Rondo alla Turca
Mozart's Rondo alla Turca, the finale of his Sonata in A major, K. 331, is an Intermediate piece (Octotune grade 6 of 8) in 2/4. It moves between A minor and A major, with running sixteenths and loud, drum-like chords.
At a glance
| Composer | Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Intermediate: grade 6 of 8 |
| Key | A minor (no sharps or flats) |
| Time | 2/4 |
| Tempo | 60 quarter-note beats a minute, as the app starts it (it can go slower) |
| Length | 128 measures, about 4:15 |
| Hands | both hands |
| Right hand | E4 to E6 |
| Left hand | A2 to F♯4 |
It reaches past the staff: see ledger lines explained.
Levels in the app
| Version | Grade | Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Sonata in A, K. 331: III. Rondo alla Turca | 6 of 8 | Melody, Melody and bass, Full |
Practice notes
The Rondo alla Turca is the finale of Mozart's Piano Sonata in A major, K. 331, from about 1783. "Alla Turca" means "in the Turkish style": Vienna loved the sound of the Ottoman janissary bands, with their drums and cymbals, and Mozart imitates them.
What's in it. The famous opening turns round A in quick sixteenths (B A G sharp A, C) in A minor. Later sections swing into A major, where the left hand hammers out chords like a bass drum and the right hand answers with bright octaves and chords. The opening tune comes back between the sections.
The tricky parts
- Even sixteenths. The little turning figures must be perfectly level. Uneven fingers show at once.
- Position changes. The right hand moves often and quickly. Look for where the thumb lands in each new group.
- The A major chords. Crisp, loud and together, without tightening the arm.
- Accidentals. G sharp, D sharp, F sharp and C sharp come and go as the music passes between minor and major.
Practice plan
- Learn it section by section, not from the top each time.
- For each section: hands separately, then together, at 50–60% speed, with the A–B loop on the hardest measures.
- Keep the sixteenths light and close to the keys.
- Only when a section is clean, raise the speed a notch.
Octotune plays the file at a steady, moderate pace, slower than most recordings. That suits learning; the Speed control goes up to 150% when you are ready.
Before you start: the whole Octotune path. The music runs a little past high C and uses sharps beyond G major, so plan to read slowly at first.
Questions
Is Rondo alla Turca hard?
It is an intermediate piece: Octotune grades it 6 of 8. The notes fall well under the hands, but it needs even sixteenth notes, quick position changes and crisp chords, and at concert speed it is a real test.
What is Rondo alla Turca from?
It is the third and last movement of Mozart's Piano Sonata in A major, K. 331, from about 1783. Alla Turca means in the Turkish style, after the Ottoman military bands popular in Vienna at the time.
Credits and license
- Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
- Typeset by Rune Zedeler and Chris Sawer for the Mutopia Project
- License: Public Domain
- Source and printable sheet music: the Mutopia Project’s page for this piece