'Moonlight' Sonata Op.27 No 2 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1801)

It would be rude not to include the German composer and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) and not least the classic work for piano the Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor "Quasi una fantasia", Op. 27, No. 2. This is the first movement - Adagio sostenuto (Slowly and sustained).

The work was completed in 1801 and rumored to be dedicated to his pupil, 17-year-old Countess Giulietta Guicciardi, with whom Beethoven was, or had been, in love.

The first movement is written in a kind of truncated sonata form. The movement opens with a partial Phrygian tetrachord (this is simply four notes played together) in the left hand and triplet figuration in the right. A melody that Hector Berlioz called a "lamentation" is played (mostly by the right hand) against an accompanying ostinato triplet rhythm (simultaneously played by the right hand). The movement is also played pianissimo or "very quietly", and the loudest it gets is mezzo-forte or "moderately loud". The movement has made a powerful impression on many listeners; for instance, Berlioz wrote that it "is one of those poems that human language does not know how to qualify." The work was very popular in Beethoven's day, to the point of exasperating the composer, who remarked to Carl Czerny, "Surely I've written better things."

At the opening of the work, Beethoven included a written direction that the sustain pedal should be depressed for the entire duration of the first movement. The Italian reads: "Si deve suonare tutto questo pezzo delicatissimamente e senza sordino"
("One must play this whole piece [meaning "movement"] very delicately and without dampers."). I tried ordering this at an Italian restuarant once, don't it's awful!! It's sort of watery linguini with squashed meatballs.

The modern piano has a much longer sustain time than the instruments of Beethoven's day. Therefore, his instruction cannot be followed by pianists playing modern instruments without creating an unpleasantly dissonant sound. For performance on the modern piano, most performers today try to achieve an effect similar to what Beethoven asked for using pedal changes only where necessary to avoid excessive dissonance.

This is my interpretation of the piece, and I like playing this one often before I start practicing or after a stressful day at work, it chills me out and gets me ready for a practice session.

'Moonlight' Sonata for me is like a gentle and delicate breeze whispering a lament and I try to put this over in the way I play it. I also believe it has the sad note of unrequieted love or a love you can reach out to but not touch.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• moonlight
• moonlight sonata
• beethoven
• ludwig van beethoven
• paul piano
• paul hargreaves

[spyman635]

I gotta learn how to play

[keepdistance13]

i really like this.. :D



[Christinjapan]

Very good!

[teakbridge101]

hey, man, I can't believe that no one has commented on your video after so many months! Great use of the original Classical terms for the piece, too. Not many even know them! So high marks there from me. Have you ever read Carl Czerny's instructions for the piece? A very interesting read. Good job!