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Classical Music/Mozart quintet in C - order of middle movements

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Expert: - 6/19/2011


Question
I've known this work for decades, and have long wondered about the inconsistent performance practice - it seems that order is minuet/andante in about half, but the reverse in others. I recently found out that the order is unknown, since there is no autograph. Is there any discussion of this among musicologists? it seems that the minuet works better as the second movement, considering the mental workout Mozart has just subjected us to in the opening movement. the andante is relatively more challenging than the minuet (maybe not a lot), so you might think we deserve a mental break. Has anyone bothered to consider this matter?

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Ah, yes!  One of my favorite compositions!  My own preference is for the menuetto as the 2nd mv (more variety in speed and mood placed here), but, as you say, others prefer the andante there.

To my knowledge, this inconsistency has not addressed by musicologists.  

I do not know on what authority artists make their decisions on which mv precedes.

I'm wondering if it has anything to do with what edition the 5tet is using?!  One publisher: one way; another publisher:  another way.
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