Piano Sonata No. 13 (Mozart)
Encyclopedia
The Piano Sonata in B-flat major, K.
333 (315c), was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
in Linz
at the end of 1783.
by Christoph Torricella (along with K. 284
and K. 454, as op.
7). The actual date of composition, however, has proved more difficult to determine. In the first edition of his catalog (1862), Köchel
gave the hypothetical date 1779, later clarified by Georges de Saint-Foix (1936) to "Salzburg
, beginning of January-March 1779." However, Alfred Einstein, in the third edition of the Köchel catalog (1937), said that it was composed in "late summer 1778 in Paris
." This date was maintained even until the sixth edition of the Köchel catalog (1964).
More recently, this date has been invalidated by the findings of Wolfgang Plath and Alan Tyson
. On the basis of Mozart's script, Plath assigns the piece to the time around 1783/84, "likely not long before the appearance of the first print." Furthermore, Tyson convincingly demonstrates that the work was composed at the end of 1783, likely in November, around the same time as the "Linz Symphony", K. 425, when the Mozart couple made a stopover in Linz on their way back to Vienna from Salzburg. This new dating also fits stylistic criteria.
A typical performance takes about 23 minutes.
of the first movement
is playful and lively. This simple melody
is accompanied
by the arpeggio
-style chords played in the left hand. As the first few bars are established, the level gets higher and eventually restarts from a relatively lower level.
The theme is repeated but then it varies and the climax builds slowly and ends with an arpeggio
of F Major. The mood softens and a phrase is established which will be repeated 2 times in this key, but varied slightly by key. The first part slowly ends with the familiar arpeggio with the chord played (brokenly) and repeatedly.
The second part is introduced by varying
the theme three times which leads to a minor key. It slowly establishes back to B-flat with a small spark that played the theme in minor key for a short time then slowly it builds up to a higher key.
The third part repeats the 1st part but in a higher key with few variations. It ends on the same key with a slight minor key change in the last few bars but building up to the key in time to end the first movement.
In the second part the first part is repeated until its course changes to a minor key. It then plays two phrases which will be repeated in different keys.
The third part comes in quickly and unexpectedly. It comes to a section where the major and minor keys switch every few bars. It slowly comes back to the major key where it repeats the opening theme for the second time.
It continues with phrases adapted from the first movement. Then comes a series of arpeggios which lead to a short pause preceding the final repeat of the first theme with accompaniment variations, ending the piece.
Köchel-Verzeichnis
The Köchel-Verzeichnis is a complete, chronological catalogue of compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart which was originally created by Ludwig von Köchel. It is abbreviated K or KV. For example, Mozart's Requiem in D minor was, according to Köchel's counting, the 626th piece Mozart composed....
333 (315c), was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
in Linz
Linz
Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria . It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is , and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is about...
at the end of 1783.
Dating
There is no doubt that this sonata was first published on April 21, 1784 in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
by Christoph Torricella (along with K. 284
Piano Sonata No. 6 (Mozart)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 6 in D major, K 284 is a sonata in three movements:#Allegro#Rondo and Polonaise #Theme with variationsA typical performance takes about 24 minutes....
and K. 454, as op.
Opus number
An Opus number , pl. opera and opuses, abbreviated, sing. Op. and pl. Opp. refers to a number generally assigned by composers to an individual composition or set of compositions on publication, to help identify their works...
7). The actual date of composition, however, has proved more difficult to determine. In the first edition of his catalog (1862), Köchel
Köchel
Köchel, Koechel is surname of:* Ludwig Alois Ferdinand Ritter von Köchel , composer, musicologist, botanist, writer* Köchel catalogue...
gave the hypothetical date 1779, later clarified by Georges de Saint-Foix (1936) to "Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, beginning of January-March 1779." However, Alfred Einstein, in the third edition of the Köchel catalog (1937), said that it was composed in "late summer 1778 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
." This date was maintained even until the sixth edition of the Köchel catalog (1964).
More recently, this date has been invalidated by the findings of Wolfgang Plath and Alan Tyson
Alan Tyson
Alan Walker Tyson was a British musicologist who specialized in studies of the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven...
. On the basis of Mozart's script, Plath assigns the piece to the time around 1783/84, "likely not long before the appearance of the first print." Furthermore, Tyson convincingly demonstrates that the work was composed at the end of 1783, likely in November, around the same time as the "Linz Symphony", K. 425, when the Mozart couple made a stopover in Linz on their way back to Vienna from Salzburg. This new dating also fits stylistic criteria.
Movements
The work is a sonata in three movements:- Allegro
- Andante cantabile
- Allegretto grazioso
A typical performance takes about 23 minutes.
I. Allegro
The tuneMelody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
of the first movement
Movement (music)
A movement is a self-contained part of a musical composition or musical form. While individual or selected movements from a composition are sometimes performed separately, a performance of the complete work requires all the movements to be performed in succession...
is playful and lively. This simple melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
is accompanied
Accompaniment
In music, accompaniment is the art of playing along with an instrumental or vocal soloist or ensemble, often known as the lead, in a supporting manner...
by the arpeggio
Arpeggio
An arpeggio is a musical technique where notes in a chord are played or sung in sequence, one after the other, rather than ringing out simultaneously...
-style chords played in the left hand. As the first few bars are established, the level gets higher and eventually restarts from a relatively lower level.
The theme is repeated but then it varies and the climax builds slowly and ends with an arpeggio
Arpeggio
An arpeggio is a musical technique where notes in a chord are played or sung in sequence, one after the other, rather than ringing out simultaneously...
of F Major. The mood softens and a phrase is established which will be repeated 2 times in this key, but varied slightly by key. The first part slowly ends with the familiar arpeggio with the chord played (brokenly) and repeatedly.
The second part is introduced by varying
Variation (music)
In music, variation is a formal technique where material is repeated in an altered form. The changes may involve harmony, melody, counterpoint, rhythm, timbre, orchestration or any combination of these.-Variation form:...
the theme three times which leads to a minor key. It slowly establishes back to B-flat with a small spark that played the theme in minor key for a short time then slowly it builds up to a higher key.
The third part repeats the 1st part but in a higher key with few variations. It ends on the same key with a slight minor key change in the last few bars but building up to the key in time to end the first movement.
II. Andante cantabile
The second movement is an Andante Cantabile in E flat major. The movement opens with thirds in the right hand progressing to the more lyrical theme of the movement accompanied by flowing broken triads in the left hand. It soon modulates to B flat major for a 'minuet like' section. After this, the movement begins to modulate back to E flat major for a repeat of the exposition, however, after the first repeat, just as it seems to settle again in E flat major, the development begins in the G minor. From G minor it modulates to F minor, to C minor, to A flat major, to B flat minor and finally to E flat major at which point the recapitulation occurs. Throughout the second movement, chromaticism is present which occasionally evokes a slight sense of dissonance.III. Allegretto
The third movement shows much similarity to the first by chord pattern and by music phrases. The first part starts simply but playfully. The theme is repeated but with the broken chords accompanying the melody. The mood slowly softens but a difficult melody is quickly established. It builds up and ends at a climax.In the second part the first part is repeated until its course changes to a minor key. It then plays two phrases which will be repeated in different keys.
The third part comes in quickly and unexpectedly. It comes to a section where the major and minor keys switch every few bars. It slowly comes back to the major key where it repeats the opening theme for the second time.
It continues with phrases adapted from the first movement. Then comes a series of arpeggios which lead to a short pause preceding the final repeat of the first theme with accompaniment variations, ending the piece.