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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 pedal, changed as the harmony moves.

  2. :
IITernary form7:09–9:30
III Sonata form9:31–16:51

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

At a glance

  1. I. Adagio sostenutoSonata form · 6 min · 68 bars · quarter note ≈ 43 bpm
  2. II. AllegrettoTernary form · 2 min · 60 bars · quarter note ≈ 183 bpm
  3. III. Presto agitatoSonata form · 7 min · 201 bars · quarter note ≈ 152 bpm
Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2, I. Adagio sostenuto: first page of the score
Full score

Questions

How long is Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2?
About 16 min in this recording, in 3 movements: I 6 min, II 2 min and III 7 min.
What form are its movements in?
I: sonata form, II: ternary form and III: sonata form.
How fast is it played?
In this recording, measured from the score: I quarter note ≈ 43 bpm, II quarter note ≈ 183 bpm and III quarter note ≈ 152 bpm.
Is there a score of Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2?
Yes, of every movement.

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Path 09

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Path 20

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In the catalog

Ludwig van BeethovenPiano sonatasClassical periodC-sharp minorSonata formTernary form

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