MOZART: Divertimento for Wind Quintet, K. 270

by Jennifer Rhodes

Mozart’s Divertimento in Bb, K 270 is part of a set of 5 sextets written between 1775–1777. These works were Tafelmusik, or dining music to be played as background at banquets at the court of the Archbishop of Salzburg. Mozart used many sophisticated tone colors and advanced the various instruments’ roles, for example making the first bassoon a solo voice – no longer relegated to playing the accompanimental bass line.