The "Moonlight Sonata" (Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2) is one of Beethoven's most iconic works, composed in 1801 and dedicated to Countess Giulietta Guicciardi. The famous nickname was coined by the poet Ludwig Rellstab, who likened the first movement to moonlight shining on Lake Lucerne.
This first movement (Adagio sostenuto) is marked by its hauntingly beautiful broken-chord accompaniment in triplets over which a simple, deeply expressive melody unfolds. Beethoven's unconventional decision to begin a sonata with a slow movement was revolutionary for its time. The sustained pedal markings create a wash of ethereal resonance, and the emotional depth ranges from tender melancholy to restrained passion. It remains one of the most performed and beloved piano works in the entire repertoire.
Composed in
1801
Opus
Op. 27, No. 2
Source
Public Domain
