Violin Sonata No. 32

Album: Mozart: Sonatas For Fortepiano & Violin, Vol. 3 (1784)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Violin Sonata No. 32" is a work for violin and piano composed by Mozart in 1784. The sonata comprises three movements:

    Largo - Allegro: The first movement begins with a slow, expressive introduction in the key of B-flat minor, which sets the tone for the entire sonata. Haydn's "Op. 50 No. 1 String Quartet" and Beethoven's "String Quartet No. 1" later echoed the opening theme.

    Andante: The second movement is a graceful and lyrical andante. The piece has a melodious quality reminiscent of an adagio, which was initially the tempo notated by Mozart but later replaced by "Andante."

    Allegretto: Although the final movement reverts to the lighthearted atmosphere of the first, it is, nevertheless, a highly intricate Rondo.
  • Mozart composed the "Violin Sonata No. 32" in Vienna on April 21, 1784. He wrote the piece for a concert a week later in the Kärntnerthor Theater in Vienna to be performed by him on piano and virtuoso Regina Strinasacchi of Mantua on violin.

    Mozart didn't have time to write down the piano part for the debut performance of his Sonata 32, so he put a piece of blank paper on his stand. The great Austrian composer sat down at his piano and busked his way through it. Through his opera glasses, Emperor Joseph II spotted the blank page and asked for the sheet music. Mozart had to confess to Austrian emperor about his scheme to fool the audience.
  • Mozart's "Violin Sonata No. 32" appears in A Message from Akira Kurosawa: For Beautiful Movies. The 2000 documentary covers the filmmaking of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa around the theme of making the perfect movie.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Female Singers Of The 90s

Female Singers Of The 90sMusic Quiz

The ladies who ruled the '90s in this quiz.

Rick Springfield

Rick SpringfieldSongwriter Interviews

Rick has a surprising dark side, a strong feminine side and, in a certain TV show, a naked backside. But he still hasn't found Jessie's Girl.

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn YankeesSongwriter Interviews

Revisit the awesome glory of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees: cheesily-acted videos, catchy guitar licks, long hair, and lyrics that are just plain relatable.

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Randy Newman

Randy NewmanSongwriting Legends

Newman makes it look easy these days, but in this 1974 interview, he reveals the paranoia and pressures that made him yearn for his old 9-5 job.

Sugarland

SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Meet the "sassy basket" with the biggest voice in country music.