Symphony No. 34 in C major

Symphony No. 34 in C Major, K. 338, was written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1780, finishing it on August 29.^[1][2]

The work is scored for 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani and strings.

Although most symphonies have four movements, this symphony has only three, which was still common in the early classical-period:

1. Allegro vivace, 4/4
2. Andante di molto (più tosto Allegretto), 2/4 in F major
3. Finale: Allegro vivace, 6/8

The symphony features the fanfares and flourishes characteristic of "festive symphony" or "trumpet symphony" which is characteristic of the Austrian symphonic writing in C major. This is the first of Mozart's C-major symphonies to exhibit this character, but the style would be including in his subsequent two works in this key (the 36th and 41st symphonies).^[1]

The first movement is written in sonata form but also contains many styles and formal aspects of an Italian overture. There is no expositional repeat. The expositional coda contains an overture-like crescendo which is not included in the recapitulation. The development is based entirely on new material. The recapitulation on the exposition's first theme is abbreviated and interrupted by a brief development of that theme. Finally, the movement's coda contains nearly all of this first theme creating the appearance of a reverse-recapitulation common in Italian overtures.^[1]

The second movement in F major is scored for strings sotto voce with divided violas and a single bassoon doubling the cellos and bass.^[1]

Alfred Einstein advanced a theory in the third edition of the Köchel catalogue that the Minuet K. 409, was written at a later date by the composer for this work. However, there is no proof in the sources to support his thesis.^[2] Also, K. 409 calls for two flutes in its orchestration which does not match the rest of the symphony.^[1]

The finale is in sonata form and features energetic tarantella or saltarello rhythms.^[1]

References

External links

• Symphony in C K. 338: Score and critical report (German) in the Neue Mozart-Ausgabe
• Article on the C major symphony no. 34 at Mozartforum.com by Dennis Pajot
• Mozart page of the Classical Archives
• Symphony No. 34: Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project.