The finale of K. 298 parodies a popular cavatina from Giovanni Paisiello's opera Le gare generose, and its minuet is inspired by a French song.
Composition History
The Flute Quartet K. 285b was not part of the original commission and is believed to have been conceived in Vienna in early 1781, with sketches found alongside those for his opera Die Entführung.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Despite Mozart's supposed aversion to the flute, these pieces are full of freshness and demonstrate his genius and delicate touch.
Composer Biography
Mozart took lessons from Johann Christian Bach, the youngest son of the Leipzig Cantor, at the age of eight in London and maintained a warm friendship with him.
Compositional Technique
The brief Adagio of K. 285 features a pizzicato accompaniment that evokes the sound of a guitar or mandolin, over which the flute plays a serenade-like melody.
Composition History
Mozart's Flute Quartets were commissioned by Willem van Britten de Jong, also known as Ferdinand Dejean, during Mozart's stay in Mannheim.
Historical Context
The flute and string trio chamber music lineup was immensely popular in Mannheim, where the Elector Prince Karl Theodor of Bavaria was an amateur flautist.
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