Between April 14 and December 20, 1775, Mozart composed five violin concertos. In style, they are related to his serenades from the same period. Aside from two concertos incorporated into serenades, these represent Mozart's only authentic concertos for violin and orchestra. At the time, the 19-year-old Mozart was concertmaster of the Archbishop's court orchestra in Salzburg. Thus, he may have composed the concertos for his own use as a soloist. The pieces show a gradual increase in Mozart's mastery of the genre.

The second of the concertos (D major, completed on June 14, 1775), recalls the style of the late-Baroque, resembling works by Tartini; it strikes an awkward balance between bravura flourishes and thematic presentation and development for the soloist. Each movement boasts an abundance of melodies, one after another. In general, the concerto lacks the dramatic force we hear in Mozart's piano concertos.

The opening tutti, or ritornello, of the Allegro moderato juxtaposes sections of vivacious texture with unison passages. The main theme, first played by the entire orchestra then by the soloist, jaggedly outlines the tonic triad. Mozart's secondary theme resembles Tyrolean folk music and yodeling. Hints of this new theme appear first in the orchestra before the solo violin takes over almost imperceptibly. Mozart exercises a great deal of license in the returning statements of the ritornello, varying them in several ways.

In G major, the Andante second movement is a sonata-form structure without development. Its melodic material is reminiscent of some of Mozart's arias composed at this time, particularly "L'amerò sarò costante" from Il Rè pastore.

In contrast to the opening Allegro, the closing Rondeau, marked Allegro, is light and jocular. The principal theme is minuet-like both in its 3/4 meter and pattern of repetition; all of the episodes also sound like dances. Blithe, entertaining movements are not unusual conclusions to concertos of the period, but the seriousness and ingenuity of the first movement make this Rondeau seem especially unambitious.

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