Written by Beethoven in 1801 whilst suffering from unrequited love, "Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor" was probably inspired by the composer's love for his 17-year-old pupil, the Countess Giulietta Guicciardi to whom the work is dedicated. Guilletta Guicciardi may have been Beethoven’s unknown "immortal beloved."
Beethoven considered the sonata to be inferior to many of his other works for piano. Its popularity exasperated the composer, who remarked to Carl Czerny, "Surely I've written better things."
The sonata’s nickname came from a Berlin critic named Ludwig Rellstab who in 1832 described the famous first movement as like "a boat passing the wild scenery of Lake Lucerne in the moonlight."
Beethoven himself subtitled the work ‘Sonata quasi una fantasia’ (Sonata in the style of a fantasia’).
The Hungarian compose Franz Lizst’s preference was for the middle of the three movements, calling it, "A flower between two abysses."
John Lennon got the idea for a Beatles song when he heard Yoko Ono playing "Moonlight Sonata" on the piano. He asked her to play it backwards, and came up with “Because” based on what he heard.
Originally written for Songfacts.com
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| Title page of the first edition of the score, published in 1802 in Vienna by Giovanni Cappi e Comp |
Beethoven considered the sonata to be inferior to many of his other works for piano. Its popularity exasperated the composer, who remarked to Carl Czerny, "Surely I've written better things."
The sonata’s nickname came from a Berlin critic named Ludwig Rellstab who in 1832 described the famous first movement as like "a boat passing the wild scenery of Lake Lucerne in the moonlight."
Beethoven himself subtitled the work ‘Sonata quasi una fantasia’ (Sonata in the style of a fantasia’).
The Hungarian compose Franz Lizst’s preference was for the middle of the three movements, calling it, "A flower between two abysses."
John Lennon got the idea for a Beatles song when he heard Yoko Ono playing "Moonlight Sonata" on the piano. He asked her to play it backwards, and came up with “Because” based on what he heard.
Originally written for Songfacts.com
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