Mozart composed this charming love song for voice and mandolin. This was not his only song with mandolin. Don Giovanni’s Serenade to Donna Elvira is one of that opera’s most exquisite moments.

Because the mandolin goes down only to Middle C, Komm, liebe Zither, komm has no bass line in Mozart’s original. In my arrangement, I have added a bass line and filled in the implied harmonies. Then, I have arranged the accompaniment for string orchestra.

The solo part should be played by a mandolin, as Mozart intended. I should note that in many orchestras (especially opera orchestras,) some violinists may also play the mandolin.

Nevertheless, since access to a suitable mandolin player may be limited for a particular orchestra, a harp makes a fine substitute.

The ideal performance would enlist the services of a zither soloist. Of course, they are even rarer than mandolin players.

There is a remarkable performance by baritone Hermann Prey and zither on YouTube.

The score and performance parts for my orchestral arrangement are available for purchase, downloading and printing on www.sibeliusmusic.com. This arrangement is copyright and registered with ASCAP. All public performances and recordings must be licenses by ASCAP.

An mp3 demo file is available for audition and free downloading on www.sibeliusmusic.com.

Also available on www.sibeliusmusic.com: sheet music for the reduction for voice, mandolin (or harp) and piano.