The Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, marked Quasi una fantasia, Op. 27, No. 2, is a piano sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven. It was completed in 1801 and dedicated in 1802 to his pupil Countess Julie "Giulietta" Guicciardi. The name Moonlight Sonata (German: Mondscheinsonate) grew popular later, likely after Beethoven's death.
The piece is one of Beethoven's most popular compositions for the piano, and it was a popular favourite even in his own day. Beethoven wrote the Moonlight Sonata in his early thirties, after he had finished with some commissioned work; there is no evidence that he was commissioned to write this sonata.
The first edition of the score is headed Sonata quasi una fantasia ("sonata almost a fantasy"), the same title as that of its companion piece, Op. 27, No. 1. Grove Music Online translates the Italian title as "sonata in the manner of a fantasy". "The subtitle reminds listeners that the piece, although technically a sonata, is suggestive of a free-flowing, improvised fantasia."
Although no direct testimony exists as to the specific reasons why Beethoven decided to title both the Op. 27 works as Sonata quasi una fantasia, it may be significant that the layout of the present work does not follow the traditional movement arrangement in the Classical period of fast-slow-[fast]-fast. Indeed, this sonata is considered one of the earliest pieces of the Romantic era. Instead, the sonata possesses an end-weighted trajectory, with the rapid music held off until the third movement. In his analysis, German critic Paul Bekker states: "The opening sonata-allegro movement gave the work a definite character from the beginning ... which succeeding movements could supplement but not change. Beethoven rebelled against this determinative quality in the first movement. He wanted a prelude, an introduction, not a proposition".
Description credit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_S...)
Piece: Piano Sonata No. 14 “ Moonlight”, Op. 27
Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer: Evgeny Kissin
Consider liking and subscribing if you enjoy my content!
IMSLP score link: imslp.org/wiki/Special:Imagef...
Original video (audio credit): • Beethoven Sonata No ...
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA
//////////////////////////////////////////////
TIKTOK: / nicktranscriptions
INSTAGRAM: / nicktranscriptions
TWITTER: / nickkontek
Edited on Microsoft Clipchamp
#music #orchestra #classicalmusic #jazz #piano #violin #viola #cello #trumpet #trombone #frenchhorn #tuba #clarinet #oboe #bassoon #flute #saxophone #beethoven #liszt #chopin #paganini #schumann #schubert #strauss #tchaikovsky #stravinky #concerto #rhapsody #nocturne #sonata #bach