Violin Sonatas, KV 10-15 (Mozart)
Encyclopedia
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
's set of six sonatas for keyboard with accompaniment of violin or flute, K
. 10-15 were composed in late 1764 in London
during the Mozart family's grand tour of Europe
. Queen Charlotte of the United Kingdom
commissioned them on October 25 and the works were dedicated on January 18, 1765. They were published as Mozart's "Opus 3".
Some manuscripts include an accompanying cello part where the cello part doubles principal notes in the left hand part of the keyboard. Because of this, there is some ambiguity as to whether to classify these pieces as violin sonata
s, flute sonata
s or keyboard trio
s.
It is likely the works were influenced by a set of similarly scored sonatas (Op. 2) by Queen Charlotte's music teacher Johann Christian Bach
("The London Bach"). Bach befriended the young Mozart and become an important influence on the younger composers evolving style.
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...
's set of six sonatas for keyboard with accompaniment of violin or flute, K
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....
. 10-15 were composed in late 1764 in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
during the Mozart family's grand tour of Europe
Mozart family grand tour
The Mozart family grand tour was a journey through western Europe, undertaken by Leopold Mozart, his wife Anna Maria, and their musically gifted children Maria Anna and Wolfgang Amadeus from 1763 to 1766. At the start of the tour the children were aged eleven and seven respectively...
. Queen Charlotte of the United Kingdom
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was the Queen consort of the United Kingdom as the wife of King George III...
commissioned them on October 25 and the works were dedicated on January 18, 1765. They were published as Mozart's "Opus 3".
Some manuscripts include an accompanying cello part where the cello part doubles principal notes in the left hand part of the keyboard. Because of this, there is some ambiguity as to whether to classify these pieces as violin sonata
Violin sonata
A violin sonata is a musical composition for violin, which is nearly always accompanied by a piano or other keyboard instrument, or by figured bass in the Baroque period.-A:*Ella Adayevskaya**Sonata Greca for Violin or Clarinet and Piano...
s, flute sonata
Flute sonata
A flute sonata is a sonata usually for flute and piano, though occasionally other accompanying instruments may be used. Flute sonatas in the Baroque period were very often accompanied in the form of basso continuo.-List of Flute Sonatas:*George Antheil...
s or keyboard trio
Piano trio
A piano trio is a group of piano and two other instruments, usually a violin and a cello, or a piece of music written for such a group. It is one of the most common forms found in classical chamber music...
s.
It is likely the works were influenced by a set of similarly scored sonatas (Op. 2) by Queen Charlotte's music teacher Johann Christian Bach
Johann Christian Bach
Johann Christian Bach was a composer of the Classical era, the eleventh and youngest son of Johann Sebastian Bach. He is sometimes referred to as 'the London Bach' or 'the English Bach', due to his time spent living in the British capital...
("The London Bach"). Bach befriended the young Mozart and become an important influence on the younger composers evolving style.
External links
- MozartForum notes on early Mozart compositions
- Naxos.com liner notes