Mozart: The Flute Quartets for Flute, Violin, Viola and Cello [Part(s) only]

Early in December 1777, while Mozart was visiting Mannheim, the flautist of the famous Mannheim court orchestra, Johann Baptist Wendling, arranged for him to write several new works on commission from a physician and music lover named Ferdinand Dejean.

Writing to his father on 10 December 1777 Mozart reported that he was to compose “three small, easy and brief concertinos and a couple of quartets for the flute.” The generous prospective fee of 200 gulden was enticing, and Mozart soon set to work.

By 25 December, Mozart had all ready finished the first Flute Quartet in D major (K.285). But the rest of the work proceeded sluggishly from the moment he met Aloysia Weber, with whom he fell head over heels in love.

Now Mozart no longer had a moment’s peace in Mannheim, and it is not surprising that he should make a virtue of neccessity by writing another Flute Quartet (G major, K.285a) in only two movements, in keeping with the Mannheim taste.

In the Mozart literature, the Flute Quartets in C Major and A Major (K.285b/Anh.171 & K.298) have long been associated with the aforementioned Mannheim commissions. In fact, however, analysis of the paper and handwriting of the autograph scores reveal that both works date from his later years in Vienna.

Mozart makes use of various themes by minor contemporaries, cobbling them into a parodistic quartet whose form immediately calls to mind his Piano A major Sonata (K.331).

My personal preference is in favour of the quality of both paper and print in this edition. Page turns are also carefully considered, whereas other editions can be a little unforgiving at times.