180 Days With Mozart And Me

It’s 43 degrees (F.) and rainy at the moment. I don’t mind either one. For this time of year, in Michigan, I’ll take temperatures above freezing and rain instead of snow, any day of the week. Besides, we need to wash away the Winter’s grime. Bring on the rain!

The sun just broke through the clouds and I find myself sitting in a very warm sunbeam. Now I know why my cat, Bradbury, seeks out these things.

Two days ago, I wrote this:

Even people only vaguely familiar with Mozart’s music will recognize Movement 3 (Alla turca, Allegretto) from Piano Sonata No. 11 in A, K.331 “Alla Turca”. Next to Eine kleine Nachtmusik there’s probably no more instantly-recognizable composition in the Mozart canon.

Well, I was wrong.

The first track on today’s CD (Piano Sonata No. 16 in C, K.545 “Sonata facile” – 1. Allegro) is probably the most widely recognized piece of music Mozart composed (next to Eine kleine Nachtmusik, that is). It’s always found on Mozart “greatest hits” CDs. And it virtually epitomizes the era of Classical music.

Here is a little background (from Wikipedia) about this piece of music:

The Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major, K. 545, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was described by Mozart himself in his own thematic catalogue as “for beginners,” and it is sometimes known by the nickname Sonata facile or Sonata semplice.

Mozart added the work to his catalogue on June 26, 1788, the same date as his Symphony No. 39. The exact circumstances of the work’s composition are not known, however. Although the piece is very well known today (especially since the introductory notes are used as Granny’s theme from the Looney Tunes cartoons) it was not published in Mozart’s lifetime, first appearing in print in 1805. A typical performance takes about 14 minutes.

The work has three movements:
1. Allegro
2. Andante
3. Rondo

The first movement is written in sonata form and is in the key of C major. The familiar opening theme is accompanied by an Alberti bass, played in the left hand.

A bridge passage composed of scales follows, arriving at a cadence in G major, the key in which the second theme is then played. A codetta follows to conclude the exposition, then the exposition is repeated. The development starts in G minor and modulates through several keys. The recapitulation begins, unusually, in the subdominant key of F major. According to Charles Rosen, the practice of beginning a recapitulation in the subdominant was “rare at the time [the sonata] was written,” though the practice was later taken up by Franz Schubert.

Now, all that’s pretty technical for me, a non-musician. But Wikipedia is usually accurate because of worldwide peer review. So I’ll assume it’s correct until I hear otherwise (Szor?).

Also known as für Anfänger – for beginners – or “Sonata facile” (“easy sonata” in French), the first movement of Piano Sonata No. 16 is definitely pretty. But easy? For beginners? I’d like to hear from pianists about this. Is K545, Movement 1 (Allegro), “facile”? Is it für Anfänger – for beginners?

All of the piano sonatas in Box 9 of the Philips Complete Mozart Edition (at least, so far) are played by Mitsuko Uchida. There are a number of YouTube videos of her playing various Classical pieces, including K545. For example, here’s Ms. Uchida playing Movement 2 (Andante) of K545:

Although the quality of this YouTube video isn’t as good, here’s Ms. Uchida playing the first and second movements of K545:

Here is what I listened to today, complete with the best guesses of scholars regarding where and when each piano sonata was composed. This information was pieced together from The Compactothèque book + CD, which is an essential purchase if you want the fullest enjoyment from the Philips Complete Mozart Edition. It’s only about $8 and the sampler CD, alone, is remarkably enjoyable. But the booklet is gold, Jerry! Gold! Keep in mind, some of these places and dates are merely guesses. But I find it fascinating to see even guesses for some of these compositions. They help me put Mozart’s life and creative output in perspective.

For example, Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart was born on 27 January 1756. With that in mind, take a look at where and when these pieces were composed. I’ll add Mozart’s approximate age in the parenthetical data below each listed sonata:

1. Piano Sonata No.16 in C, K.545 “Sonata facile” – 1. Allegro
2. Piano Sonata No.16 in C, K.545 “Sonata facile” – 2. Andante
3. Piano Sonata No.16 in C, K.545 “Sonata facile” – 3. Rondo (Allegro)
- Vienna, June 26, 1788 (Mozart was 32)

4. Piano Sonata No.17 in B flat, K.570 – 1. Allegro
5. Piano Sonata No.17 in B flat, K.570 – 2. Adagio
6. Piano Sonata No.17 in B flat, K.570 – 3. Allegretto
- Vienna, February 1789 (Mozart was 33)

7. Piano Sonata No.18 in D, K.576 – 1. Allegro
8. Piano Sonata No.18 in D, K.576 – 2. Adagio
9. Piano Sonata No.18 in D, K.576 – 3. Allegretto
- Vienna, July, 1789 (Mozart was 33)

10. Piano Sonata No.15 in F, K.533/494 – 1. Allegro, K.533
11. Piano Sonata No.15 in F, K.533/494 – 2. Andante, K.533
12. Piano Sonata No.15 in F, K.533/494 – 3. Rondo (Allegretto), K.494
- Vienna, January 3, 1788 (Mozart was 31 until January 27)

It’s hard for me not to pick, as my favorite, one of Mozart’s most popular compositions, Piano Sonata No.16 in C, K.545, especially Movement 1 (Allegro). I really love that piece of music because it’s so pretty, and the very definition of iconic. The whole of Piano Sonata No.16 in C is quite good, as is Piano Sonata No.17 in C.

I’ve noticed a lot of discrepancy on various web sites – even on iTunes – regarding the numbering of these Piano Sonatas. iTunes has all of these compositions off by one number. In other words, my listening starts with Piano Sonata #15, K 545. However, all other web sites – especially Amazon, from where I get the listing of tracks – indicate K 545 is Piano Sonata #16.

To further muddy the waters, one site lists K 576 as being Piano Sonata No. 19. But according to iTunes it’s Piano Sonata #17. And according to Amazon, it’s Piano Sonata #18. So that’s three different citations for K 576. They can’t all be right, can they?

Trying to figure out which K-number goes with which Sonata is giving me a headache this morning.

Time to move on to other things. I’ll check my sources at home – including the little booklet that comes with each boxed set – to see what Philips calls it. They’re the ones who published it. So I’m going to have to believe they know what they’re talking about.

More later.