Ludwig Van Beethoven

1
Ludwig Van Beethoven

• Sonata Op. 27 No. 2
• Moonlight

2
A bit about Beethoven

• Born in 1770 in Bonn, Germany
• Famed for his music in all classical genres, most
  especially piano and symphonic
• Couldnt hear things
• Died in 1827 in Vienna, Austria

3
Beethovens Piano Sonatas

• THIRTY-TWO
• Written between 1796 and 1821
• Most famed sonatas include the Pathetique,
  Moonlight, Waldstein, Appassionata, and Les Adieux

4
Moonlight!

• Dedicated to Countess Giulietta Giacciardi
• Written in 1801
• Full name Sonata Quasi Una Fantasia

5
A Big Un-Secret

• Sonata penned Moonlight by some guy thats NOT
  Beethoven.
• This guy, Ludwig Rellstab, was inspired when he
  saw the reflection of light off of Lake Lucerne
  in 1836.
• Most of the nicknames for Beethovens Sonatas did
  not originate with Beethoven.

6
He couldnt hear but he still had his other
sensesheh

• The woman to whom he dedicated this sonata,
  Countess Giacciardi, was not only his student but
  also his love interest.
• He proposed to her and she accepted, but one of
  her parents did not approve and the marriage
  never took place.

7
The Really Famous Part

• Just about everyone who has listened to classical
  music is familiar with the first movement of
  Moonlight Sonata.
• The Adagio Sostenuto movement is often played by
  itself, though the other two movements are lovely
  as well.

8
Interesting thing about the Famous Part

• Note! Beethovens Sonatas were written for the
  pianoforte, NOT the modern piano.
• There are instructions to hold down the damper
  pedal for the length of the entire movement,
  which would totally NOT be kosher on todays
  Steinway.

9
Hmm. Why Quasi Una Fantasia?

• The first movements of Beethovens Opus 27
  Sonatas (of which there are two) contain elements
  of both Sonata and Fantasia form.
• The tonal layouts of these movements and the
  overall pieces, however, are in standard sonata
  form, hence their classification.

10
More weirdness about this sonata

• Normally, classical sonatas are arranged in three
  movements fast, slow, and fast.
• Beethoven! The first movement is Adagio
  Sostenuto! Thats kinda slowso what next?

11
Allegretto? Huh?

• Thats right. The second movement of this Sonata
  is FASTER than the first movement! Hah. That
  Beethoven!
• This Minuet and Trio form also has something
  particularly striking about it The first section
  of the Minuet is not repeated, which is not
  standard of this genre.

12
Presto! Agitato

• The final movement is the most standard of the
  three movements.
• Contrasts from the first in that while it is
  still emotional, it is fiery rather than subdued.

13
An old school autograph of the last movement
14
People who play this sonata kinda well

• Alfred Brendel
• Vladimir Ashkenazy
• Andre Watts
• Joanie

15
The last thing

• For as many times as Ive heard this sonata, I do
  not get tired of it. As distinct from Fur Elise.
  Sorry Ludwig.
• This should totally remain one of the most played
  piano piecesFOREVER!!!!