Mozart’s Economy: K 284

[John Ruggero]

Mozart seems to have accidentally omitted a couple of tied notes in the last variation of the third movement in his piano sonata K. 284:

Mozart K 284.3 MS.png (488.42 KiB) Viewed 384 times

Modern editions like the New Mozart Edition supply them, if only as small notes.

Mozart K 284.3 NMA.png (73.66 KiB) Viewed 384 times

The first edition did not, although it was not shy in making many other changes, such as a new ornamented version of the previous variation. However, it did change the stem direction of the eighth notes and added staccato strokes:

Mozart K 284.3 1st ed.png (432.69 KiB) Viewed 384 times

But did Mozart actually make an error? The upward stems might suggest that something is missing; and there is: the alto and bass voice would be present under the last note if this were orchestrated. Yet unusual stem direction can sometimes indicate that a voice has been intentionally omitted for special reasons. (viewtopic.php?t=1246 later post concerning Beethoven op. 111)

When one actually plays the two versions, without and with the held notes, two things become clear. The absence of the “missing notes” has little sonic effect because of the fast tempo, the natural decay of the previous dotted half notes, the distraction of the 32nd ending flourish, and the possible shortening of the final eighth note that many players would make.

The physical effect of playing the two versions is, however, quite different. Omitting the tied notes allows the fingers and arms to make a free, quick, upward departure from the keyboard that can give snap to the passage, which is followed by a dramatic silence.

Readers might play the passage for themselves to decide whether Mozart made an error and whether editors are justified in including these “missing’ notes:

Mozart K 284.3.png (106.71 KiB) Viewed 384 times