Essay on Mozarts Sonata k331 - 660 Words

Mozarts Sonata k331 The first movement of Sonata K331 is comprised of a theme, six variations and a coda. The theme comprises of 18 bars: four times four bar phrases with an extension tacked onto the end. Mozart followed this strict binary theme but this does not mean that the music is at all predictable; he uses different techniques to bring the best out of this form, as detailed later. The extension is an example of Mozart surprising the listener and enhancing the journey to the end of the theme. Each of the groups of four bars ends with a cadence. This is periodic phrasing, one of many signatures of galant musical style (also known as Viennese classical music) that had its emphasis on†¦show more content†¦This could be countered by contrasting the first movement to the radically different form later in the piece and by pointing out that the use of the two bar extension was unusual and Mozart added this primarily to avoid becoming too predictable. A piece lacking in continuity may also have several ideas that may only appear for short periods in the piece or not work well together. However, Mozart uses the same simple melodic ideas throughout this movement that does provide continuity. He achieves this through using the melody within different textures and not using much counterpoint at all. Next is the question of tonal variety- Mozarts use of chords and shape in the piece. There is a good argument for the lack of tonal variety in the piece- in the whole Andante only one type of chromatic chord is used (in bar 12 of variations 1-4). Also, Mozarts reliance on the tonic and dominant chords is evident; in the theme, over 75% of the chords are in the tonic (A major) or the dominant (E major). However, as the variations progress, the listener can hear plenty of tonal structure to ward off criticism. Right from the beginning of Variation 1 (bar 19) the theme is decorated in the right hand with semi-tonal appoggiaturas as well as contrasting semi-quaver octaves in bar 23. There are many tonal marks in the piece-