Mozart: Symphonies 25 & 40 - Harold Farberman, Munich Chamber Orchestra

mozart farberman OR325 liner notes

Mozart’s “Little” G minor Symphony was completed October 5, 1773. There are several similarities between the first movement of this symphony and the first movement of Bach’s Opus VI, No. 6. While these similarities are generally in the nature of brief melodic or rhythmic motifs, Bach’s influence can also be noticed in the lyrical second theme...Mozart’s penultimate symphony, No. 40 in G minor, K. 550, is the second of three written within 2 months in 1788. In its original version the symphony was scored for flute, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 horns and strings. Mozart made changes in the wind parts for a later performance, at which time he added clarinets and rewrote the oboe parts. Nowadays the symphony is performed in both versions. The early and late G minor symphonies invite comparison to some extent partly because they are in the same key and are by the same composer fifteen years apart, and also because of certain foreshadowings in the earlier symphony which are realized in the later work. While K. 183 is full of youthful passion and intensity, the later work contains a kind of inner brooding quality, as of some personal, inexpressible tragedy.