Mozart's original piano concertos begin with No. 5. 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. The autograph scores also show traces of his father's handwriting.

At that time, Paris was a cultural center in Europe. In 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 range. The four piano concertos can be considered one of the outcomes of this period.

Original Works for Each Movement

• First Movement: L. Honauer, Op. 2, No. 1 (First Movement)
• Second Movement: J. G. Eckard, Op. 1, No. 4 (First Movement)
• Third Movement: C. P. E. Bach, "Bohemian" from Clavierstücke Wq. 117

Leonzi Honauer (c. 1730-c. 1790) was a German musician active in Paris who received high acclaim. Johann Gottfried Eckard (1735-1809), born in Augsburg, met the Mozarts in Paris and was highly regarded by Leopold. Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-88) was, needless to say, the son of J. S. Bach and was active in Berlin at the time. Although Mozart never met him directly, he was a composer whom his father Leopold had noted early on.