Mozart’s ‘Linz’ Symphony (written in 4 days, see below) is full of surprises. It starts off with a slow, brooding opening rather than the usual fast introduction. This builds suspense and sets the scene for what’s to come – which includes the (radical, for the time) use of trumpets and drums in the slow movement, which gives the music a heartbeat, an unusual intensity. A high-stakes finale completes the symphony – a real belter of an ending. Earlier there’s Mozart’s divine Gran Partita and his dark, mysterious Masonic Funeral Music.

Procrastinators Rejoice

Sometimes, just sometimes, doing things last minute can produce a masterpiece. When Mozart dropped in on his friend Count Thun, the Count surprised him, announcing that he’d organised a concert, and saying ‘You’re bringing a symphony, right’? (we may paraphrase slightly). Mozart hadn’t packed a symphony (pro tip: never leave home without one), so he had to write one in 4 days.

We know this because he wrote to his Dad, saying “I have not a single symphony with me, I am writing a new one at breakneck speed, which must be finished by that time”.

This included writing 26 mins of music, writing out every note of every part for every instrument, and then, hopefully, rehearsing it. The result – one of Mozart’s must loved symphonies.