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Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2

“Moonlight”180116 min

This guide follows Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 “Moonlight” (1801) in three parts: Adagio sostenuto (sonata form), Allegretto (ternary form) and Presto agitato (sonata form).

Recording: Daniel Barenboim (piano)

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AnalysisComments
  1. I · Sonata form
  2. II · Ternary form
  3. III · Sonata form
I Sonata form0:42–7:07

A low octave in the bass and rocking triplets in the right hand begin the (). The slow melody then enters as the first , and the triplets continue almost without a break to the end. The dynamics stay between and piano. The turns the material over, with figuration that soon takes on a Bach-like feel. The opening in the , and the fades away. Playing without dampers is usually taken to mean a held , changed as the harmony moves.

  2. :
IITernary form7:09–9:29
III Sonata form9:31–16:50

Section boundaries in music are not always sharp; a transition may be felt over a pause or a held chord.

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BachTrio Sonata No. 1 in E-flat major, BWV 5251730HaydnSymphony No. 1 in D major, Hob. I:11759HaydnHorn Concerto in D major, Hob. VIId:31762HaydnPiano Sonata in A-flat major, Hob. XVI:461770HaydnPiano Sonata in C minor, Hob. XVI:201771HaydnString Quartet in A major, Op. 20 No. 61772HaydnString Quartet in C major, Op. 20 No. 21772HaydnString Quartet in D major, Op. 20 No. 41772HaydnString Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 20 No. 11772HaydnString Quartet in F minor, Op. 20 No. 51772

In listening paths

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Path 09

Fifteen kinds of work

One work for each kind in the catalog, from the symphony to choral music.

Beethoven → Vivaldi → Debussy → Holst → Dvořák → Mozart → Chopin → Scarlatti → Bach → Schubert → Strauss → Handel

15 works · 3 h 7 min

Path 20

The piano sonata, from Mozart to Prokofiev

Twelve piano sonatas from Mozart and Haydn to Prokofiev's war sonata of 1942.

Mozart → Haydn → Beethoven → Schubert → Chopin → Liszt → Berg → Bartók → Prokofiev

12 works · 4 h 15 min

In the catalog

Ludwig van BeethovenPiano sonatasClassical periodC-sharp minorSonata formTernary form

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