In the 1770s Mozart had been experimenting with the Sinfonia concertante genre, leading in 1779 to the Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra, K. 364 (320d), which can be considered his most successful realisation in this cross-over genre between Symphony and Concerto.

Written following a tour of Europe that took in Mannheim and Paris the Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra comprises three movements; Allegro Maestoso, Andante and Presto.

The composition's complex orchestral dynamics reflects the increasing technical competence of the european orchestra of that era and was stongly influenced by Mozart's visit to the Mannheim court orchestra during his European tour of 1777 to 1779.

The viola part is written in D instead of E flat, and the instrument tuned a semitone sharper (scordatura technique), to give a more brilliant tone. This technique is uncommon when performed on the modern viola and is used mostly in performance on original instruments.

The American composer and bassist Edgar Meyer was so interested in this work that in 1995 he wrote a double concerto for double bass, cello and orchestra that, while very different in style, closely mirrors the structure of Mozart's Sinfonia concertante.

The slow second movement is the best known, largely because of Michael Nyman's variations on it, used as the soundtrack to the Peter Greenaway film Drowning by Numbers. The original piece is also heard after each of the drownings in the screenplay.

References

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Mordden, Ethan. A Guide To Orchestral Music: A Handbook for Non-Musicians (Oxford, 1980).

Smith, Erik. Notes to Mozart Sinfonia Concertante K364 (L.P. DECCA 1964)

Audio files (Ogg file format)

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Performers : ENSEMBLE: Fulda Symphonic Orchestra

CONDUCTOR: Simon Schindler

SOLOISTS: Rebekka Herrmann (violin), Kristina Rill (viola)

Recording : LOCATION: Grosser Saal der Orangerie Fulda

DATE: 2002-03-10 (recorded)

ALBUM: 3. Benefiz Symphonie-Konzert

TRACKNUMBER: 2 - 3 - 4

License : LICENSE: EFF Open Audio License (http://www.eff.org/IP/Open_licenses/eff_oal.php)

Wikipedia license information: see Wikimedia (Commons) file info links below

Movement	Time	File size	Wikimedia (Commons) download	Wikimedia (Commons) file info	External download
1. Allegro maestoso	13:23	18,133,196 bytes	Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Sinfonia Concertante für Violine, Viola und Orchester - 1. Allegro mæstoso.ogg	Image:Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Sinfonia Concertante für Violine, Viola und Orchester - 1. Allegro mæstoso.ogg	http://www-plan.cs.colorado.edu/henkel/fso/cd3/track02.ogg
2. Andante	10:04	13,701,885 bytes	Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Sinfonia Concertante für Violine, Viola und Orchester - 2. Andante.ogg	Image:Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Sinfonia Concertante für Violine, Viola und Orchester - 2. Andante.ogg	http://www-plan.cs.colorado.edu/henkel/fso/cd3/track03.ogg
3. Presto	6:28	8,737,653 bytes	Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Sinfonia Concertante für Violine, Viola und Orchester - 3. Presto.ogg	Image:Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Sinfonia Concertante für Violine, Viola und Orchester - 3. Presto.ogg	http://www-plan.cs.colorado.edu/henkel/fso/cd3/track04.ogg

Compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Concertante symphonies

Symphonie concertante pour violon et alto de Mozart | Sinfonia Concertante hegedűre, brácsára és zenekarra | Sinfonia concertante per violino, viola e orchestra (Mozart) | ヴァイオリンとヴィオラのための協奏交響曲 (モーツァルト)