Mozart's original piano concertos begin with No. 5. The Piano Concertos Nos. 1-4, composed in 1767 when he was 11 years old, are arrangements of other composers' piano sonatas. The original works were primarily by German composers active in Paris, and their interactions during his travels strongly influenced Mozart. His father, Leopold, likely brought back scores of their works and had his son practice composing concertos. Leopold's handwriting also remains in the autograph scores.

At that time, Paris was a cultural center in Europe. During the 1760s, the Mozarts, who were traveling to various places, stayed in Paris for five months from November 1763 and two months from May 1766. This Western tour, including two visits to Paris, allowed the young Mozart to absorb various musical styles and broaden his compositional scope. The four piano concertos can be considered one of the outcomes of this period.

Original Works for Each Movement

• First Movement: H. F. Raupach, Op. 1-5 (First Movement)
• Second Movement: Unknown
• Third Movement: L. Honauer, Op. 2-3 (First Movement)

Hermann Friedrich Raupach (1728-78) was a musician born in North Germany and active in Saint Petersburg. It is believed that Mozart met him in 1766, when Raupach had just left Russia and arrived in Paris. Leonzio Honauer (c. 1730-c. 90) was a highly regarded German musician active in Paris.