Mozart: Piano Sonatas, Volume II: Piano Book

Gordon's critical edition cuts through editorial confusion by anchoring every fingering and ornamentation realization to Mozart's autographs and earliest printed sources. The inclusion of tempered guidance on period improvisation, combined with detailed formal analysis and a comprehensive recording reference list, transforms what could be a straightforward score into a complete pedagogical and interpretive resource.

Mozart's sonatas shimmer with clarity and wit, balancing galant charm with moments of genuine emotional depth. These pieces reveal a composer completely at ease with the keyboard, writing with fluency and elegance that rewards both technical precision and expressive restraint.

Late intermediate and advanced pianists preparing Mozart for recital, competition, or advanced study will find this edition indispensable. Teachers seeking authoritative guidance on fingering, ornamentation, and stylistic performance will appreciate Gordon's scholarly apparatus alongside his practical pedagogical choices.

• Study the ornamentation realizations provided, but use them as a foundation for understanding Mozart's compositional intent rather than as fixed solutions; phrase and articulation subtly shift the emotional weight of even standard ornaments.
• Reference the tempo and character discussions alongside historically informed recordings to develop a sense of how different periods and pianists have approached these works; Mozart's apparent simplicity masks considerable interpretive range.
• Pay close attention to the fingering suggestions, which often reveal the composer's harmonic voice-leading and encourage legato connections that might otherwise be missed on modern instruments.
• Treat the formal analysis as a learning tool during practice; understanding the architecture of each movement clarifies which passages require structural weight and which can float more lightly.

Build recital programs around complete multi-movement cycles from this volume; pairing a sonata from this collection with Baroque works or early Romantic pieces creates compelling contrasts in style and emotional scope. Late intermediate students can anchor a recital's first half with a single sonata movement, while more advanced students perform complete sonatas to demonstrate their interpretive maturity.

• Ornamentation practice and improvisation within a Classical style
• Formal analysis of sonata-form movements and rondo structures
• Period-appropriate articulation and phrasing in Classical keyboard music
• Voicing and legato technique adapted to the instrument's capabilities
• Stylistic interpretation informed by autograph sources and historically informed performance practice