Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(1756-1791)
Mozart was probably the first keyboard player whose performing career was devoted entirely to the piano. His father was considered the greatest music teacher in Europe and exploited young Mozart as a performing prodigy. A typical concert by Mozart, the child, included sight-reading, improvising his own variations, composing and conducting symphonic music “on the spot”. He wrote 27 piano concertos, although the first 4 are now known to have been arrangements of other composers. Mozart’s 19 piano sonatas are central to the modern concert repertoire. But he also composed variations, rondos, and fantasies. Most students perform the Sonata in C K. 545 and the Variations on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
Sonatas
- Piano Sonata No. 1 in C major, K. 279
- Piano Sonata No. 2 in F major, K. 280
- Piano Sonata No. 3 in B-flat major, K. 281
- Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-flat major, K. 282
- Piano Sonata No. 5 in G major, K. 283
- Piano Sonata No. 6 in D major, K. 284
- Piano Sonata No. 7 in C major, K. 309
- Piano Sonata No. 8 in A minor, K. 310
- Piano Sonata No. 9 in D major, K. 311
- Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major, K. 330
- Piano Sonata No. 11 “Turkish March” in A major, K. 331
- Piano Sonata No. 12 in F major, K. 332
- Piano Sonata No. 13 in B-flat major, K. 333
- Piano Sonata No. 14 in C minor, K. 457
- Piano Sonata No. 15 in F major, K. 533/494
- Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major, K. 545
- Piano Sonata No. 17 in F major, K. 570
- Piano Sonata No. 18 in B-flat major, K. 570