Beginning Mozart

[p_2005]

What tips (in general) would you give someone who is playing Mozart for the first time? (ie. interpretation, touch etc.)  Also, what pieces would you start with?

[Siberian Husky]

its universally agreed upon to start off with the K545 "facile"..this is the piece i started on...it does a great job of capturing mozart's "style" so to speak..and also really emphasizes the learning of articulation and in some cases "perfect touch"...

alot of people agree on the notion that Mozart's music really requires a high degree of "strictness" in perfection...i believe that his music allows less flexibility in the interpretation of the performer..but thats entirely subjective because music is what you make of it...but i feel that playing his pieces with crisp, clear, articulation would do them the best justice, keeping mind his time period and style of composing...

one last thing...in my humble opinion.."dont count your chickens before they hatch" with mozart...i get the impression that alot of people see Mozart's music as mediocre, redundant, repetetive, and dry (emotionally)..thus making his music "easy."...but i feel a well played Mozart piece required a great deal of patience to really "get in the zone" as far as maintaining a level of perfection..and slo a great deal of analyzing the pieces. For example, a set of mozart runs may look like an easy cluster of notes right?...just make sure you get it in your muscle memory?..well..i believe it goes more in depth than that..it takes a LARGE amount o control to really get Mozart runs nice and crisp and style..but not too much style that would jeapordize it's melodic form and strict profile....

Mozart's music is very fun and playful as well in my opinion..thus making it another reason why several people turn their noe up to it, i agree it may not be as emotionally gratifying as maybe playing those beastly chords in the Grave of pathetique...but this does not make Mozart's music stuffy and boring...its a shame most people see pianism as a pissing contest these days and want emotionally draining pieces with massive chord progressions, showy fingerings, and more "depth."...but i feel it is important to explore different time periods, styles, composers, and fully understand their importance..its rediculous to compare mozart to beethoven or chopin..they aretwo different worlds...so dont let the ignorance opress your views on Mozarts music...its beautiful..and will make you a more well rounded musician...

good luck

[xvimbi]

It depends what you are aiming for. There is nothing new in Mozart in terms of technique, so you have complete freedom in how to play his music. If you are playing for a jury of sticklers, focus on what is perceived as the "Mozart-style", curve your fingers as much as possible and try to achieve the clearest articulation possible.

If you are playing for anybody else who has any shred of reason in them, forget what I just said. Mozart can be played in all kinds of ways, from strictly Baroque to almost Romantic. If you are turned off by the Baroque aspect of his music, I'd recommend his piano sonata No. 4, KV 282. It is very unusual for Mozart in that it is rather Romantic. As with any Mozart, although technically quite managable, it is not an easy piece at all. Every note must be perfect. Herein lies the difficulty of Mozart. By far, most people who dismiss Mozart as too easy and boring actually can't play his music.

Also, in order to appreciate Mozart best, one has to listen to his operas and concertos. Insight gained from how he develops his themes and how they are interwoven will help a lot when playing his piano solo music.

Try to listen to a few good recordings to see what can be done with Mozart's music. Brendel generally gives a purist-type of rendition and is excellent. I personally like Uchida's version of the sonatas. Barenboim and Andsnes have some excellent recent recordings as well.

[abell88]

its universally agreed upon to start off with the K545 "facile"..this is the piece i started on...it does a great job of capturing mozart's "style" so to speak..and also really emphasizes the learning of articulation and in some cases "perfect touch"...

I agree with almost all of Siberian Husky's post, but not this...it depends on how advanced the student is. I have young students who are nowhere near ready for the K545, but they can learn a Mozart minuet, which requires the same style...and this will help prepare them for the sonatas sometime down the road.

[gorbee natcase]

Mozart is very hard to perfect, decievebly so.
start slow, and gain mommentum slow, one wrong note is like saying something stupid at a formal engagement. slow, slow, slow,

[ptmidwest]

Abell88, what are your favorite easier Mozart minuets to teach?

[maryruth]

A very helpful series that really explains the Classical style of Mozart is called "Succeeding With The Masters:  A Guide to Practicing and Performing the Works of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven".  It's compiled and edited by Dr. Helen Marlais and published by FJH Music Company.  There are two books, and once students are finished with them they will be well equipped to start the easier Sonatas by these three composers. 

In the first volume the Mozart pieces are (in order of difficulty):
1.  Minuet in F (from Maria Anna Nannerl Mozart's Notebook)

2.  Minuet in C, K 6 (This piece, composed in 1763, was originally written for violin and piano)

3.  Minuet in C (from Notebook for Maria Anna (Nannerl) Mozart.

4.  Air K 15qq

5.  Minuet in F, K 2  ( the six-year-old Mozart created an entire piece from one rhythmic motive, which is a three-note slur)

6.  Andante and Maestoso, K 15 oo

7.  Minuet and Trio, K 1

8.  Allegro Moderato, K 15 qq

9.  Allegro, K 3


In Volume 2, the Mozart pieces are (in order of difficulty):

1. Klavierstuck in F, KV 33B ( This "Piano Piece" was written at the beginning of October 1766, in Zurich, Switzerland, when Mozart was 10.)

2.  Andante in F, KV 6  (This piece was probably composed in Brussels, Belgium, in October of 1763, when Mozart was 7).

3.  Minuet in F, KV 6, Minuet II (This piece was written on July 16, 1792 in Salzburg.  It is likely that Wolfgang's father wrote the bass line and had his young 6-year-old song complete the melodies to the the harmonies.

4.  Little Funeral March, KV 453 a (This funeral march was composed for "Del Signor Mawstro Contarpunto."  It was intended to be a joke, and Mozart wrote this when he was a grown man, probably for one of his pianoforte students.  It was composed in Vienna, Austria in 1784.

5.  Moderato in F Major, KV Anh. 109 b, No. 1 (15 a) (This piece is part of the London Sketchbook Mozart composed during the time he and his sister were giving recital performances in England)

6.  Adagio in C, KV 356 (617 a) (This piece was written in Austria, for an instrument called a glass harmonica.  He wrote in in 1791, the last year of his life.

7.  Presto in B Flat Major, KV Anh. 109 b, No. 9 (15 II)  (This is also from the London Sketchbook. )

[Siberian Husky]

i like how u added snippets of info on the piece..interesting

[galonia]

Between the "little" Mozart pieces (i.e. the short little Minuets and so on), and the full-on Sonatas, I played the six Viennese sonatinas, which are very nice, and quite challenging in the way xvimbi has already pointed out, but not nearly as long as a whole Sonata.

There are also four-hands arrangements of these sonatinas if you have two students learning them - it's a bit of a change from boring practice all by yourself!

[abell88]

PTMidwest, Minuet in F, K 2  is in the RCM Grade 1 book. I had several students learn it this year, and one of them is playing it for her exam this Tuesday. It's a charming little piece, with great opportunities to practise "feminine" endings, which are found in every phrase. 

[p_2005]

Thanks for your help so far.  I am actually looking at the Fantasy in C minor (K.475), and keep hearing about Mozart's style and interpretation.  Would a series of easier pieces be helpful to build up? 

[ptmidwest]

others?

[keasbey]

my teacher started me off with Rondo - K 485.