h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Mozart's piano concertos - A2616509
Author: Andrew Soane - U239861

I've loved these piano concertos since I was a teenager. I hope I've done them justice in this entry - as a whole, anyway.

The reference to Joseph Haydn at the end of the first paragraph links up with an article that appeared in the Post. I can take that reference out if it's not envisaged. There's no entry in the edited guide.

So you decided to submit it then

You'll need to remove the Hadyn link - Post articles don't count as Edited Entries, I'm afraid.

You might also want to add something on why the first 8 concertos aren't performed. Were they lost? Or just not very good?

I'll leave those who known more about this sort of thing to comment in more detail!

Good entry, I like it. And I’m glad to see more stuff on Mozart. I’ve noticed that the entry seems to have a jump, though, from the introduction straight into Concerto Number 9. You don’t really explain the earlier concerti. Did he write the first ones when he was still a child? Maybe a table would help, including the following information (if known): number, date, K-number, key and name of each concerto. Or would that be too much boring information????

I’d like to see capital letters in the title, as well.

I’ll pop back here later at another time, and hopefully make more detailed comments. Good luck.

Niwt

Thank you for the comments. The first four concertos are very early works. Nos.5-8 were all written before he hit the age of 21, and although no.6 (K238) has a catchy finale, as a whole they are nowhere near the level of no.9, which was a watershed in Mozart's career.

I could put the above a bit more positively, and insert a paragraph or two near the beginning of the article. Interestingly, concerto no.7 is for three pianos, but it's not really a serious piece.

In contrast, concerto no.10 (K365), for two pianos, should probably have been mentioned and I will put that right; it stands below the level of the greatest solo concertos, but it's a sure-fire hit in the concert hall.

Some changes have now been put through...

Hello,

I think it looks better now, I've had a squiz at the changes. However I recommend a few more:

Saying the actual date or his age when he wrote the very first one (if this is known)
Things like "concerto no.25 in C (K503) is the grandest of the series" might have to be modified slightly, as it reads rather like opinion. Your idea of the grandest might not necessarily be the same as mine, or anybody else's. Ways to get around this are by saying "is often thought to be" or "described by X, a musicologist, as being the grandest". Or insert proof as to why it is the grandest with regard to...er...a lot of technical musical stuff. I think there are a couple of other parts in the entry that could also be said to be your opinion.
The film name "Elvira Madigan" will need to be in Italics.
You can link to the edited entry on Beethoven A584859.

That's all for now. Good luck.
Niwt

Thanks Niwt. I'll make the above changes, except that I can't think of a better adjective for K503's first movement than 'grand'. Well, 'majestic' might also do, or 'imposing'. I don't think in this particular case it's a purely subjective opinion (such as 'impressive', for example, might be). It doesn't refer to the greatness of the music, it's purely descriptive. Does anyone not think the first movement is 'grand' in that sense?

Well yeah I guess "grand" is just a way of describing it, although "grandest" is slightly more...er...subjective. I just listened to the first movement again today as it's been a while since I heard it, and I agree it is rather grand.

Although I can't say if it's grander than the rest or not.

I see what you mean about 'grandest'... I'll try to find a better way of putting it. Watch this space!

I just had quick look at the entry again, and I think it looks much nicer with changes. I don't have time now to read through the entry in detail, as I have to do....music practice!!

Elvira Madigan doesn't need the apostrophes now it has the italics, though. Are there any other well known films where M's piano concerti were used? You could mention them also (he he....I like films). <biggrin<

I just had quick look at the entry again, and I think it looks much nicer with changes. I don't have time now to read through the entry in detail, as I have to do....music practice!!

Elvira Madigan doesn't need the apostrophes now it has the italics, though. Are there any other well known films where M's piano concerti were used? You could mention them also (he he....I like films).

Er...please ignore my last comment, I just checked http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0003665/ and unfortunately there aren't all that many things that use the piano concerti. Just a couple of James Bond and a few others.

Thank you for the research! Some of the D minor concerto was used for the film 'Amadeus', though I suppose that doesn't count.

As regards K503, the opening movement is 'Allegro Maestoso'. So I could perhaps use Mozart himself as an authority for the adjective 'grandest' just by supplying that information. Let me know what you think.

It's been added. The paragraph now reads:

Composed in 1786, concerto no.25 in C (K503) is the grandest of the series, especially in its towering first movement, marked Allegro Maestoso, which Beethoven's fourth piano concerto in G echoes in its characteristic four note motif (it also recalls the rhythm of the opening call of Beethoven's fifth symphony). It is the last of the great series of piano concertos composed from 1784 to 1786.

Howzat?

Looking better! Yay! The entry is coming along nicely, IMHO.

I was about to say that "maestoso" was excellent evidence, but then I asked my father to recall which concerto he thought had the grandest first movement, and after a bit of thought he said No. 21. (He owns them all on CD and plays the piano.) So I'm afraid I have to say that although the sentence is improved, the "grandest" part probably should go, as people don't seem to agree. Sorry about that. After all, it's doesn't say "il più maestoso".

The sentence is good otherwise, just maybe you should split it into two. It's a bit long. I suggest a break after "Allegro Maestoso", and a new sentence (or even footnote) saying that Beehoven's fourth piano concerto echoes...etc.

Sorry for harping on about the grandest thing...

Niwt

I've made the alterations, splitting the sentence in two, and cunningly slipping in the phrase 'one of the' before 'grandest'.

Don't worry about harping on; it's great to have editors like you. I especially like the range of smileys!

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

Yay! Well done!

Nice work, Andrew!