Eine kleine Nachtmusik

Eine kleine Nachtmusik (Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major), K. 525, is a 1787 composition for a chamber ensemble by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791). The German title means “a little night music“. It is not known why it was composed. Most of Mozart’s serenades were written on commission, suggesting this serenade, too, was a commission, whose origin and first performance were not recorded. The work is written for an ensemble of two violins, viola, cello and double bass, but is often performed by string orchestras. The serenade is one of Mozart’s most famous works. The traditionally used name of the work comes from the entry Mozart made for it in his personal catalog, which begins, “Eine kleine Nacht-Musik“. Mozart almost certainly was not giving the piece a special title, but only entering in his records that he had completed a little serenade. Mozart lists “A Little Night Music“ as having five movements. However, only four movements remain, the first minuet