Mozart unbelievable music and harmonies?

Nice to see another question from you, TK!

I actually don't hear anything particularly 'strange' about the harmonies in the extracts you list. Perhaps a few passing notes and chromaticisms, but nothing unusual for the middle Classical period. I do agree, however, that these passages are extraordinarily beautiful in a way this is uniquely 'Mozartian'.

A passage that has always made my stomach turn over when I hear it (in a positive way!) is the passage from the slow movement of the (Basset) Clarinet Concerto in the link below at 5:35. Martin Fröst is, for my money, one of the two best clarinettists at the moment (the other being Michael Collins), both of whom play this wonderful work on its originally-intended instrument, the basset clarinet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YYc-S2UDZA#t=5m16s

Another movement I have always loved is the second movement of the rarely-heard 21st Symphony in A major K134. It has a radiant beauty typical of the teenage Mozart's slow movements. Listen especially to the section which starts at 2:18.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YYc-S2UDZA

Edit:

How could I forget my (possibly) favourite Mozart slow movement? The 3rd movement of the Serenade for 13 Winds (Gran Partita) is one of the most sublime creations by any composer. The two basset horns add a wonderful richness to the texture, don't you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs_Pya-s2io

Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat major, K595 - 2nd movement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R8mBUnT4%E2%80%A6

(The amazing orchestral entrance at 0:41 till 1:07, and the part from 2:15 till 3:05)

To TK-- and readers here... May I comment that this entrance (about two measures) is identical to that of a Sonatina in G Mayor, by Beethoven? I used to play it as a small child...You must have played it as a beginner, too - I am sure.

Thanks TK, for your question and links bringing to our attention little but important details I listened to all the links to my heart's content... Sweet music! How good to be able to enjoy it!

EDIT: You're right. It's Beethoven, I just corrected it.

Good luck,

tucomena

In an interview on KUSC--maybe 15 to 20 years ago--the guest musicologist was asked whom he regarded as the most underrated classical composer of all time. Without skipping a beat, he replied that with even with all that had ever been said and analyzed and written about Mozart, no one had ever really even begun to scratch the surface of his musical brilliance.

That's really quite an amazing statement.

The harmonies you linked for us were beautiful...I guess for me they were not strange as much as simply wonderfully evocative...

Some of my favorites:

Mozart's Piano Concerto No 12 in A Majorm K 414, first movement: about 5:11 through 5:44, in particular 5:21-5:41.

Same, second movement, about 3:16 - 4:36 and beyond...esp. 7:04 to the end of that movement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALeCjl70m58&feature...

Piano Concerto No. 11 Second movement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkZOCb-qnhU&feature...

Frankly,I would pass Mozart's music for any other composers.

I do appreciate his music though.Its just that some element of his music makes me avoid it.

Still,I personally feel his harmonies make sense and sometimes quite delightful.

I realise I do have a problem with interacting with Classical period music though...Not just Mozart but sometimes even Beethoven although I can grasp his music's emotion and the power of it to a limited extent.As a pianist of course.

One of my favorite novelties is in the second movement of the C major sonata, K 545, which is in the key of G major.

In measure 65, there is an F major chord followed by a C major chord in measure 66 followed by a G major chord in measure 67.

That just has to be the world's first, last, and only secondary subdominant.

Great links. I have respect for Mozart, I just don't feel his music that much, but I am warming to some of it. I like the things you point out in parentheses.

great question ... and rich answers

I'm just a Mozart fan and wanted to check the links when time allows

thank you (all)