Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Divertimento No. 4, K. 439bI. Allegro
Equal-voice Classical chamber music originally for three basset horns — a study in blend, Classical phrasing, and ensemble listening.
At a glance
Clarinet trio (originally three basset horns). Upper-intermediate. Movement I Allegro rewards blend, Classical elegance, and conversational equality of parts more than solo virtuosity. Excellent studio and chamber-class repertoire.
Composer & composition
Composer & the K. 439b divertimenti
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756, Salzburg – 5 December 1791, Vienna) left a chamber legacy that includes the five Divertimenti K. 439b (also catalogued in relation to the basset-horn divertimenti). These works were written for three basset horns — instruments with a darker, more homogeneous colour than a mixed clarinet trio. Modern performances often use three clarinets or two clarinets plus bass clarinet; editors such as the Trio di Clarone (Sabine Meyer, Wolfgang Meyer, Reiner Wehle) have been central to the modern performing tradition on original instruments.
Divertimento No. 4 in B-flat major opens with an Allegro that models Classical clarity: balanced phrases, transparent texture, and conversational exchange among three equal voices. The pedagogical value is ensemble — matching tone concept, Classical phrase-shaping with modest tools (speed and dynamics), and resisting Romantic weight.
Structure / listening map
I. Allegro
Allegro · B-flat major
Opening movement of Divertimento No. 4; equal-voice chamber texture.
Reference performances
1Bläser der Berliner Philharmoniker
Mozart Divertimento No. 4 (Allegro track)
Berlin Philharmonic winds; NAXOS-provided Topic upload — cleanest single-movement Allegro track among prestige picks.
- Selection reason
- Chosen mainly for performer prestige; also the cleanest single-movement Allegro track.
- Pedagogical value
- Orchestral-wind polish and Classical balance among three professional voices.
- View count
- ~2K
2Trio di Clarone — Sabine Meyer, Wolfgang Meyer, Reiner Wehle
DIVERTIMENTOS 3, 4 e 5 de Mozart para Trio Di Clarone (No. 4 from 19:41)
Original basset horns; editors of the modern edition — definitive interpreters. Divertimento No. 4 begins at 19:41; I. Allegro at 19:41.
- Selection reason
- Top performer prestige (definitive interpreters/editors).
- Pedagogical value
- Gold standard for equal-voice colour-matching and Classical phrasing on the composer’s intended instruments. Low view count but unmatched prestige.
- View count
- ~421
3LSO Clarinet Trio (Chris Richards, Chi-Yu Mo, Katy Ayling)
Mozart: Divertimento in B-flat major No 4 K439b // LSO Clarinet Trio
London Symphony Orchestra channel; complete No. 4; I. Allegro is the opening movement.
- Selection reason
- Blend of prestige AND highest verified view count among professional picks.
- Pedagogical value
- Clear modern clarinet-trio colour with excellent ensemble video production for score following.
- View count
- ~19K
4“Music Man” (Franz Dorfer) clarinet-trio recording
Divertimento IV KV 439b 1 Allegro
Dedicated single-movement Allegro clip.
- Selection reason
- Highest view count of a dedicated single-movement Allegro clip.
- Pedagogical value
- Convenient isolated Allegro for students who need only movement I without navigating a full divertimento upload.
- View count
- ~8.6K
5Trio Roseau — Ulf-Guido Schäfer, Rachel Frost, Malte Refardt
Mozart: Divertimento Nr. 4 KV439b, Allegro - played by Trio Roseau
Clarinet, oboe, and bassoon colouring of the texture — clear single-movement Allegro.
- Selection reason
- Prestige of the clarinettist plus a clear single-movement Allegro.
- Pedagogical value
- Useful alternative instrumentation for hearing how line hierarchy changes when colours differ.
- View count
- ~3.5K
Practice studio
Begin a practice plan →Performance notes
Classical elegance
Never romanticize; keep ornaments and rubato modest. Aim for the mellow, slightly darker colour of the basset-horn original so three parts fuse into one sound.
Difficulty & suitability
Upper-intermediate. Technical demands are moderate compared with Rossini or Weber concertos; the difficulty is musical and ensemble-based — blend, Classical phrasing, and equal-voice chamber discipline. Ideal for advanced intermediate high-school chamber groups and college studio classes. Teachers can use it to train listening, balance, and historical tone concept.
Sources & notes
Compiled July 17, 2026. View counts change over time; verify before citing in class.
Compiled July 17, 2026. View counts are approximate abbreviated figures shown on each YouTube watch page as of that date. Where a count could not be verified it is marked n.a.