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
  1. 15a – Allegretto in F for Piano
  2. 15b – Andantino in C for Piano
  3. 15c – Minuet in G for Piano
  4. 15d – Rondino in D for Piano
  5. 15e – Contredanse in G for Piano
  6. 15f – Minuet in C for Piano
  7. 15g – Fantasia (Prelude) in G for Organ or Piano
  8. 15h – Contredanse in F for Piano
  9. 15i – Minuet in A for Piano
  10. 15k – Minore in A minor for Piano
  11. 15l – Contredanse in A for Piano
  12. 15m – Minuet in F for Piano
  13. 15n – Andante in C for Piano
  14. 15o – Andante in D for Piano
  15. 15p – Movement to a Piano Sonata in G minor
  16. 15q – Andante in B-flat for Piano
  17. 15r – Andante in G minor for Piano
  18. 15s – Rondo in C for Piano
  19. 15t – Movement to a Piano Sonata in F
  20. 15u – Sicilianos in D minor for Piano
  21. 15v – Movement to a Piano Sonata in F
  22. 15w – Allemande in B-flat for Piano
  23. 15x – Movement to a Piano Sonata in F
  24. 15y – Minuet in G for Piano
  25. 15z – Gigue in C minor for Piano
  26. 15aa – Movement to a Piano Sonata in B-flat
  27. 15bb – Movement to a Piano Sonata in D
  28. 15cc – Minuet in E-flat for Piano
  29. 15dd – Andante in A-flat for Piano
  30. 15ee – Minuet in E-flat for Piano
  31. 15ff – Minuet in A-flat for Piano
  32. 15gg – Contredanse in B-flat for Piano
  33. 15hh – Rondo in F for Piano
  34. 15ii – Andante in B-flat for Piano
  35. 15kk – Movement to a Piano Sonata in E-flat
  36. 15ll – Presto in B-flat for Piano
  37. 15mm – Andante in E-flat for Piano
  38. 15nn – Movement to a Piano Sonata in F (fragment)
  39. 15oo – German Dance in F for Piano
  40. 15pp – Minuet in B-flat for Piano
  41. 15qq – Minuet in E-flat for Piano
  42. 15rr – Minuet in C for Piano (fragment)
  43. 15ss – Fugue in C 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
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