'Fantasia' KV 594 "for a musical clock" by W. A. Mozart

[Strange Wings]

Most likely, this topic better might belong to a music forum, but then again - general means general.

I have been searching for a long time after this peculiar tune by W. A. Mozart. He wrote it around 1790, therefore it belongs to Mozart's later works.
I've also found an interesting site which is explaining the circumstances about this musical piece's creation, and the site's also providing 3 downloadable mp3-files of that tune; those being:

Fantasia KV 594 'Adagio F minor' (right click, save target as...)
Fantasia KV 594 'Allegro F major' (right click, save target as...)
Fantasia KV 594 'Adagio F minor (return)' (right click, save target as...)

I like the way the 2 adagio's are enfolding the allegro appearing in the middle, just like a diamond which is embraced by a soft shell.
I recently ordered a CD containing the wood wind version of the same tune (featuring wind instruments such as oboes, bassoons, flutes, clarinettes and horns).
It must sound terrific played by that instrumentation.

[DrFrag]

Because the Fantasias weren't devised for human execution, they are very difficult even for four hands to play.

I find this fascinating.

[Eileen sobora]

This is very interesting, I love to hear orchestras perform on stage and on radio.

[O2Destroyer]

I find this fascinating.

Theoretical pieces aren't uncommon at all in classical. I'm more of a Bach fan myself, but even with him there are lots of 'impossible' pieces that have proven to be possible (sometimes with modern technology--IE multi-tracking). It is really strange to think of some of this music which is very well known today, but the composers never heard them performed in their lifetime!

[Astro Forever]

I recently ordered a CD containing the wood wind version of the same tune (featuring wind instruments such as oboes, bassoons, flutes, clarinettes and horns).
It must sound terrific played by that instrumentation.

I don't even know how oboes sound... However I've just downloaded those files and it must be a lot better than that midi sound!

So you are a big Mozart fan? Aside from his well-known "Rondo Alla Turca" and his amazing Requiem, I've never found his work appealing; however, I can't pretend I've heard that many pieces from him either.

[DrFrag]

He's done a few good ones. These are the ones I can hum to:

Overture. The marriage of Figaro
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K525, Menuetto Allegro
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K525, Allegro
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K525, Rondo
Rondo a' la Turc K331, No 3
Piano Conerto No 21 in C major, K467 ('Elvira Madigan'), Andante

You'd probably recognise the Nachtmusik ones, they're pretty famous. And these are the ones on my hard drive that don't have a distinct enough tune for me to recognise or hum to:

Overture- The Magic Flute
Flute concerto no. 1 in G major, K313 Adagio non troppo
Overture. Don Giovanni
Clarinet Concerto in A major,K622 Adagio

I guess they're famous and special, or at least supposed to be. *shrug* I'm no classical music expert, but Mozart's work seems kind of same-ish to me.

Oboes are okay, but not as nice as bassoons. It's like comparing a violin to a cello IMO.

[Astro Forever]

Thanks, I will listen to these later.

[fafner]

The scene when the Commendatore's statue comes to take Don Giovanni to hell is good too, and is strangely similar to the overture. By the way, if someone wants a few MP3s, I can provide anything you want
And no, I am not especially a fan of Mozart either, it happens my mother has bought recently all Mozart's work Beside the Requiem and Don Giovanni, everything else in Mozart's work seems quite common to me. And don't take me wrong, by that I don't mean I don't like it

[jeffbert]

He's done a few good ones. These are the ones I can hum to:

Overture. The marriage of Figaro
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K525, Menuetto Allegro
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K525, Allegro
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K525, Rondo
Rondo a' la Turc K331, No 3
Piano Conerto No 21 in C major, K467 ('Elvira Madigan'), Andante

You'd probably recognise the Nachtmusik ones, they're pretty famous. And these are the ones on my hard drive that don't have a distinct enough tune for me to recognise or hum to:

Overture- The Magic Flute
Flute concerto no. 1 in G major, K313 Adagio non troppo
Overture. Don Giovanni
Clarinet Concerto in A major,K622 Adagio

I guess they're famous and special, or at least supposed to be. *shrug* I'm no classical music expert, but Mozart's work seems kind of same-ish to me.

Oboes are okay, but not as nice as bassoons. It's like comparing a violin to a cello IMO.

It was only once, but to hear Eine Kleine Nachtmusik & then hear Eine Kleine Nitmusik by PDQ Bach is pure satisfaction. Too bad I only heard it once.

[Strange Wings]

Oboes are okay, but not as nice as bassoons. It's like comparing a violin to a cello IMO.

I started taking Oboe lessons at age of 15 and somehow managed to regularly visit them during the course of 5 or 6 years, until I ended up playing in a wood wind ensemble where we were practising stuff like polkas and Swiss folklore (!). That had given the rest for losing my enthusiasm in playing the Oboe. It was a shame actually, because it's a beautiful sounding instrument, given the repetoire matches its possibilities.

The main difficulties for learning it is to build up strength in the lips for holding the embouchure as well as to train the lungs for them getting used for the wind pressure required by that instrument.
As opposite to Flutes and Clarinettes, playing an Oboe requires a very small amount of wind for creating the sound, however it has to be blown quite firmly into the instrument's embouchure for letting its reed vibrate, creating the Oboe's special sound.
Every student learning to play the Oboe will eventually be taught in making Oboe embouchures by him/herself at a certain point in advanced lessons. It's very delicate to make them sound the way they're supposed to, it usually takes years of practising and constantly improving one's technique in making them. Also, the learning process' duration depends on one's capability for doing that kind of things.

I still seem to be raving for this instrument, ergo my impassionate monologue!

However I've just downloaded those files and it must be a lot better than that midi sound!

Yeah, those files' sound isn't actually what anyone would call Hi-Fi, but they're good enough for giving a concise impression about the piece's arrangement. If Fafner's asking kindly enough, I'll be sure to upload the wind Version on his FTP.
*where's my tongue-in-cheek-smilie? Ah, here it is.... *

I wouldn't go as far to call me a Mozart fan, but there are many of his works
which I like a lot, as for instance 'Ouverture Die Hochzeit Des Figaro', 'Die Zauberflöte', Wind Serenade KV 375, to mention a few. I grew up with classical music, so that's probably why I'm that affected by it.