Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) c. 1783 A major 6/8 Intermediate 0:43 Both hands
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Before its famous Turkish March, Mozart's Sonata in A major opens with a gentle theme in the lilting rhythm of a siciliano: long, short, long, in 6/8. The right hand sings a simple tune, C sharp D C sharp E, over soft chords in the left hand, and the whole theme fits in eighteen bars. This page has both halves, the first of eight bars and the second of ten, without the repeats, both hands as printed, with at most three notes per hand. Count two big beats per bar, keep the dotted rhythm graceful, and let each phrase end softly.
The tune: C sharp, a quick D, C sharp, then E held, twice; B C sharp B D the same way; then A, B, C sharp, and a cadence on A with a few chords. The second half starts on E and F sharp, higher, and returns to the opening tune before the final cadence.
Two-note chords that follow the rhythm of the tune: A and E, C sharp and E, G sharp and E. In the second half, broken chords in eighth notes, A C sharp E.
The siciliano rhythm: a dotted eighth, a sixteenth and an eighth. Count "1 2 3 4 5 6" and place the short note just before the third count.
Start C sharp with 3, D with 4, C sharp with 3, E with 5. In bar 2, B with 2, C sharp with 3, D with 4. Left-hand chords: 5 and 1.
The right-hand melody of this version, bar by bar, in letter names and in Do Ré Mi. Sharps are written #, flats b; a note held across a bar line is written once.
Melody: C# D C# E E B C# B D D A A B B C# E D C# B C# D C# E E …
| Bar | Notes | Do Ré Mi |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C# D C# E E | Do# Ré Do# Mi Mi |
| 2 | B C# B D D | Si Do# Si Ré Ré |
| 3 | A A B B | La La Si Si |
| 4 | C# E D C# B | Do# Mi Ré Do# Si |
| 5 | C# D C# E E | Do# Ré Do# Mi Mi |
| 6 | B C# B D D | Si Do# Si Ré Ré |
| 7 | A B C# D | La Si Do# Ré |
| 8 | C# B A | Do# Si La |
| 9 | E F# E F# F# | Mi Fa# Mi Fa# Fa# |
| 10 | A G# F# F# E E | La Sol# Fa# Fa# Mi Mi |
| 11 | E C# A E D B | Mi Do# La Mi Ré Si |
| 12 | E C# A C# B | Mi Do# La Do# Si |
| 13 | C# D C# E E | Do# Ré Do# Mi Mi |
| 14 | B C# B D D | Si Do# Si Ré Ré |
| 15 | A B C# D | La Si Do# Ré |
| 16 | C# B B C# | Do# Si Si Do# |
| 17 | C# D E F# A | Do# Ré Mi Fa# La |
| 18 | A C# B A | La Do# Si La |
Mozart wrote the Sonata in A major, K. 331, around 1783, probably in Vienna or Salzburg. Its first movement is a theme and six variations; its last is the Rondo alla Turca, the Turkish March, one of the most famous piano pieces ever written.
The theme on this page is the starting point of the variations: Mozart dresses it in quick notes, in A minor, in octaves and as a fast finale, but its outline never changes.
This transcription: Mozart, Piano Sonata in A major, K. 331, first movement, theme (c. 1783): Mutopia Project, placed in the public domain; both halves without the repeats, at most three notes per hand. Transcribed by GOONS Studio from the original work, which is in the public domain.
First Theme, Bars 1-12 · C major
Complete, Mozart K. 2 · F major
Theme A · A minor
Easy Version · C majorThe full piano studio opens this score with your MIDI keyboard and sustain pedal, records what you play and exports it as a MIDI file. It comes with the GOONS Studio subscription - start with the 7-day free trial, no card required.
Yes. The Sonata in A major, K. 331, opens with this theme and its variations and ends with the Rondo alla Turca, the Turkish March.
Level 3 of 5 here: the notes are within reach of a pianist after a year or two, but the siciliano rhythm and the chords need a graceful, even touch.
At a walking pace, gracefully. In 6/8 it means two calm beats per bar, never rushed.