Mozart: Violin Sonata in E Minor K304: For Cello

Here is the free downloadable sheet music for Mozart’s E Minor Violin Sonata K304, transcribed for cello. Only the cello parts are offered because any standard piano accompaniment part can be used (see www.imslp.org).

This two-movement sonata is undoubtedly one of Mozart‘s best-known, most charming, and most loved violin sonatas. What’s more, it is also one of his easiest – only very few passages have needed to be altered for the “Easier Version” of the first movement (considerably more for the second, however).

FIRST MOVEMENT

The note changes made in this adaptation to the cello are: the removal of the octaves in bar 165, the transposition down an octave in bars 204-208, and the substitution of the final chords with single notes (the piano has big chords).

1. Edited Performance Version
2.     Clean Performance Version
3.     Easier Version
4.     Literal Transcription

Here below is a play-along audio of the piano accompaniment with a two-bar introduction added so that we can know when to start. If we download it it can be played at different speeds with “The Amazing Slowdowner” or other audio programs:

SECOND MOVEMENT

This is a “Minuet and Trio” movement, with a very inspired, lyrical trio. In the “Edited Concert Version” some passages have been transposed down an additional octave, most notably the entire first theme of the Minuet (bars 16-32). This theme needs to sound absolutely relaxed and easy, which is very much easier to achieve in the lower octave. Also, in the beautiful trio melodies, the first presentation of each theme is played in the lower octave and only the repetition in the “correct” octave. This not only gives more variety to the four repetitions of what is really one identical (almost) melody but also means that we can really enjoy ourselves in these gorgeous melodies in their first presentation ……. which will help us to do well in their upper octave presentation the second time!

As usual, the cadential chords have needed to be revoiced in order to adapt them to the cello.

In the “Easier Version” the main adjustments have simply been removing thumbposition and higher register passages. There are a few occasional notes in the Intermediate Region, but these are always in a relatively easy context, with plenty of time to find them.

1. Edited Performance Version
2.     Clean Performance Version
3.     Easier Version
4.      Literal Transcription

Here below is a play-along audio of the piano accompaniment, for which we offer our kind thanks to the pianist Alessandro Giusto and his YouTube channel. If we download it it can be played at different speeds with “The Amazing Slowdowner” or other audio programs: