The symphony was originally scored for
flute, two
oboes,
bassoon, two
horns, and
strings. Later, parts for two
trumpets and
timpani were added. The work is in four
movements: The opening slow introduction is marked Grave. The first theme features a lyrical rising half-step motif followed by three loud chords. Mozart wrote down this theme along with the openings of symphonies
47 and
62, presumably, as Charles Rosen noted, "with an eye to conducting them at his concerts." The second theme is very brief and also contains a rising half-step. The second theme is omitted from the recapitulation. The second movement is a theme in muted strings followed by four strophic
variations. The second variation features a dialogue between wind & brass fanfares with simple string writing. The third features a solo string trio against a pizzicato accompaniment. Here, the solo
cello plays continuously weaving sixteenth notes under the melody in the two other solo strings. Elaine Sisman has postulated that
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart modeled the slow movement of his
Piano Concerto No. 15 on the second movement of this symphony. The fourth movement is "a rounded binary form with repeats of both halves," sometimes mistaken for sonata form. ==Notes==