The Violin Sonata No. 18 in G Major by Mozart’s remains one of his warmest, most recognizable violin pieces. The first movement immediately proclaims the equality of violin and piano: the amiable melody is first presented in the violin with keyboard accompaniment, but then—after a brief intrusion—the instruments switch, with the piano playing the melody and the violin accompanying.
The second movement rolls along with similar exchanges, its recurring theme set between varied episodes in a rondo form. Like many of Mozart’s violin sonatas, the piece has just two movements.
Mozart composed this sonata in Mannheim in March 1778, and then he continued on to Paris with his mother. There he published the Sonata No. 18 as part of his Op. 1 collection. The trip, however, took a tragic turn as his mother grew ill and died on July 3, in Paris.
Here is Ms. Hahn to play Mozart’s music for you:
