Class Central is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

University of Michigan

The Piano Sonata: Origins to Mozart

University of Michigan via Coursera

Overview

Prepare for a new career with $100 off Coursera Plus
Gear up for jobs in high-demand fields: data analytics, digital marketing, and more.
In this course, you’ll be introduced to sonata form; how it works, where it came from, and how sonatas are put together as multi-movement compositions. We will analyze the early history of the piano sonata and discover the important early masters of this style (Scarlatti, CPE Bach, Haydn, and Mozart). You’ll then investigate the relationship between the keyboard instruments of the time and the musical style, and be able to differentiate between Baroque, Galant, and Classical styles.

This course was filmed at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, among other locations, to showcase the depth of the sonata repertoire and the instruments that contributed to its history.

Syllabus

  • Setting the Stage
    • In the first week, you'll be introduced to the course structure and to the fundamentals surrounding sonata form and the history of the genre.
  • Week 2: Dawn of the Sonata
    • In this week, we'll learn more about the dawn of the solo keyboard sonata: its origins, influences, and some of the early composers. You'll also be introduced to various keyboard instruments of the period that influenced compositional style, including the harpsichord, clavichord, and some early pianos.
  • Viennese Classics: Haydn and Mozart
    • This week discusses Haydn and Mozart, emphasizing their social-cultural context, patterns in their output of keyboard sonatas, and comparing and contrasting their styles. It also introduces the Viennese and English pianos that were popular in this period.
  • Conclusion and Optional Honors Project
    • For more advanced learners, an Honors Formal Analysis is available in this final week (not required for completion of the course).

Taught by

Matthew Bengtson

Reviews

4.9 rating at Coursera based on 22 ratings

Start your review of The Piano Sonata: Origins to Mozart

Never Stop Learning.

Get personalized course recommendations, track subjects and courses with reminders, and more.

Someone learning on their laptop while sitting on the floor.