Mozart Symphony 41 K 551 - Molto Allegro

Woody Allen once said that Mozart's Symphony 41 proved the existence of God. Certainly, a symphony of such grandness and scale had, until the summer of 1788, never before been seen in the musical universe. Its implications for the direction of music in the future, and its influence on future composers is immeasurable. What makes Mozart's Jupiter symphony worthy to share the name of the most powerful god of the Roman world?

The answer to this question comes in the Molto Allegro, and more specifically in its coda, (8:09-8:36). In the coda, Mozart takes the five musical themes or melodies that had been developed throughout the final movement, and does something that no one has ever achieved to the extent that he did, not even the illustrious Beethoven.

What Mozart does is take these five themes and combines them to create a fugato in five-part counterpoint. That is, he takes the five melodies and simultaneously plays them in a variety of combinations and permutations. Imagine five separate melodies, all with their own notes, being played simultaneously, but each constantly changing. It's impossible for the human ear to focus on the enormous amount of notes that this simultaneous playing and constant changing entails. The effect is that the music seems to encompass an infinite amount of sound. With lesser two or three-part fugues, it is occasionally possible to sense everything that is going on. Once you get to four voices, it's nearly impossible to detect all of the nuances of the melodies. With five, well, only God could completely grasp its profundity.

This is Jeffrey Tate and the English Chamber Orchestra performing the Molto Allegro of Mozart's Symphony 41 in C Major.

A far greater introduction to this piece than I provide can be found at NPR's website, if you follow this link:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...
In the audio clip, you will get the chance to hear the five melodies that Mozart used in the coda individually.

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[frenchimp]

This symphony proves the existence of Jupiter.

[Alex Reinhardt]

I love the counterpoint at the end where he has all four themes playing at once! Mozart must have been some sort of deity that came to Earth to bring us joy.

[Byron10301]

At last! I know for sure Zeus exists! this Symphony proves it!

[Gordon Easton]

This symphony proves the existence of Woody Allen!

[geo lin]

he was a great man whom nobody could match. we are mouth breathers compared to wolfgang.

[jakenbakeboise]

Yea I wish I could but I'm on probation, you know how it is.

If your not being all "just say no" than thats cool. I agree it's good music.

[Loomr]

There were a couple of people who upvoted it - it's not so much anti-drug, but about making a comparison to this particular piece of music.

But I find your message pretty crude and negative, perhaps you should smoke some more of your herb.

[jakenbakeboise]

Christ sakes dude no one wants to hear your anti-drug bullshit. Just enjoy the music.

[awesomejj101]

Fancy pants....

[awesomejj101]

lol good eye