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In the 21st measure of Mozart's Rondo alla Turca/Turkish March (3rd movement of K. 331), there's a trill in the treble clef that I can't quite get right. Would you be so kind to expand the measure as plain notes, so I know when to coordinate the base chords with the trill please? enter image description here

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This section of K. 331 is better known as "Rondo Alla Turca". If someone could update this accordingly, would probably be helpful. – Noldorin Jul 13 '11 at 2:40
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@Noldorin: You should be able to suggest an edit by clicking the edit button. – Ben Alpert Jul 13 '11 at 4:11
@Ben: Oh, I didn't think I had priveleges at my meagre reputation! Seems you're right. – Noldorin Jul 13 '11 at 21:41
@Noldorin: Anyone can suggest an edit regardless of rep. (But 2000 is still the threshold for unreviewed editing.) – Ben Alpert Jul 13 '11 at 21:46

2 Answers

up vote 7 down vote accepted

It should be played somewhat like this:

typeset music

Note that the trill should not necessarily be played exactly in time, but this should show you where it begins and ends.

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Two minor quibbles: while there is nothing to say that the trill should be played as 32nd notes, it is in practice about the fastest you can play it a the piece's tempo (unless you're a rather accomplished pianist). Also, be sure to gie a slight emphasis to the final A. (Trills are ornaments and should rarely be brought out in a piece.) – Noldorin Jul 13 '11 at 2:44
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Good point; that's what I had tried to say in my final point. (I couldn't think of a better way to notate it. Also, this way it aligns with the two printed 32nd notes, which is probably desirable.) – Ben Alpert Jul 13 '11 at 3:14
Yeah, fair point. It does at least elucidate the timing. :-) I might just put an accent mark on the previously-mentioned note, though it's probably non-trivial in whatever program you're using to generate the score notation. (How did you generate that image for that matter? It looks pretty nice.) – Noldorin Jul 13 '11 at 21:47
I tried practice this on a tempo of 100 and it was incredibly hard. I can barely do it in 80. When the piece is played at its real tempo of about 120, this seems impossible. Is this part played fully in a serious performance? – Haoest Jul 25 '11 at 17:07
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I agree with the speed of the trill in Ben's answer, but this documents the fact that Mozart started his trills on the upper note (either directly or suspended). This is further proven by the fact that skipping directly from C to A is both unnatural and unlikely. Here is how it should be played: Trill as played Starting on the upper note leaves us to end on the B, leaving a smooth step to the A. Note, the first C of the trill should be tied to the crotchet.

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