Mozart: Sonata K. 284 “Durnitz” for String Quartet String Quartet - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1202033

Sonata No. 6, “Durnitz” for String Quartet

Mozart's Sonata in D major, K. 284, also known as the "Durnitz" Sonata, is a solo piano piece by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1775. It is one of Mozart's more complex and ambitious sonatas and is generally regarded as one of his greatest works for the instrument.

The sonata is divided into three movements:
1. Allegro - The first movement is a fast-paced and energetic sonata-allegro form characterized by its lively theme and virtuosic passages. The movement begins with a bold and dramatic opening statement, followed by contrasting themes and variations. The development section explores new harmonic and rhythmic territory, while the recapitulation brings the movement full circle with a restatement of the main themes.

2. Rondeau en Polonaise - The second movement is a graceful and elegant rondo in the style of a polonaise, a popular dance of the time. The central theme is a lilting melody first presented by the right hand and then repeated with variations throughout the movement. The middle section features a contrasting theme in a minor key, which is then developed and expanded upon in the latter half of the movement.

3. Theme and Variations - The final movement is a set of six variations on a theme, which is introduced at the beginning of the movement. Each variation explores a different aspect of the theme, from playful embellishments to dramatic flourishes. The final variation brings the piece to a rousing and triumphant close.
Overall, Mozart's Sonata in D major, K. 284, is a masterful example of the composer's virtuosity and innovation and remains a beloved and influential work in the piano repertoire.

Mozart's Sonata in D major, K. 284 is also known as the "Dürnitz" Sonata because it is believed to have been composed for Count Johann Joseph Anton von Dürnitz, an accomplished amateur flutist who was a patron of Mozart.
Mozart was in Munich in 1775, and he met Dürnitz there. According to Mozart's letters to his father, Dürnitz played the flute very well, and Mozart was impressed by his abilities. It is believed that Mozart composed this sonata specifically for Dürnitz, who may have performed it with Mozart accompanying him on the piano. No concrete evidence supports the theory that the sonata was named after Dürnitz, but it is widely accepted as the most likely explanation for the nickname. In any case, the sonata remains one of Mozart's most popular and beloved works.