Piano Sonata No. 14 (Beethoven)
Piano sonata by Beethoven, nicknamed Moonlight Sonata.
The Piano Sonata No. 14 in C♯ minor, marked Quasi una fantasia, Op. 27, No. Although known worldwide as the Moonlight Sonata, Beethoven did not name it so; the title arose via imagery later proposed by the poet Ludwig Rellstab. The piece is one of Beethoven's most famous compositions for the piano and was quite popular even in his own day.
- Composer
- Ludwig van Beethoven
- Key
- C♯ minor
- Opus
- 27, No. 2
- Nickname
- Moonlight Sonata (Mondscheinsonate)
Lore & Background
Beethoven wrote the Moonlight Sonata around age 30, after finishing commissioned work; there is no evidence he was commissioned to write it. The first edition is headed Sonata quasi una fantasia, meaning 'sonata in the manner of a fantasy,' reminding listeners that the piece, though technically a sonata, suggests a free-flowing, improvised fantasia. By the late 1830s, the name was used in German and English publications, and later in the nineteenth century it became universally known by that name.
Reader's Guide
The sonata consists of three movements: I. Adagio sostenuto, in modified sonata-allegro form, played pianissimo throughout, with a melody Hector Berlioz called a 'lamentation'; II. Allegretto, a relatively conventional minuet in D♭ major, described by Franz Liszt as 'a flower between two abysses'; III. Presto agitato, the stormy final movement in sonata form, the weightiest of the three, placing the most important movement last. The first movement's tempo and quiet intensity made a powerful impression, with Beethoven's pupil Carl Czerny calling it 'a nocturnal scene, in which a mournful ghostly voice sounds from the distance.' The movement was so popular in Beethoven's day that he remarked to Czerny, 'Surely I've written better things.' Critics have debated the nickname: some object to its subjective, romantic nature, calling it misleading or absurd, while others find it evocative. Gramophone founder Compton Mackenzie deemed the title 'harmless,' noting that without public response to the moonlight suggestion, Rellstab's remark would have been forgotten.
Did You Know?
- The nickname 'Moonlight Sonata' was not given by Beethoven but by poet Ludwig Rellstab, who likened the first movement to moonlight shining upon Lake Lucerne.
- Beethoven wrote the sonata around age 30 after finishing commissioned work; there is no evidence he was commissioned to write it.
- The first movement is played pianissimo throughout, with the loudest dynamic being piano.
- Franz Liszt described the second movement as 'a flower between two abysses.'
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Piano Sonata No. 14 (Beethoven) called the Moonlight Sonata?
Beethoven never assigned that name to the piece; the label 'Mondscheinsonate' was introduced by the poet Ludwig Rellstab, who likened the opening movement's atmosphere to moonlight reflected on a lake. The nickname endured and eventually overshadowed the formal title in popular usage.
Why is Piano Sonata No. 14 (Beethoven) important?
It has been one of Beethoven's most beloved and frequently performed piano pieces since the early nineteenth century. The combination of its lyrical first movement and its stormy finale gave it a broad emotional range that resonated with audiences in his own era and continues to do so today.
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