Expert: Marbeth - 4/25/2010

Question
QUESTION: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La7UT6JSuVc
Here is a link to a snip from a 1980s TV series about Mozart. It was called "Mozart" and was a real Europudding from Marcel Bluwal but I Gather reasonably accurate historically. In this bit, labelled Salzburg 1776, Leopold is conducting Archbiship Collaredo's orchestra while Collaredo has an informal meeting with somebody. My recollection from the 1980s is that Leopold later says this is one of Wolfgang's compositions, but I haven't been able to find anyone who could ID it. Some have said it's more like Boccherini. It seems to be a divertimento or serenade.In the TV series, the same music was used for the closing titles, but not on the DVD version. Any idea? I've been trying to find it for decades.

ANSWER: This is most probably not Mozart.  Instrumentation and orchestration don't seem right.  Musical substance and interest in the interior voices is also lacking, IMO.

Could be Salieri.  Could be Boccherini, but it sounds less substantive than to be Boccherini.  Not Haydn.  Not Clementi.  My money's on Salieri.

Even if it is Mozart, it's not a serenade or divertimento.  I walk to those every morning!

Not a lot of help, huh?  I'll fwd the URL to a buddy who might know.  Stand by!
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QUESTION: Thanks for the insights so far.  In the story, Mozart is about 14 at this time. Could it be juvenile Mozart - that might explain the 'not quite right' part, mightn't it? I can see the Boccherini/Salieri possibility, but why would they use a piece of t;heirs for a story about Mozart? I suppose it wouldn't be Leopold's?  I should add perhaps that the sound was pretty villainous,so we're not hearing it at its best. How can you tell it's not a divertimento or serenade?

ANSWER: Bcs I listen to these pieces every day as my "walk music."  This is not one of them.

I don't think it's juvenile Mozart.  I really don't think it's Mozart.  And, as you point out, why would they use something that wasn't Mozart.....?!  Will let you know what my friend says.
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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I've just realised Mozart couldn't possibly have been 14 in 1776 (duh . . ). The guy playing him was very diminunitive, which was fair enough, but I guess you picked up on that.

Answer
Well, one would not expect a film crew to have an on-site musicologist, but maybe someone did some checking!

I have checked with my buddy, and he checked with a muckety-muck in the San Francisco Symphony, and neither of them can ID it, either.

Maybe it was a composition by the ass't director's niece!  (I can't think of the word when one person, say, has a job and is looking for someone to fill another and "just happens" to pick someone in his family as the "most qualified."  I can't pull forth the word...)

If I find out, I'll come back here and enter a "revised answer" for you.  Meanwhile, there might be another Expert who could help you.
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