Piano Sonata No.16 in C major, K.545

Sonata · in C major · K. 545

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1756–1791
C major
Key
Sonata
Form
Allegro
Tempo
K. 545
Catalogue
Score
First page of Piano Sonata No.16 in C major, K.545

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Difficulty
Our estimate Easy
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Themes & character
Sonata facile·Written for students·Classical clarity·Deceptively simple

At a glance

Catalogue
K. 545
Key
C major
Tempo / character
Allegro
Form
Sonata

Movements

I
AllegroC major

A bright, symmetrical opening built almost entirely on scales and simple broken chords.

II
AndanteG major

A gently ornamented slow movement in a clear, singing style.

III
Rondo: AllegrettoC major

A cheerful closing rondo on a simple, memorable theme.

About the piece

Mozart entered this sonata in his own catalogue in 1788 with the note "for beginners," and it has been known ever since, especially in German-speaking countries, as the Sonata facile or Sonate facile, the easy sonata. Its simplicity is deceptive. Built almost entirely from scales, broken chords and the plainest classical phrasing, it demands real evenness and control precisely because there is nowhere to hide, which is why it remains one of the most commonly assigned sonatas for students while still appearing on professional recital programs.

The composer

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
1756–1791

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a Classical composer and musician. He completed more than 800 works in his life—including outstanding examples of most of the genres of his time: symphonies, concertos, chamber music, opera, and choral music—and is regarded as one of the greatest composers in the history of Western music.

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