Picciola serenata
1778 composition by Antonio Salieri
Picciola serenata (little serenade) in B-flat major is a serenade written by Italian composer Antonio Salieri scored for five instruments: 2 oboes, 2 horns and 1 bassoon. The piece was composed in 1778 and consists of four movements.
Background
Salieri wrote Picciola serenata in 1778. The piece was written at the beginning of his Italian tour, and shortly after he had been appointed the director of the Italian opera in 1774. Salieri's success as a composer was approaching its peak, as his music quietly faded in popularity into the beginning of the 1800s.
It was not until the 20th century that Salieri resurged in popularity because of the depiction of Salieri in Peter Shaffer's 1979 play Amadeus, which was later adapted into the film of the same name.
Instrumentation
Picciola serenata is scored for 2 oboes, 2 horns and 1 bassoon.
Movements
The serenade is in four movements as follows:
I. Allegretto
The opening movement begins with a stately entrance in B-flat major in which the two oboes present the motive while the bassoon and two horns provide a strong foundation of the tonic chord on the downbeat. In measure 25, the piece modulates to F major, using the same material from the opening. The piece uses strong use of the tonic and dominant chord.
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