12 Sonatinas for Piano

Vanhal 12 Sonatinas for Piano

Jan Krtitel Vanhal / Johann Baptist Vanhal (1739–1813) is a composer of Czech origin who settled Vienna around 1763.  He was not only an extraordinarily prolific composer, but also an amazing musician on piano, organ, flute or string instruments, and he regularly met with Mozart, Dittersdorf and Haydn, with whom he played in a string quartet.

The current edition of sonatinas for piano is intended for intermediate students; the “Cadenza” at the begging of each piece was possibly designed as a tool for teaching harmonic functions and their relations (in the past, music theory, harmony and partially even aesthetics were taught together with practical play). 

Vanhal’s sonatinas are simple as pertains to inventiveness and structure, but they contain a very colourful array of moods and styles which represent a simplified sampler of sorts of the various types of – Classicist – music contemporary to the composer. 

In consideration of educational needs, the publication is amended with pedal markings and fingerings.  Further details are included in the Editor’s Notes by Veroslav Nemec and the Preface by Olga Zuckerová.