Of the three Mannheim flute quartets, that in D major K 285, is probably the best-known. Commissioned by the Dutch music-lover De Jean, it is concertante in character throughout: in the virtuoso opening movement, in the arioso central section and in the exuberant closing Rondeau the flute is treated as a solo instrument. The autograph manuscript has been classified as lost since 1945. According to the Köchel Catalogue it bore the original dating Mannheim il 25 dec.1777. The dynamics and articul