Elégie

Elégie was created as continuation of a fragmentary piece by Mozart for three basset horns and clarinet (KV 580a). Françaix took up the elegiac tone of the low instruments, but he also increased the number of instruments. The quiet Largo not only picks up the dull minor sound of the original work but is actually based on the principal motif of the original which is arranged in a refined contrapuntal manner. The wistful retrospective nature of the work is in delightful contrast to Françaix’ cheerful tributes to Mozart. ‚I did not write this elegy in remembrance of Mozart‘s work […] but in remembrance of Mozart, the individual, whose early death
has remained a catastrophe for music.‘ (Françaix)