Analysis of Mozart Sonata K331
A Brief Analysis of Mozart Sonata K.331
Jinsen Wang
Prof. HontzTheory of Music 125
Due date: 12/6/2010
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (W. A. Mozart, 1756 - 1791) is probably the most important composer in the history of music. Composing over 600 works during a period of evolution of consolidation, extension and deepening CITATION Sta65 \l 2052 (Sadie, 1965), Mozart is not merely a prolific composer, but an influential and even epoch-making artist as well. “Mozart learned voraciously from others, and developed a brilliance and maturity of style that encompassed the light and graceful along with the dark and passionate” CITATION Wik10 \l 2052 (Wikipedia, 2010) . He is also a broad composer, whose works have an extensive coverage from such solo music and ensembles as piano, chamber music, and choral music to such relatively complex music as concerto, symphony, and opera. From his earliest childhood, Mozart showed such a prodigious talent for music that his father decided to drop all other ambitions in order to educate young Mozart with all his might. They traveled to many cities and countries, performed various pieces of music to different aristocrat and duke, and gained highly positive reputations. Though recognized as a gifted musician and great composer, Mozart did not live a better life during most time of his life; his music however, was able to survive and become well-regarded all around the world.
Sonata K.331 is a rather interesting piece among Mozart’s piano sonatas. Composed in 1781, which is the date that most scholars suggested, it is the second piece in a set of sonatas K.330-333 with its graceful variations and minuet and its Turkish Rondo finale CITATION Sta65 \l 2052 (Sadie, 1965). The first movement of sonata K.331, which is our mainly analytic target, contains a theme and six variations, and it is among the few works that Mozart used the variation form to open the work. The second movement is as usual as other typical sonatas that are in a slow
Jinsen Wang
Prof. HontzTheory of Music 125
Due date: 12/6/2010
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (W. A. Mozart, 1756 - 1791) is probably the most important composer in the history of music. Composing over 600 works during a period of evolution of consolidation, extension and deepening CITATION Sta65 \l 2052 (Sadie, 1965), Mozart is not merely a prolific composer, but an influential and even epoch-making artist as well. “Mozart learned voraciously from others, and developed a brilliance and maturity of style that encompassed the light and graceful along with the dark and passionate” CITATION Wik10 \l 2052 (Wikipedia, 2010) . He is also a broad composer, whose works have an extensive coverage from such solo music and ensembles as piano, chamber music, and choral music to such relatively complex music as concerto, symphony, and opera. From his earliest childhood, Mozart showed such a prodigious talent for music that his father decided to drop all other ambitions in order to educate young Mozart with all his might. They traveled to many cities and countries, performed various pieces of music to different aristocrat and duke, and gained highly positive reputations. Though recognized as a gifted musician and great composer, Mozart did not live a better life during most time of his life; his music however, was able to survive and become well-regarded all around the world.
Sonata K.331 is a rather interesting piece among Mozart’s piano sonatas. Composed in 1781, which is the date that most scholars suggested, it is the second piece in a set of sonatas K.330-333 with its graceful variations and minuet and its Turkish Rondo finale CITATION Sta65 \l 2052 (Sadie, 1965). The first movement of sonata K.331, which is our mainly analytic target, contains a theme and six variations, and it is among the few works that Mozart used the variation form to open the work. The second movement is as usual as other typical sonatas that are in a slow
References: Sadie, Stanley. Mozart. London, 1965.Wikipedia. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozart