London Sketchbook (Mozart)

The London Sketchbook (German: Londoner Skizzenbuch}), K.15 a–ss (Anh. 109b) is a series of 43 untitled pieces and sketches written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart between 1764 and 1765 while in London (see the Mozart family's grand tour). The set of works is denoted by its K⁶ number, followed by its respective letter, i.e. 15a, 15b, 15c, etc.

Most pieces are extremely short, normally lasting from 40 seconds to a minute; however, some span as long as four minutes in total (see K. 15t). According to the Neue Mozart-Ausgabe, the intended purpose of this book was not for musical exercise, as once thought, rather for the young Mozart, who had just learned how to use pen and ink, to write down his own inspiration without needing anyone's help. Corrections by his father Leopold appear in pencil only.^[1]

K.15a–ss

First page of music from Mozart's "Londoner Skizzenbuch" 1764

Second page

Third page

Fourth page

Fifth page

• 15a – Allegretto in F for Piano
• 15b – Andantino in C for Piano
• 15c – Minuet in G for Piano
• 15d – Rondino in D for Piano
• 15e – Contredanse in G for Piano
• 15f – Minuet in C for Piano
• 15g – Fantasia (Prelude) in G for Organ or Piano
• 15h – Contredanse in F for Piano
• 15i – Minuet in A for Piano
• 15k – Minore in A minor for Piano
• 15l – Contredanse in A for Piano
• 15m – Minuet in F for Piano
• 15n – Andante in C for Piano
• 15o – Andante in D for Piano
• 15p – Movement to a Piano Sonata in G minor
• 15q – Andante in B-flat for Piano
• 15r – Andante in G minor for Piano
• 15s – Rondo in C for Piano
• 15t – Movement to a Piano Sonata in F
• 15u – Sicilianos in D minor for Piano
• 15v – Movement to a Piano Sonata in F
• 15w – Allemande in B-flat for Piano
• 15x – Movement to a Piano Sonata in F
• 15y – Minuet in G for Piano
• 15z – Gigue in C minor for Piano
• 15aa – Movement to a Piano Sonata in B-flat
• 15bb – Movement to a Piano Sonata in D
• 15cc – Minuet in E-flat for Piano
• 15dd – Andante in A-flat for Piano
• 15ee – Minuet in E-flat for Piano
• 15ff – Minuet in A-flat for Piano
• 15gg – Contredanse in B-flat for Piano
• 15hh – Rondo in F for Piano
• 15ii – Andante in B-flat for Piano
• 15kk – Movement to a Piano Sonata in E-flat
• 15ll – Presto in B-flat for Piano
• 15mm – Andante in E-flat for Piano
• 15nn – Movement to a Piano Sonata in F (fragment)
• 15oo – German Dance in F for Piano
• 15pp – Minuet in B-flat for Piano
• 15qq – Minuet in E-flat for Piano
• 15rr – Minuet in C for Piano (fragment)
• 15ss – Fugue in A minor for Piano (fragment)

Notable recordings

Several recordings have been made of the Sketchbook in recent years. Most are recorded on their intended instrument, the piano. However, in 1991 with the release of the Complete Mozart Edition, Vol. 45, Erik Smith orchestrated nearly all of the pieces here for winds and orchestra. With his orchestration he also grouped several pieces together to create a full, multiple-movement work. For example, he arranged K. 15b, a, and f as a single divertimento in C. Hans-Udo Kreuels also did a recording of the Sketchbook in 2003, as well as completing two of the fragmented works, K.15rr, and 15ss.^[2]

References

1. Plath 1982, p. XXII
2. Mozart: London Sketchbook at Naxos

Sources

• (German) Wolfgang Plath. Neue Mozart-Ausgabe, Series IX (Keyboard Music), Workgroup 27 (Keyboard Pieces), Volume 1: Notebooks. Bärenreiter, 1982.

External links

• London Sketchbook (Mozart): Score in the Neue Mozart-Ausgabe