Publication's Style: Soft Cover Score - with parts Pages: 18 Level of Difficulty: Intermediate/Advanced General Description: Violin and Guitar Catalog Number: 74623 ISBN: 978-1-62559-067-1
Eine kleine Nachtmusik (Serenade - K. 525) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart arranged for violin and guitar by Gregg Nestor
Although it originally denoted an evening song for courtship, the term serenade by the late 18th century was used broadly to describe a chamber work intended for light entertainment on a social occasion. Serenades enjoyed great popularity in south-central Europe, particularly in Vienna, where Mozart spent the last decade of his life. At that time, it was customary for ensembles to perform serenades in Vienna’s parks and gardens, and the creation of such pieces became a lucrative source of income for composers.
Mozart produced many serenades, the 13th of which, nicknamed Eine kleine Nachtmusik (A little Night Music), is his best known. The four-movement work opens with a bright allegro in sonata form, and a slow, lyrical second movement follows. The third movement is a light minuet, and the finale is a brisk rondo. Originally, the piece contained a second minuet, but that movement has been lost. The specific occasion, if any, for which Eine kleine Nachtmusik was composed has never been determined.
This arrangement for violin and guitar by Gregg Nestor maintains the light transparent atmosphere that was a hallmark of Mozart’s compositional style.
