Music 462W Final Project—Option 1

Objective: Compose a cadenza in 18th-century style

1) Review Robert Levin’s article “Instrumental Ornamentation, Improvisation, and

Cadenzas,” especially pp. 279–284. Study carefully Türk’s rules for composing
a cadenza and Levin’s breakdown of sections.

2) Listen to the first movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto in D Major, K. 175

(score and recording on CANVAS). Identify the main themes used in the
exposition. You may wish to label them in the score (using 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, etc.).

3) Compose an original cadenza to K. 175—either for piano or for another

instrument of your choice—according to the guidelines in the article. Some tips:

a. Your cadenza should be about 25 to 35 measures long.

b. You don’t need to reference all of Mozart’s themes in your cadenza, but
you should try to refer to at least one or two of them.

c. Try to vary the texture. Possible textures could include melody alone,
high/low registral alternations, unaccompanied scales or arpeggios,
melody plus LH accompaniment (piano), or anything else you might like.
Obviously, you have more options with a polyphonic instrument like
piano or violin, but there are still plenty of ways to vary the texture with
monophonic instruments.

d. You may wish to stay fairly close to the home key area of D Major or
venture further afield; just be sure you can find your way back home and
end on V7 (and with a trill on E in the melody)!

e. You may either notate by hand or use a program like Sibelius or Finale.

4) After you’ve composed your cadenza, describe in prose (1 to 2 pages, double

spaced) its overall structure and the ways it either follows or departs from the
guidelines established by Türk and/or Levin.

5) Prepare your cadenza to be performed during the last week of classes. Or ask a
classmate (or me) to perform the cadenza for you—just be sure to give the
performer time to practice it!

Due Dates:

Friday 4/14: Upload a first draft of your cadenza to CANVAS.

Friday 4/21: Receive feedback from Dr. Ferraguto.
Tuesday 4/25 or Thursday 4/27: Revise your cadenza; perform and discuss in class.
Friday 4/28: Turn in final version (including 1-2 page explanation).