The String Quintet No. 1 in B flat major, K. 174, was written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in December 1773. Unlike Mozart's other viola quintets, which are scored for two violins, two violas and cello, this early work is scored for two violins, two violas and basso. It is inspired by Michael Haydn viola quintets in C major (MH 187) and G major (MH 189), written earlier in the same year.
Mozart composed this quintet a few months following the composition of the Viennese Quartets, K. 168-173 – indeed this work immediately follows that set in the first edition of the Köchel catalogue.
Movements
The work is in standard four movement form: I. Allegro moderato in B-flat major II. Adagio in E-flat major III. Menuetto ma Allegro in B-flat major, with trio in F major IV. Allegro in B-flat major
References
Charles Rosen, "The Classical Style: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven", 1997, Norton
External links
Performance of String Quintet No. 1 by the Orion String Quartet with Ida Kavafian (viola) from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in MP3 format