Mozart - Sonata for Two Pianos in D major K 448 mov 1 | Library of Music

At the request of Adriana Villegas Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major K 488 movement 1 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Mozart reserved the key of D major for happy compositions usually calling for a degree of virtuosity, as may be easily heard in his Sonata for two pianos. This is a work in the galant style, light, brilliant, yet refined. Mozart wrote it for a performance he would give with Josephine von Aurnhammer, who also appeared with him in his Concerto for two pianos and orchestra. This two-piano sonata is clearly meant for public use, rather than as a teaching tool like his pieces for four hands at a single keyboard. The opening Allegro con spirito begins with a trilling fanfare, then immediately launches into a quick, bubbling theme, followed by a somewhat more chordal, low-key, second subject adorned with witty grace notes; a third section returns to the spirit and technique of the first part, but without quite quoting the earlier material until the very end. These are the building blocks of the sonata-form movement, which, after an exposition repeat, launches the development section with a descending version of the opening fanfare, sounding like the subject of a fugue. Mozart never really embarks on counterpoint, though, and after a very few bars he moves impatiently to the recapitulation. The Andante begins with a seemingly simple yet highly adorned melody and flowing accompaniment that might serve nicely as an aria or duet in The Magic Flute or Così fan tutte. The...