Description
The middle movement of the "Moonlight" Sonata, a short dance placed between the unbroken triplet hush of the first movement and the storm of the finale. Liszt is said to have called it a flower between two chasms, and the contrast with what surrounds it is precisely its function.
It is in D-flat major and triple time — the same sound as the C-sharp minor of the outer movements, respelled into the major. The form is a minuet with a trio, and the syncopations that pull against the beat give the movement its slightly puzzled charm.
At fewer than four hundred notes it is by far the easiest movement of the sonata. The difficulty is not speed but keeping the syncopation light without losing the beat, and cutting the chords to a uniform length. For someone who has only ever played the first movement, this is the right size of next step.
Piano sonatas representative of the Classical and Romantic eras, including Beethoven's early works — substantial multi-movement pieces throughout.
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Sheet music provided by Mutopia Project
About the Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Born in Bonn and active in Vienna, Ludwig van Beethoven is among the towering figures in music history, bridging the Classical and Romantic eras. Despite losing his hearing in later life, he continued composing, pursuing innovative forms and intense emotional expression in his symphonies and piano sonatas. His beloved piano piece "Fur Elise" and his 32 piano sonatas remain widely performed. This site includes "Für Elise," the two sonatas of Op. 49, movements from his early piano sonatas, and sets of variations.
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