Mozart- Symphony No. 29 in A Major, K. 201 (Score)

Composed 6 April, 1774

0:00- I. Allegro Moderato
7:31- II. Andante
14:59- III. Menuetto
18:07- IV. Allegro con Spirito

Prague Chamber Orchestra, Charles Mackerras

The economy of scoring in Mozart's early orchestral works was simply his response to the Salzburg musical traditions that displayed themselves. In 1769, the Salzburg court orchestra calendar listed zero flautists, two oboists, zero clarinetists (at that time seen as a somewhat obscure military instrument), and two bassoonists, who would mostly be relegated to doubling the bass. Thus would the great Mannheim sound be impossible for Mozart, Michael Haydn, and the few other orchestral composers of Salzburg.
This symphony was probably composed for performance at Archbishop Colloredo's court by his court orchestra, where Mozart was employed as concertmaster (at times the archbishop would play violin with them; it was common for him and other Salzburg courtiers to join the music-making fun!). The symphony retains the regality and austerity of the previous symphonies, but the mood is lightened by its delightful usage of counterpoint and musical humor.