Mozart: Piano Concerto no 23 in A major

First Movement
Orchestral Exposition
THEME

BAR

INSTS

FEATURES

Theme 1 (a)

Vlns 1

Balanced 8 bar
melody
Strings play tonic
pedal

Repeat of theme
1 (a)
Theme 1 (b)

Woodwind

19

Theme 1 (c)

31

Repeat of theme
1 (c )
Theme 1 (d)

39
47

Horn play pedal

chords
Vlns & Fl
Rhythmic theme
consisting of
repeated quavers
Vlns 1
Contrasting lyrical
theme
Chromatic notes
in descending
phrases
Vlns 1, Bsn, Fl
Repeat includes
flute and bassoon
Vlns 1, comments Energetic &
from woodwind
vibrant ww 7
string dialogue
Lower strings
play repeated
notes

Piano Exposition
THEME

BAR

INSTS

Theme 1 (a)

67

Piano

Theme 1 (a)

71

Piano

Theme 1 (b)

83

Fl & Vlns 1 & 2

87

Piano & strings

Theme 1 (c )

99

Piano

Theme 1 (c )

107

Vlns 1 & Fl & Bsn

Theme 1 (d)

114

Piano

Theme 1 (b)

137

Vlns & Fl

Theme 1 (e)

143

Vlns 1 & Vla

FEATURES
Piano solo
Alberti bass in left
hand
Strings
accompaniment
Piano part more
ornamented here
Horn - pedal
notes
No piano here
Bsn & low strings
play repeated
notes
Strings play long
sustained notes
Scalic
semiquaver
movement in RH
Series of
modulations
Key of E
dominant key
LH Chordal
accompaniment
Orchestral repeat
of theme 1 (c)
Piano plays
semiquaver
octave leaps
Extended
presentation of
theme 1 (c )
A codetta to the
Exposition
New theme
Strings only

Development
THEME
Theme 1 (e)

BAR
149

INSTS
Piano

Based on
theme 1 (e)

156

Strings & ww

Based on
theme 1 (e)

160

Strings & ww

Based on
theme 1 (e)

164

Strings & ww

Based on
theme 1 (e)
Brief
cadenza

170

Cl & Fl

189

FEATURES
Piano repeat of theme 1 (e) in
a free variation
A dialogue consisting of a 2
bar ww figure followed by
repeated notes on strings &
piano
e minor
A dialogue consisting of a 2
bar ww figure followed by
repeated notes on strings &
piano
C major
A minor
A dialogue consisting of a 2
bar ww figure followed by
repeated notes on strings &
piano
Free canon at a distance of a
4th
Brief cadenza
Improvisatory

Recapitulation

THEME
Theme 1 (a)

BAR
198

INSTS
Ww & vlns

Theme 1 (a)

206

Piano

Theme 1 (b)

214
218

Fl & Vlns
Piano

Theme 1 (c)

229

Piano

Theme 1 (d)
Theme 1 (e)

245
261

Piano
Piano

Theme 1 (e)

267

Cl & Bsn

FEATURES
As for exposition with flute
added
Very elaborate version of
theme
Piano play decorated scale
passages & broken chords
Downward scales
In tonic key of A unlike
exposition
Similar to exposition
Theme 1 (e) first presented
by piano
Clarinet & bassoon play in
counterpoint

Theme 1 (b)
Theme 1 (e)

284
290

Orch
Strings & ww

Cadenza

297

Piano

Piano plays rapid scales

Only 6 bars of theme 1 (b)
Theme 1 (e) played by
orchestra with a full ending
Horn play pedal note
Ending on a cadential 6/4
chord heralding the cadenza
A written out cadenza by
Mozart to show off the
soloists skills

Coda
THEME

BAR

INSTS

Theme 1 (d)

299

Orch

FEATURES
Coda played by orchestra
based on material from
theme 1 (d)