Classical Music | Piano Music

Recorded on 01/22/2008, uploaded on 01/27/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Sonata in F Major, K533/494            Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Allegro;    Andante;    Rondo: Allegretto

The sonata in F major - oddly labeled K. 533/494 - was written in two parts. The Rondo was composed as a stand-alone piece around 1786. The Allegro and Andante were written in 1787 and were subsequently joined with the Rondo at the request of Mozart's publisher. For this reason, the authoritative Köchel-Verzeichnis uses two different catalog numbers to identify this work.

Although this sonata was completed by a relatively young composer (age 32), the piece is actually a late work for Mozart and offers an especially advanced treatment of the traditional sonata architecture.

The first movement begins with a monophonic statement of the first theme which is more reminiscent of a fugue subject than a formal opening for a sonata.  Throughout the movement, there is a considerable contrapuntal interplay which separates this work from most of its forbearers. Substantial chromaticism and unexpected tonal excursions mask the underlying sonata-form structure, putting this sonata in a category of special beauty.

The second and third movements are equally unusual. The second is exceptionally emotional and, on the surface, has a fantasy-like quality. The third is anything but the typical, jovial and driving Rondo.  Like the first movement, it has its moments of contrapuntal interplay and struggle between major and minor modalities. Unlike the previous two movements, the concluding measures contain unusually low notes.       Notes by George F. Litterst

Courtesy of International Music Foundation.