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The creation of the Harmonie coincides with Mozart’s arrival in Vienna. The
composer left his post with Archbishop Colloredo in Salzburg, in 1781. His
first “academy” in the imperial capital was a success in March 1782; the first
performance of Die Entführung aus dem Serail took place in June; he married
Constanze inAugust. In this period of great happiness, Mozart was filledwith
ambition, and was rewarded with success in the houses of the aristocracy;
he expected to settle permanently in Vienna, and to be granted a post by the
Emperor.
Although he had already written some wind
divertimentiduringhisSalzburgperiod, itwas
in Vienna that Mozart discovered exceptional
wind players like the oboists Jiri Triebensee
and Jan Vent, and the clarinettists Anton and
Johann Stadler. He immediately composed
the two Serenades in E flatmajor and Cminor,
which along with the Gran Partita KV361 are
the most important works he wrote for wind
ensemble.
50 MOZART_ENSEMBLE PHILIDOR