Violin Concerto No. 5 (Mozart)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote the Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major during 1775, though the exact timeline remains a puzzle for music historians. The autograph score held at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., bears evidence of multiple revisions to its own creation date. Someone scratched out the year 1775 and replaced it with 1780 before changing it back to 1775 again. This scribal struggle suggests that the work's origin was not immediately clear even to the composer or his scribes. Analysis of the handwriting, paper type, and watermarks confirms that all five violin concertos from this period underwent similar re-dating processes. Mozart did not write another concerto in A major until he composed Piano Concerto No. 12, K. 414 years later. The identity of the dedicatee remains unknown, as does the specific occasion for which these works were originally intended.
The orchestra required for this piece includes two oboes and two horns tuned to A. During the slow movement, the horns shift their tuning to E to accommodate the key change. String instruments form the core of the ensemble, providing the foundation for both soloist and wind sections. This specific instrumentation defines the sonic palette available to performers during any given performance. The pairing of oboes and horns creates a distinct timbral contrast against the string section. Such scoring choices reflect standard orchestral practices of the mid-1770s while allowing for unique coloristic effects within the concerto framework.
Mozart marked the opening movement with the rare instruction aperto, appearing only twice elsewhere in his piano concertos and once in his Oboe Concerto in C major. This marking directs musicians to play in a broader, more majestic manner than a simple allegro would suggest. The movement opens with the full orchestra presenting the main theme before the solo violin enters. That entry features a short dolce adagio passage in A major accompanied by a simple orchestral texture. No other instance in Mozart's entire concerto repertoire contains an adagio interlude at the first soloist entry of this type. The movement spans approximately 10 to 11 minutes in duration, extending beyond typical expectations for a single movement of this era.
The final rondo movement incorporates a section labeled Turkish music that shifts the key from A major to A minor. This middle section changes the meter and introduces grotesque elements such as unison chromatic crescendos and repetition of very short musical phrases. Cellists and double basses employ col legno playing, striking the strings with the wood of their bows rather than the horsehair. These techniques contributed directly to the work earning its nickname The Turkish Concerto. The famous Rondo alla Turca from Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major shares both the same key and similar stylistic elements. Such rhythmic changes and chromatic passages distinguish this finale from standard classical-era rondo structures.
A typical performance of the Violin Concerto No. 5 lasts about 28 minutes, making it Mozart's longest violin concerto. The composer later wrote the Adagio in E major for Violin and Orchestra, K. 261, as an alternative slow movement for this piece. Despite its length and complexity, the work maintains a permanent place within the standard violin repertoire. It premiered during the Christmas season of 1775 in Salzburg under conditions now largely lost to history. The concerto stands apart from his other five violin concertos due to its unique structural deviations and extended duration. Modern audiences continue to encounter this piece regularly in concert halls around the world.
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Common questions
When was the Violin Concerto No. 5 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote the Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major during 1775, though the exact timeline remains a puzzle for music historians.
Where is the autograph score of the Violin Concerto No. 5 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart located?
The autograph score held at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., bears evidence of multiple revisions to its own creation date.
What instruments are required for an orchestra performing the Violin Concerto No. 5 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?
The orchestra requires two oboes and two horns tuned to A, with string instruments forming the core of the ensemble.
Why does the Violin Concerto No. 5 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart have the nickname The Turkish Concerto?
Cellists and double basses employ col legno playing, striking the strings with the wood of their bows rather than the horsehair, which contributed directly to the work earning its nickname The Turkish Concerto.
How long does a typical performance of the Violin Concerto No. 5 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart last?
A typical performance of the Violin Concerto No. 5 lasts about 28 minutes, making it Mozart's longest violin concerto.