Horn Concerto no. 4 in E-flat major

Mozart’s Horn Concerto in E-­ flat Major, K. 495, is one of the most important works in the classical horn canon and a particular favorite among performers. Like his other major compositions for the instrument, the concerto was written for Mozart’s dear friend, the talented and well-­ known horn player Joseph Leutgeb. On the autograph manuscripts of some of his horn works, Mozart penned light-­ hearted jokes directed at Leutgeb. For instance, he signed and dated K. 417, “Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has taken pity on Leutgeb, ass, ox, and fool, at Vienna, 27 March 1783.” The autograph of K. 495 was written in four colors of ink—red, black, blue, and green—perhaps another playful gesture.