Classical Music | Piano Music

Recorded on 10/13/2006, uploaded on 08/07/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Energetic and jovial, the Piano Sonata in D major, K. 311 shows Mozart as a youthful developing composer. Composed around the time of his visit to Mannheim in 1777, it also makes use of the style unique to the city. Opening with a flourish, the first movement seems at first to struggle to get underway but then suddenly bursts into a run of brilliant sixteenth notes. Lyricism takes over in the latter half of the second theme, but even it is accompanied by undulating sixteenth notes full of energy. This liveliness persists nearly unabated for the remainder of the movement.

The middle movement, a short sonatina (sonata form without development), is a tender Andante in G major. Two lyrical themes are presented in the tonic and dominant keys, as is expected, and then immediately recapped in the tonic. A final embellished statement of the first melody concludes the movement. The finale is a rondo and returns to the vigor of the opening Allegro. Once again, the energy of the movement is maintained through ample use of sixteenth notes (though this time in compound meter). A brief cadenza, first in an Andante, then an Adagio tempo, announces the final statement of the rondo's main theme. Finally, the sonata comes to a close with a flourish of full chords.    Joseph DuBose

Recorded live at San Francisco Conservatory