new parts for the orchestra. Levin’s thorough analysis of Mozart’s style and intimate knowledge of his manner of composing have enabled him to risk this reconstruction. It is available on hire (BA 7137) and already figures among the favourite works of solo wind players.

Please note that Robert Levin, the editor, uses what is considered the original instrumentation of flute, oboe, horn, and bassoon. There is also an edition for the more familiar instrumentation of oboe, clarinet, horn, and bassoon. This edition is available HERE

This is a set with the four solo parts and a piano reduction of the orchestration. Although it can be performed as a quartet with piano, the set is really for practice purposes only for the four soloists.