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The Piano Sonata: Origins to Mozart

The Piano Sonata: Origins to Mozart

This course is part of Exploring Piano Literature: The Piano Sonata Specialization

Instructor: Matthew Bengtson

3,057 already enrolled

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

30 reviews

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

30 reviews

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Understand how sonata form works and where it came from.
Analyze the early history of the piano sonata.
Differentiate between Baroque, Galant, and Classical styles.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

5 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Exploring Piano Literature: The Piano Sonata Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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There are 4 modules in this course

In this course, you’ll be introduced to sonata form; how it works, where it came from, and how sonatas are put together as multi-movement compositions. We will analyze the early history of the piano sonata and discover the important early masters of this style (Scarlatti, CPE Bach, Haydn, and Mozart). You’ll then investigate the relationship between the keyboard instruments of the time and the musical style, and be able to differentiate between Baroque, Galant, and Classical styles.

Module details

In the first week, you'll be introduced to the course structure and to the fundamentals surrounding sonata form and the history of the genre.

What's included

5 videos2 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

5 videosTotal 29 minutes

Course Introduction: Setting the Stage4 minutes
Sonata Characteristics & Composers7 minutes
Sonata Form: Principles, Origins, Processes, and Theorists6 minutes
Sonata Form Overview8 minutes
Movement Architecture4 minutes

2 readingsTotal 15 minutes

Course Syllabus10 minutes
Help Us Learn More About You5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Sonata Form & Movement Architecture30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Introduce Yourself10 minutes

In this week, we'll learn more about the dawn of the solo keyboard sonata: its origins, influences, and some of the early composers. You'll also be introduced to various keyboard instruments of the period that influenced compositional style, including the harpsichord, clavichord, and some early pianos.

What's included

7 videos8 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

7 videosTotal 60 minutes

Keyboard Instruments: Harpsichord5 minutes
Keyboard Instruments: Clavichord4 minutes
Keyboard Instruments: Early Pianos – Square3 minutes
Instrumentation for Domenico Scarlatti3 minutes
A Look at Scarlatti Sonatas17 minutes
Two Early B-flat Sonatas by CPE Bach16 minutes
Johann Christian (JC) Bach (1735-1782)12 minutes

8 readingsTotal 60 minutes

Introduction: Origins and Centers of Influence10 minutes
Keyboard Instruments: Harpsichord & Clavichord1 minute
Keyboard Instruments: Early Pianos – Cristofori design10 minutes
Early Italian Sonata Composers and Galant Style10 minutes
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)5 minutes
Domenico Scarlatti Sonata K. 253 in E-flat 4 minutes
Other Iberian Composers5 minutes
Carl Philipp Emanuel (CPE) Bach (1714-1788)15 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Keyboards & Early Italian Composers30 minutes
Scarlatti, Iberian Composers, and Sons of Bach Quiz30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Musical Features & Keyboards10 minutes

This week discusses Haydn and Mozart, emphasizing their social-cultural context, patterns in their output of keyboard sonatas, and comparing and contrasting their styles. It also introduces the Viennese and English pianos that were popular in this period.