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Piano Sonata in C major, K. 545, movement I

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart · Level 6, estimated · With Maestro

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The short answer

A familiar sonata published after Mozart's death. Piano Sonata in C major, K. 545, movement I is a sonata by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart from the Classical era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 6, an estimate.

On this page
  • sonata
  • Classical
  • Key of C major
  • joyful
  • playful
  • voicing

Also known as MozV 87; Piano Sonata in C major, K. 545: movement I; Sonata K. 545, movement 1.

History

The catalogue dates the parent C-major sonata to Vienna on 26 June 1788. Its first publication is recorded in 1805 by the Bureau d'Arts et d'Industrie, after Mozart's lifetime. This movement belongs to that sonata, but the parent catalogue date is not independently established as the exact day this movement was completed.

Sources

What to listen for

  1. A broad melody above a small pattern

    The upper melody holds C for two beats, then moves to E and G. Beneath it, the lower part repeats C-G-E-G in eighth notes. Listen for the long melody over the smaller accompaniment pattern.

  2. A quick turn inside the phrase

    A dotted-quarter B leads into C and D sixteenths, then a quarter-note C and a rest. Keep the short turn connected to the longer notes, and let the rest complete the gesture.

  3. Rise, then answer with an ornament

    The upper line rises from a held A through G to C. The next bar moves down through G, an ornamented F, E and F, then E before a rest. Hear the rise and answer as a connected two-bar idea.

  4. Scales change the texture

    The upper line now climbs and descends in quick scale figures. The lower part becomes much more spacious, with notes or intervals separated by quarter rests. Compare this texture with the opening broken-chord accompaniment.

  5. The scale pattern continues lower

    The next two figures begin on F and then E, following the earlier rising-and-falling shape in lower positions. Keep their contour consistent without overlooking the changing starting notes or accompaniment.

How to practise it

Keep the melody clear as the accompaniment changes from small patterns to spacious support.

  1. Let the broad melody sit above the smaller accompaniment.
  2. Include rests in the melodic shape instead of holding through them.
  3. Keep scale contours even while the lower part becomes more spacious.

How hard is it

Level 6, estimated

The proposed intermediate target values clear articulation, dependable coordination and phrase direction through the complete first movement. A familiar opening and an easy-sonata nickname do not establish the difficulty of a polished performance.

About this piece

Interpretive sketch of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, an illustration and not a verified likeness
An illustration, not a portrait
Collection
Sonata journeys
Licence
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0
Source
mutopiaproject.org
Credit
“Sonata Facile - First movement” by W. A. Mozart (1756 to 1791) (local file: Sonata K. 545, movement 1). Mutopia edition maintained by Alejandro Sierra. Source: https://www.mutopiaproject.org/cgibin/piece-info.cgi?id=998. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/. Changes to the supplied file: none; any later conversion or edit must be disclosed separately.

More by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

  1. Menuetto in F for clavier, K. 1dLevel 2, estimatedWith Maestro
  2. Rondo alla Turca, K. 331, IIILevel 7, estimatedWith Maestro
  3. Piano Sonata in C Minor - KV. 457 (3rd Movement)Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro

With Maestro

Play it, slow it down, hear where you land

Keep the melody clear as the accompaniment changes from small patterns to spacious support.

Practise it in PlayPiano