Ein musikalischer spass

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, arr. Peter Guthrie

Composed:
1787 Arranged:
2005 Grouping:
SAT 

The purpose of Mozart's "Musical Joke" is uncertain, and although it was worked on over at least a couple of years it has been suggested that Mozart may have completed it as a private tribute to his father who died in May 1787.

Originally scored for a sextet of strings and two horns, the divertimento is a caricature of both poor players and bad compositions. This arrangement is a shortened tour through the final movement.