Piano Sonata No. 11 (Mozart)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, K. 331 is in three movements:

1. Andante grazioso - a theme with six variations
2. Menuetto - a minuet and trio
3. Rondo Alla Turca: Allegretto

It is not known for certain exactly where and when Mozart composed the sonata - in Vienna or Salzburg in around 1783 is currently thought to be most likely, though Paris and dates as far back as 1778 have also been suggested.

The last movement is often heard on its own, and is one of the most well known of all Mozart's works. It imitates the sound of Turkish Janissary bands, the music of which was much in vogue at that time. Various other works of the time imitate this music, including Mozart's own opera The Abduction from the Seraglio. For more on Turkish music influences, see Turkish music (style).

A Ogg format version of the "Alla Turca movement can be downloaded here: Rondo Alla Turka.ogg.

Adaptations by later composers

The theme of the first movement was used by Max Reger in one of his best known works, the Variations and Fugue on a theme of Mozart (1914) for orchestra.

Dave Brubeck recorded a famous jazz version of the Rondo.