Piano Sonata No. 7 in C

Expression is part of accuracy

In Lady Wallace’s translation of his letter about teaching Rosina Cannabich, Mozart asks for “accuracy and taste” in the Andante. He also insists that its fortes and pianos be played as marked. That makes the slow movement an invitation to notice expressive detail, not simply to relax between the outer movements. Its short slurs and closely spaced changes of dynamic give even a small phrase several shades of meaning.

Make the dynamic changes audible

Take a short passage from the Andante and practise its changes of colour before trying to increase the tempo. Listen to whether a softer answer really sounds different from the phrase before it, while the pulse remains connected. Then sing the upper line and check that the accompanying notes leave it room. The opening Allegro’s firm gestures and the Rondeau’s running accompaniment offer contrasting tests of the same balance between clarity and expression.

Music in this edition

1. I. Allegro con spirito
2. II. Andante un poco adagio
3. III. Rondo: Allegretto grazioso