The London Sketchbook (), 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 K 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, but 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.Plath 1982, p. XXII
K.15a–ss
15a – Allegretto in F for Piano 15b – Andantino in C for Piano 15c – Minuet in G for Piano 15d – Rondino in D for Piano 15e – Contredanse in G for Piano 15f – Minuet in C for Piano 15g – Fantasia (Prelude) in G for Organ or Piano 15h – Contredanse in F for Piano 15i – Minuet in A for Piano 15k – Minore in A minor for Piano 15l – Contredanse in A for Piano 15m – Minuet in F for Piano 15n – Andante in C for Piano 15o – Andante in D for Piano 15p – Movement to a Piano Sonata in G minor 15q – Andante in B-flat for Piano 15r – Andante in G minor for Piano 15s – Rondo in C for Piano 15t – Movement to a Piano Sonata in F 15u – Sicilianos in D minor for Piano 15v – Movement to a Piano Sonata in F 15w – Allemande in B-flat for Piano 15x – Movement to a Piano Sonata in F 15y – Minuet in G for Piano 15z – Gigue in C minor for Piano 15aa – Movement to a Piano Sonata in B-flat 15bb – Movement to a Piano Sonata in D 15cc – Minuet in E-flat for Piano 15dd – Andante in A-flat for Piano 15ee – Minuet in E-flat for Piano 15ff – Minuet in A-flat for Piano 15gg – Contredanse in B-flat for Piano 15hh – Rondo in F for Piano 15ii – Andante in B-flat for Piano 15kk – Movement to a Piano Sonata in E-flat 15ll – Presto in B-flat for Piano 15mm – Andante in E-flat for Piano 15nn – Movement to a Piano Sonata in F (fragment) 15oo – German Dance in F for Piano 15pp – Minuet in B-flat for Piano 15qq – Minuet in E-flat for Piano 15rr – Minuet in C for Piano (fragment) 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 fortepiano. 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.
References
Sources Wolfgang Plath. Neue Mozart-Ausgabe, Series IX (Keyboard Music), Workgroup 27 (Keyboard Pieces), Volume 1: Notebooks. Bärenreiter, 1982.
External links