Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor “Quasi una fantasia,” also commonly known as, Moonlight Sonata, was a piece written by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1801. This particular sonata is slightly different from the traditional sonatas, instead of the movements being fast-slow-fast-fast, Moonlight Sonata is a piece in which the three movements gradually become faster. The basic idea was to magnify the drama in the sonata. Also, Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor got its more commonly known name, Moonlight Sonata, comes from a music critic named Ludwig Rellstab comparing the first movement to the moonlight shining on Lake Lucerne, in Switzerland.
Since this piece is a sonata it is broken up into several movements, Moonlight Sonata is broken up into three movements called Adagio sostenuto, Allegretto, and Presto agitato. The first movement Adagio sostenuto, is the slowest of the movements, gives me an almost a sad and mesmerized feeling, because of the repeating triplet rhythm throughout the first movement. This particular movement is probably the most well known of this particular piece. The second movement Allegretto, is the transition movement for the first and third movements, it speeds up from the first movement, but as a whole its a pretty calm movement, written in D flat, which is the same as C sharp. The third movement Presto agitato, is also called the storm, it is the most fierce of the movements, it includes many arpeggios, which are playing the notes of a chord incredibly fast, and many accented notes, which is a note with emphasis, throughout the movement. It is also believe the third movement is influenced by a woman he was madly in love with at the time, named Giulietta.
As a whole my favorite part is the third movement, mainly because I like the way the sonata leads up to the third movement and I think it has the most interesting sound. This particular piece was written during the heart of the Classical era, 1750-1825, this change to music was because of the rise of the middle class and how popular orchestra’s had become. The change to the economic and social classes caused a more popularity to concerto and sonatas, because of their familiarity, and Moonlight Sonata, gave that familiar sound while being different. I think that Moonlight Sonata is incredibly interesting for this period because it had a different form than most sonatas, its form was normally fast-slow-fast-fast, while this particular sonata each movement gradually becomes faster.
October 17, 2009 at 5:51 am
This post is very informative. The song is absolutely beautiful and one of my favorites. I can see how this piece gives you a type of sad feeling. I like how you mentioned that this sonata is slightly different than others. To me, it is very calming. You did a nice job of tying this type of work to the middle class. The piece sounds simple and easy to listen to, thus causing it to be more popular. Great job.
October 17, 2009 at 5:29 pm
I researched the same musical piece and I am with you on everything you wrote. I think that from what I read the second movement wasn’t meant to be anything except a brief build up bridge to get to the third movement. Its interesting how with a change in the power structure in a country how quickly artists and composers change over as well. Is that because they know who pays the bills?, They have their fingers on the pulse of the people?, or do they just shift their focus so that they can survive? most likely its a mix of those things. Artists, at least on some level, know that if they plan on making a living from their art it must appeal to a larger audience. Some people create just to create; their works are never meant to be seen by anyone and the artists doesn’t care about the opinions of others – their work is their own. Professional artists and musicians know that while creativity is the lifeblood of their craft it can also be their death-knell if that creativity doesn’t appeal to their patrons regardless of their class. Did you read the bit about Beethoven composing this because of his love for a countess and the sonata not being discovered until after his death? It sounds to me like Beethoven kept the music( where I would see some destroying it for its memories) like an old love letter. Maybe it was never meant to see the light of day.