The cleverly titled Zeit für'sIch -- a play on words meaning both "time for its own sake" and "time for myself" -- contains eleven slow movements composed by the man of many musical moods, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

The Mozart Quartett Salzburg, formed in 1996 in Salzburg, offers here selections that promote peaceful and happy relaxation. Unlike with many string quartet albums, which feature entire multi-movement works, the Mozart Quartett have selected only the slow movements in major keys from eleven different works, thereby maintaining a consistently mellow and positive musical mood.

Though comprised mostly of string quartets and divertimenti, this album also contains works for string quartet and solo instrument, including a surprisingly beautiful arrangement of one of Mozart's vocal works (from the Vespers), here heard performed with saxophone and strings: Tenorsaxophon & Strings F-Dur KV 339 / F major K.3 . An arrangement of an incomplete work by Mozart for four instruments (heard here with English horn and string quartet), whose theme bears resemblance to Mozart's better known "Ave Verum Corpus," is another rare gem this album offers: English Horn & Strings C-Dur KV 94 (580a) / C majo .

The gentle themes, moderate pace, and relatively short duration of these pieces, along with the touching beauty that has kept Mozart in the general public's consciousness for over two centuries, provide a prime setting for reflection, as suggested by the album's title. Or, if the "Mozart Effect" is what you're after, this music can also serve as the soundtrack for all sorts of brain-heavy activity. Whether you're looking for spiritual healing, or just some gentle background music, look no further than Zeit für'sIch.

Additional Tracks:
Streichquartett G-Dur KV 80 / G major K.80 (Adagio
Klarinettenkonzert D-Dur KV 622 / D major K.622 (A