Amiah Kwanprayoon

Rondo in A minor K. 511

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Born: Salzburg, Austria, 1756; Died: Vienna, Austria 1791

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the significant composer and musician of the classical period, he studied music with his father, Leopold Mozart who was also a successful composer. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had hundreds of compositions consist of symphonies, concertos, operas, sonatas, etc.

This Rondo opens with the dominant note of A minor followed by chromatic turn which Mozart carefully used throughout this music. Modulating to F major key in the first episode, he prepared the dominant of A minor to return to the rondo theme with more complication. In all piano music, Mozart always composed with one technique and in this work he fully presented chromatic element.

The American music theorist and musicologist Allen Forte described the Rondo in A minor as “Many musicians who have experienced this elegant and mysterious work seem to have acquired a special appreciation of the music.”

Sonata in C minor Op. 5 No. 6

Johann Christian Bach

Born: Leipzig, Germany, 1738; Died: London, England, 1782

1. Grave
2. Allegro moderato
3. Allegretto

Johann Christian Bach was the youngest son of Johann Sebastian Bach. Moving to Berlin in 1750 after his father died, Bach studied composition and harpsichord with his brother, Carl Philipp Emanuel. In 1762, he migrated to England and spent his life with music works here.

The style of Johann Christian Bach was different from his father and his brother, he presented ideas between baroque and classical period. He had many instrumental works which each instrument was distinguished by one opus number e.g. six op. 5 sonatas for harpsichord or pianoforte. The form of Piano Sonata Op.5 was almost similar to sonata form in classical era. There is two to three movements in different styles but the last sonata in C minor could be the most beautiful and expressive.

The first movement which exactly shows melody and accompaniment starts with C minor chord followed by arpeggios. This magnificent Grave is a prelude; it does seem to introduce the fughetta in the second movement. Allegretto, the graceful last movement is a gavotte in rondo form.