Serenade No. 9 in D Major, K. 320, “Posthorn”

Composer: MOZART, Wolfgang Amadeus
  • Mozart composed this serenade in Salzburg in 1779.1 He completed it on Aug. 3 of that year, and it was written for the Finalmusik closing ceremonies at the Salzburg University.2
  • At the Mozart wrote this piece, he was employed to produce church music for Prince-Archbishop Colloredo, and writing instrumental music for society patrons was a decidedly extracurricular activity. Projects like this led to significant friction with Mozart’s employer.3
  • The serenade’s (humorous and entertaining) scoring includes a posthorn, a brass instrument with a range of about six notes which was used by the guards of mail coaches during the 18th and 19th centuries. Mozart’s famous set of German Dances K. 605, with the “Sleigh Ride” movement, also includes posthorns.[/efn_note]Ibid.[/efn_note]

Sources

  1. “Serenade in D major, K. 320 (Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus),” IMSLP, accessed December 8, 2021, https://imslp.org/wiki/Serenade_in_D_major,_K.320_(Mozart,_Wolfgang_Amadeus).
  2. Stanley Sadie, Mozart: The Early Years 1756-1781 (UK: Oxford University Press, 2006), 503.
  3. Cliff Eisen, and Stanley Sadie, “Mozart, (Johann Chrysostom) Wolfgang Amadeus,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed December 8, 2021,  https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-6002278233. 

Cut IDs

23720