Mozart's full baptismal name was Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, and he was born in Salzburg, Austria, in 1756.
Historical Context
During Mozart's time, chamber music was primarily a social activity for home performance by well-schooled amateurs, not a public spectacle.
Composition History
Mozart's first mature sonatas for piano and violin date from 1778, when he was 22, and were influenced by regional musical styles he encountered during travels to Paris and Mannheim.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in January and February 2014 at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, with Paul Eachus handling audio engineering, editing, and mastering.
Album & Artwork
The album title, "Mozart Among Friends," refers to the performers, James Howsmon (piano) and Marilyn McDonald (violin), and their late friend, Leslie Miller, who painted the cover art.
Historical Context
In 18th-century Europe, music instruction was a standard part of education for middle and upper-class children, making many "amateur" musicians quite skilled.
Composition History
Mozart's first Viennese publication was a set of six piano and violin sonatas, four of which were newly composed, marking his arrival in the imperial capital.
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Mozart: Sonatas "Opus II" for Pianoforte and Violin
