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III. MENUETTO AND TRIO (ALLEGRETTO)

from Symphony No. 39 in E-flat Major, KV543

by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in 1756 in Salzburg, Austria and died in 1791 in Vienna, Austria. At that time, Austria was part of the Holy Roman Empire.

After several years of prosperity, Mozart found himself caught up in an economic downturn that occurred when the Holy Roman Empire declared war on Turkey in 1788. The Austro-Turkish war severely impacted the economy of Vienna, and the patrons that Mozart relied on for commission fees and ticket income were no longer available to support him. Mozart composed three symphonies in 1788 and they would prove to be the last symphonies he would write, before he died, penniless, in 1791.

Symphony No. 39 is the first of the final three symphonies composed in 1788. Mozart did not include oboes in the score and featured clarinets instead. A delightful clarinet duet takes place in the middle ‘trio’ section of Menuetto and Trio (Allegretto).

Step 1. Watch the video to learn about the Clarinet

Step 2. Listen to the TSO recording of Menuetto and Trio

Step 3. Answer 10 questions

Step 4. Download a Word Search

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