Name that busk

August 5, 2009 8:55 AM

While in Paris, I stumbled upon a group playing quite an impressive strings arrangement, in a Metro station. What song is this?
posted by disillusioned to media & arts (4 comments total)

Mozart - Divertimento D major. Compare your clip at :30 to this clip at around 7:32.
posted by Jinkeez at 9:27 AM on August 5

I'll second Divertimento (although I haven't found a clip that includes that bit from 0:48 to 1:00, so maybe it's a mixture of more than one song or movement?). They list Divertimento on their repertoire, though.

Sorry, I don't actually speak French, so I can't tell you what else the website says.
posted by specialagentwebb at 9:53 AM on August 5

I think Jinkeez has it. it's definitely Mozart, just based on the parallel turn figures in the upper string parts and the excruciatingly balanced phrase lengths. There are thematic similarities to the string quartet Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, but that's not it.

OK, just listened to Jinkeez's link to Divertimento in D major and I'm totally convinced.
posted by LMGM at 1:58 PM on August 5

Awesome! Thanks, all!

(I absolutely loved hearing such a treat on my way out of the station, for sure... hadn't seen anything like that anywhere else.)
posted by disillusioned at 4:30 PM on August 5