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A sparkling, Haydnesque Allegro, in sonata form, opens the symphony. The brisk first theme, initiated by the first violins, gives way to a transition to the dominant, after which Mozart accompanies the highly contrasting secondary theme with the opening violin figure from the first theme. Repeated segments are subtly varied in the exposition. Despite the Viennese details, the feel of the movement is of Italian symphonic composition, with its typical string figurations. It is more like a movement from one of Mozart's symphonies of the 1760s than those of the early 1770s.
Elegance permeates the middle movement, an Andante grazioso. Here, Mozart's lyricism comes to the fore, momentarily eschewing the repetitive figurations of the first movement. Unlike the Allegro, the Andante looks forward to Mozart's later work. Details such as the isolated octave leaps that create a bridge from the end of the exposition to the development, the sighing, chromatic appoggiaturas and a subtle modulation to the dominant are the marks of a maturing composer.
The concluding Presto bursts with blithe, youthful energy. Beginning with only the violins, the movement becomes contrapuntal at various moments. The texture is much like that of a string quartet in that the writing, in spite of the flutes and horns, is generally in four parts.