Moonlight Sonata | Piano Play-Along
Ludwig van Beethoven
Moonlight Sonata (Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2) by Ludwig van Beethoven was composed in 1801 and published the same year. Officially titled “Sonata quasi una fantasia” (sonata in the manner of a fantasy), the piece broke with traditional sonata form by opening with a slow, atmospheric movement rather than a fast, energetic one. This innovative approach helped cement its place as one of Beethoven’s most beloved and groundbreaking piano works.
The entire sonata is structured in three movements: a hauntingly lyrical Adagio sostenuto that creates a dreamy, almost hypnotic mood; a brief but turbulent Allegretto scherzo; and a powerful, dramatic Presto agitato finale marked by virtuosic intensity. Stylistically, the Moonlight Sonata blends Classical formality with Romantic expressiveness. Its opening movement’s poignant and hypnotic melody evokes deep emotion and introspection, while the final movement showcases Beethoven’s fiery passion and technical brilliance. The sonata’s emotional range and innovative structure have made it an enduring symbol of piano literature and Romantic music.
The exact date of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth in not known for certain, however, surviving documents indicate that his baptism occurred on December 17th, 1770 in Bonn, Germany. During this time, baptism followed very shortly after birth which may put the composer’s actual day of birth on either the 16th or the 17th. Argued by many to be one of, if not the greatest composer who has ever lived, the affects of Beethoven’s genius can still be felt to this day.
