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Violin Sonatas, Vol. 2: Violin & Piano

$37.95 USD
$37.95 USD
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Violin Sonatas, Vol. 2 Cover Image
Violin Sonatas, Vol. 2: Violin & Piano

Violin Sonatas, Vol. 2: Violin & Piano

K296, 376-380, 402, 403; Urtext

By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart / ed. Cliff Eisen

Item: 98-EP7579B
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Description

This complete edition of the Mozart Sonatas for Keyboard and Violin has been researched and prepared by Cliff Eisen, one of the most distinguished Mozart scholars of our time.

Professor Eisen recognises that many of the apparent inconsistencies and idiosyncrasies of Mozart's notation are perfectly deliberate, and that the attempts in many other editions to impose uniformity upon similar phrases or musical paragraphs can be misguided.

As he writes in the preface: '. . .the notion that the classical style represents a model of symmetry, balanceand clarity is for the most part a 19th-century fiction. . .it has little to do withMozart's actual practice, which is based primarily on variety of both content and articulation.

So in this new edition, alternative readings found in parallel passages are preserved, rather than being sterilised by a spurious quest for conformity.

Naturally all such instances are noted within the Critical Commentary. The highly individual beaming within Mozart's autographs is also respected in the new edition, as this often contributes to our aural perceptions of phrase structure and accent. Professor Eisen is conscious that there is no single 'Urtext' for this music. On the contrary he believes that 'there is compelling evidence that Mozart's later performances of his works were characterised by changes - sometimes substantial changes - in the musical text'.

It is the achievement of this edition to indicate how far this freedom of musical expression can extend, andas such it is likely to take pride of place in the collections of all those involved in the study and performance of these masterpieces.

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Additional Details
Series: Edition Peters
Publisher: Edition Peters
ISBN10: 0-57-708560-3
ISBN13: 979-0-5770-8560-9
SKU: 98-EP7579B

More about this title

About the Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Mozart composed his sonatas for keyboard and violin across two decades, beginning in childhood and continuing into his mature years. These works occupy a unique position in his output: they're among his most frequently performed chamber works, yet they also contain some of his most experimental writing, particularly in the later sonatas where the violin's role shifts dramatically from accompaniment to equal partnership.

Why we love this

Eisen's edition preserves Mozart's actual compositional choices rather than imposing later editorial uniformity. You get to work with notation that reflects how Mozart himself performed and revised these works, which means your students encounter authentic 18th-century practice instead of 19th-century tidying. The critical commentary gives you the scholarly foundation to make informed decisions about interpretation without having to consult multiple sources.

What to expect

These sonatas range from galant elegance to surprising harmonic boldness, especially in the later volumes where Mozart treats the violin almost as a conversation partner rather than a decorative voice. You'll move between moments of crystalline simplicity and passages that feel unexpectedly modern in their harmonic language.

Who it's for

Advanced high school violin students and undergraduate conservatory students preparing chamber repertoire need an edition grounded in Mozart scholarship. Teachers seeking authentic textual sources for serious study will value Eisen's rigorous approach over standardized editions that smooth over compositional nuance.

How to get the most out of it

  • Study the variants noted in the critical commentary; Mozart's later performances often differed substantially from the initial written text, and acknowledging this freedom changes how you approach phrasing and articulation.
  • Respect Mozart's beaming patterns even when they seem unconventional. His beam groupings guide phrase structure and accentuation in ways that modern uniform beaming erases.
  • Balance the keyboard and violin carefully in the earlier sonatas where the harpsichord or piano often carries the primary material. The violin is essential but not always the lead voice.
  • Pay attention to the notation's specificity rather than 'correcting' inconsistencies across parallel passages. Mozart's varied articulation is intentional, not careless.

How to use it

Use these sonatas in a recital program exploring the evolution of the keyboard-string duo, pairing them with works by Beethoven or Brahms to show how the genre developed. They're equally valuable in a masterclass setting where you want students to understand how notational choices reflect actual musical decisions rather than arbitrary preferences.

Skills your students will build

  • Interpreting articulation and beaming patterns as structural information
  • Managing dialogue between violin and keyboard parts across different sonata styles
  • Understanding variant readings and making performance choices based on textual evidence
  • Recognizing 18th-century harmonic language and its expressive implications
  • Balancing historical authenticity with individual artistic interpretation

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