This arrangement of the Sonata KV. 381 by Mozart aims to present his music in the spirit of the historical work of e.g. Ferdinando Carulli and Mauro Giuliani: It is my attempt to show how a guitarist-composers of the Classical period might have adopted this work for the guitar.
Composed in 1772, the Sonata KV. 381 is an early work that Mozart wrote for duo performances with his beloved sister, Nannerl (1751–1829).
There is little doubt that Mozart intended KV. 381 to be performed on two harpsichords. So the sound which Mozart had in mind as a composer was that of the harpsichord. Guitarists should keep this original instrumentation in mind as a guideline for authentic performance practice.
When preparing this arrangement it has been striking how well the musical texture in the Sonata KV. 381 translates into idiomatic writing for the classical guitar. This relates in part to the key of D-Major but also to the transparent and poignant style which is the hallmark of the early works by this genius from Salzburg.
Peter Lagersted
Copenhagen February 25th 2022