Listening Guide 21: Mozart: Piano Concerto in G Major, K. 453, First Movement

The first movement of a Classical concerto is usually in first-movement concerto form. Place the sections of first-movement concerto form in correct order, below.

1. orchestral exposition 2. solo exposition 3. development 4. recapitulation (with cadenza)

Which of the following statements about Mozart's Piano Concerto in G Major, first movement, are correct?

1.The cadenza enters at the end of the recapitulation section. 2.The first movement of Mozart's Piano Concerto in G Major is in first-movement concerto form.

Put the following items in the order in which they appear in the first movement of Mozart's Piano Concerto in G Major, K. 453.

1.Theme 1 in violins with woodwind accompaniment, no piano 2. piano them in d major 3. Brief modulation to a minor key 4. cadenza

Match the descriptive words or phrases with the different elements of music as found in the first movement of (Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major, K. 453.)

1.key-major 2.from-first-movement concerto 3.expression-elegant 4.texture-homophonic

What music does the soloist play in this excerpt?

A new theme

The soloist first plays the piano theme during the orchestral exposition in the first movement of Mozart's Piano Concerto in G Major, K. 453.

False

After a strong ending by the orchestra, the solo pianist begins to play. This opening section is called the exposition. What music does the soloist play at the beginning of the exposition?

First theme from the orchestral

The cadenza is followed by a closing section played by the orchestra that begins quietly and ends loudly and decisively.

True

In this movement, the alternation between orchestra and soloist provides a great variety in sound that is pleasing to audiences. The soloist is the central figure in this genre, and melodic passages alternate with virtuosic playing, soft alternates with loud, keys alternate with other keys, and the steady pulse of the work alternates with the freedom of the cadenza—all showing the full range of Mozart's creative capabilities to the public audiences in Vienna. What is the genre of this work?

concerto

The first time we hear the piano theme, in the exposition, it is played in the contrasting key of D major. Listen to the opening of the piano theme as played in the exposition:After a transition passage, the piano theme returns, but this time it is played in the home key of G major. Listen to the piano theme as played in the recapitulation:This music sounds different than it did in the exposition. What has changed?

it is played at a higher pitch

In this development, the soloist cycles through different keys and then plays a small bit from the beginning of the piano theme played earlier in the exposition::The development is followed by the recapitulation, or restatement, of material from the exposition. The recapitulation begins with the first theme. How is the first theme different in the exposition excerpt than in its appearance in the recapitulation excerpt?

its played by the orchestra only

In the exposition of first-movement concerto form, the key changes, or modulates. Listen to the different harmonies played by the soloist and orchestra in this excerpt:After the modulation , the soloist plays another theme. What music does the soloist play?

second theme from the orchestral exposition in a new key

After a loud, decisive close similar to what you heard at the end of the exposition, the orchestra stops playing. After the silence, the soloist plays the cadenza, which features bits and pieces from themes blended into virtuosic passages. How is the cadenza different from the other sections of first-movement concerto form?

the soloist plays alone