Mozart | Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major, K. 545 "Sonata Semplice" II. Andante | Dan Alexander

Completed in 1788, K.545 was a relatively late work for the 32-year-old Mozart, who died only three years later. Mozart himself described the piece as "for beginners," owing to its relative brevity and simplicity, but the three-movement work is not without its challenges for even experienced pianists.

Most piano students will encounter this piece at some point early on in their studies. I myself somehow eluded the Sonata Semplice until adulthood, but was always fond of it (to which I can imagine the composer responding "well, of course").



The Andante is in rondo form - a loose ABACA, although it's more like AaAaBaBaCAa-coda with the repeats. It has the character of a "slow" middle movement, gentle and tender, and is longer than the outer movements. The second movement's melody is even more founded upon alberti bass than the first and stays consistently lyrical throughout sections.