The Piano Sonata: Origins to Mozart

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The Piano Sonata: Origins to Mozart

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

Instructor: Matthew Bengtson

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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

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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.

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 videos Total 29 minutes

Course Introduction: Setting the Stage 4 minutes
Sonata Characteristics & Composers 7 minutes
Sonata Form: Principles, Origins, Processes, and Theorists 6 minutes
Sonata Form Overview 8 minutes
Movement Architecture 4 minutes

2 readings Total 15 minutes

Course Syllabus 10 minutes
Help Us Learn More About You 5 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Sonata Form & Movement Architecture 30 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

Introduce Yourself 10 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 videos Total 60 minutes

Keyboard Instruments: Harpsichord 5 minutes
Keyboard Instruments: Clavichord 4 minutes
Keyboard Instruments: Early Pianos – Square 3 minutes
Instrumentation for Domenico Scarlatti 3 minutes
A Look at Scarlatti Sonatas 17 minutes
Two Early B-flat Sonatas by CPE Bach 16 minutes
Johann Christian (JC) Bach (1735-1782) 12 minutes

8 readings Total 60 minutes

Introduction: Origins and Centers of Influence 10 minutes
Keyboard Instruments: Harpsichord & Clavichord 1 minute
Keyboard Instruments: Early Pianos – Cristofori design 10 minutes
Early Italian Sonata Composers and Galant Style 10 minutes
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) 5 minutes
Domenico Scarlatti Sonata K. 253 in E-flat 4 minutes
Other Iberian Composers 5 minutes
Carl Philipp Emanuel (CPE) Bach (1714-1788) 15 minutes

2 assignments Total 60 minutes

Keyboards & Early Italian Composers 30 minutes
Scarlatti, Iberian Composers, and Sons of Bach Quiz 30 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

Musical Features & Keyboards 10 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.

What's included

11 videos5 readings1 assignment2 discussion prompts

11 videos Total 102 minutes

Early Viennese Piano 4 minutes
English Grand Piano 5 minutes
Haydn's Sonata in F Major, Hob. XVI/23 11 minutes
Haydn's Sonata in C Major, Hob. XVI/48 10 minutes
Haydn's Sonata in E-flat major, Hob. XVI/52 11 minutes
Mozart's Sonata in F major, K. 332 8 minutes
Mozart's Sonata in D major, K. 311 13 minutes
Mozart's Sonata in C minor, K. 457 12 minutes
Two Great Sonatas From 1789: First Movements 11 minutes
Two Great Sonatas From 1789: Second Movements 7 minutes
Two Great Sonatas From 1789: Finales 8 minutes

5 readings Total 40 minutes

Social Context and Purpose 5 minutes
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) 10 minutes
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) 10 minutes
Haydn and Mozart: Chronology 10 minutes
Two Great Sonatas from 1789: Introduction 5 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Social Context & Purpose and Haydn’s Sonatas 30 minutes

2 discussion prompts Total 20 minutes

Social Conditions & Creative Potential 10 minutes
Discussion about Sonata 10 minutes

For more advanced learners, an Honors Formal Analysis is available in this final week (not required for completion of the course).

What's included

4 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

4 readings Total 127 minutes

Post-Course Survey 5 minutes
Honors Lesson: Score Analysis 2 minutes
Formal Analysis: Mozart's Sonata K. 284 in D Major, Movement I 90 minutes
Formal Analysis: Answer Key 30 minutes

1 assignment Total 2 minutes

Honors Lesson Commitment 2 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 15 minutes

Formal Analysis Discussion: Mozart's Sonata K. 284 in D Major, Movement I 15 minutes

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Instructor

Instructor ratings

(11 ratings)

Matthew Bengtson

University of Michigan

3 Courses 3,863 learners

Offered by

University of Michigan

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Reviewed on Oct 11, 2023

Very interesting. Quizzes a bit esoteric. Very good and very talented lecturer.

Reviewed on Jan 21, 2024

A most wonderful course, a delight for Piano music lovers, given in an interesting and friendly way.

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Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.