Ludwig von Beethoven - "Moonlight" Sonata First Movement

Here, I perform Beethoven's famous and simplistic first movement of his 14th sonata. A Charles R. Walter console piano is used.

Obviously, most everyone out there in the wide world has heard this piece performed. So many variations and versions exist that it is hard to determine how one should play it, where artistic license is needed, and what things can be done to achieve what Beethoven intended for this often over-played work. For this performance, I chose to base it upon most of what my dear teacher taught to me. Slower tempo than usual, hesitation in the semiquaver melody, increased lyrical phrasing, and some free license with the crescendos gives it a more ethereal sound like - Moonlight.

Though Beethoven famously complained to his student Carl Czerny that, "surely I have written better things," this work transcends culture and tradition the world over. Perhaps it is the simplistic, poetical piano notes. . . or the recurring triplets. . .maybe we were just born to hear such a piece as human-beings. Whatever the reason, let it be played until the end of time. I hope you all enjoy my version of this classic, highly emotional work.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ludwig von beethoven
• beethoven
• moonlight sonata
• beethoven sonata no 14
• beethoven piano sonata no 14
• piano
• instrumental music
• charles walter piano
• moonlight
• sonata
• Beethoven
• op
• 27
• no

[skipdippity]

Hey, i'm not sure its a " teensie weensie little bit too fast " like 2shanman10 said. I love this song and have been listening to it a lot as of late. Seems like you play it ever so slightly slower than Horowitz, so your speed is as dead on as anyones. And its interpretation anyway.. I mean, do we really know the speed at which Beethoven intended ? Daniel Barenboim is the slowest i've heard and Glenn Gould is too fast. Anyway, you play this really well and i can hear the feeling...!!

[teakbridge101]

@skipdippity Interesting observations! Thank you! Andras Shiff, a great Beethoven authority, has proponed two contrary ideas to my version: first, he says that the time signature, 2/2, should be taken faster, since it means "in two." Though the piece is Adagio, taken literally it would seem to drag counting in two. So he says faster is the game. The 2nd thing he discusses is the use of the pedal. He says we should take what Beethoven wrote literally: hold it down through the entire piece.

[97669]

Matt, this is absolutely beautiful. You play this amazing composition so perfectly!!!! Congratulations! I LOVED it!!

Jeff

[teakbridge101]

Thank you so much, man! I wish the people watching my other piano videos were as nice as you. God bless!

[Longmovie09]

Great played!!!

[TzviErez]

Well played!

[2shanman10]

a tiny eensie weensie little bit too fast, but who am i to judge ? i couldnt play this that beautifully to save my life. haha

[opferte]

If you want to know the reason why it is so popular, it is because it resonates remarkably well with the inherent emotions generated by the every day struggles, and the deep emotional scars that come with the anguish of life. Certain sounds, and combinations of sounds resonate well, the feeling of sorrow, never to be happy or upbeat, are as timeless as life itself.