Church Sonata in D major (K. Anh.C 16.02) — spurious attribution to W. A. Mozart
di Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
The Church Sonata in D major (K. Anh.C 16.02) is a small Salzburg epistle sonata dated 1774, long linked with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) but now widely regarded as spurious—likely the work of his father, Leopold Mozart. It survives only on the margins of the Mozart canon, and is best understood as part of Salzburg’s practical liturgical instrumental tradition rather than Wolfgang’s secure church-sonata sequence.
What Is Known
A Church Sonata in D major dated 1774 in Salzburg is listed in the Köchel appendix as K. Anh.C 16.02 and described as actually by Leopold Mozart rather than Wolfgang.[1] On IMSLP, the piece appears under Mozart’s name with the explicit note (citing Grove) that the attribution is “spurious” and that it is considered to be by Leopold.[2]
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In 1774, the 18-year-old Wolfgang was active in Salzburg and composing widely (including sacred music and orchestral works), which helps explain how a short functional church sonata could be swept into his orbit in transmission.[3] No secure modern consensus places K. Anh.C 16.02 among the authentic Salzburg church sonatas by Wolfgang.
Musical Content
As with many Salzburg epistle sonatas, the work is understood to be a brief, single-movement instrumental interlude intended for use within Mass, typically featuring organ with strings (and, in some cases, additional winds).[3] Beyond the D-major designation and its liturgical type, readily citable descriptive details about thematic material, formal plan, or exact scoring are scarce in commonly accessible reference sources; in practice, it is approached as a compact, serviceable altar piece consistent with Leopold’s craft and Salzburg’s needs.[2]
[1] Köchel catalogue table entry noting Anh.C 16.02 as a church sonata in D major, actually by Leopold Mozart (French-language reference table).
[2] IMSLP work page: Church Sonata in D major, K. Anh.65a/124A — notes (via Grove) that attribution to Mozart is spurious and considered by Leopold Mozart.
[3] Wikipedia overview: Mozart’s Church Sonatas (epistle sonatas) — liturgical function and typical forces/context for Salzburg church sonatas.