The Symphony No. 25 (Mozart) reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Symphony No. 25 (Mozart)

The Symphony No. 25 in G minor, K. 183, was written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart after the success of his opera seria Lucia Silla. Upon returning to Salzburg, he soon composed Symphony No. 24 in B flat (completed October 3). Just two days later he noted the completion date of Symphony 25 (October 5). Whether he truly composed 2 symphonies in a single week is unlikely, but the truth remains unknown.

The symphony is laid out in impeccable classical form:

1. Allegro con brio
2. Andante
3. Menuetto
4. Allegro

The piece, as a whole, is extremely unusual in that it is in a minor key - not only odd for Mozart, but for the classical period. It can be catagorised as part of the Sturm und Drang artistic movement that was notable in Germany at the time. The only other minor key symphony from Mozart, 40, may also be considered part of this movement along with other composers work at the time including Joseph Haydn. It is not just the minor key that excites and agitates the piece but the odd instrumentation - especially among the strings.

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