The piece was composed in 1781 and is often known by the subtitle Gran Partita, though the title is a misspelling and not in Mozart's hand.

Some prominent authorities (Köchel, Tyson, and Dexter Edge) show that the paper and watermarks of this work prove a composition date of 1781.

It was shown by Alan Tyson that this fact is sufficiently compelling to presume that K. 361 was composed in 1781.

[citation needed] The documentary history also shows that there is an unequivocal reference to wind-band music in Vienna in 1781.

Mozart's Harmoniemusik, including K. 361, shows his interest in texture through his use of unique combinations of instruments for the era, scoring, rhythm and articulation.

Described by Goodwin as "virtually an 'operatic' ensemble of passionate feeling and sensuous warmth",[4] the third movement, marked Adagio, is in E flat major.

The movement begins and ends with an Adagio section in the tonic and in triple meter with many long notes in the melody.

The movement employs many tutti passages in which the oboes and clarinets play in unison, particularly in the rondo theme.

The episodes between the returns of the theme feature a greater degree of interplay between the instruments.