Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Sonata opus 27 no. 2 in C sharp minor is often called the Moonlight Sonata. The first movement is particularly well known and often played by piano students. However, the piece has three lovely movements: Adagio Sostenuto, Allegretto, and Presto Agitato. The Moonlight Sonata is one of Beethoven's most popular works. To this day, it is performed and recorded all over the world.

How did it become the Moonlight Sonata?

The actual title of the sonata is Quasi una fantasia, which means "Like a fantasy" in Italian. The "fantasy" mood of the music coincides with Beethoven's life during the time when he wrote the piece.

Beethoven composed the famous Moonlight Sonata in 1801 and dedicated it to one of his students, Countess Giulietta Guicciardi. Shortly after their first few lessons, the two fell in love. After dedicating the sonata to her, it is believed that Beethoven proposed. She was only 17 years old! Although she was willing to accept Beethoven’s proposal, her parents prohibited her from marrying him.

The popular title of Moonlight Sonata didn’t come about until several years after Beethoven’s death. In 1836, German music critic Ludwig Rellstab wrote that the sonata reminded him of the reflected moonlight off Lake Lucerne. Since then, Moonlight Sonata has remained the “official” unofficial title of the sonata.

Points of interest on the Moonlight Sonata
(Play each movement with the following introductions. Ask the group to listen and see if they agree.)

• The First Movement of the Moonlight Sonata is easily the most well known. The mysterious, almost haunting, melody is dark and whisper-like. This movement is in a “condensed” sonata form. In other words, it plays the main melody, develops it, and then plays it again, similar to how it was originally played. Do you recognize this movement?
• The Second Movement of the Moonlight Sonata is in the form of a scherzo (a comic composition, usually fast moving and used in the place of a minuet during Beethoven’s time). Does it sound comical to you? Does it have a lively tempo?
• The Third Movement is completely different from the previous two movements. Its rapid progression from note to note is powerful and often described as "stormy." The third movement of the Moonlight Sonata is actually marked "piano" (to be played softly), but Beethoven’s use of "sforzandos" (accents) make the piece actually sound as if the overall dynamic is "fortissimo" (very loud). Can you hear the accents? Does the music sound "stormy"?

The Moonlight Sonata in Popular Culture

• The Beatles song "Because" from the Abbey Road album was based on the chords of the Moonlight Sonata. John Lennon was inspired by the sonata after hearing Yoko Ono playing the Beethoven piece on piano.
• The third movement is often played in The Smurfs cartoon during times of danger and distress.
• In an episode of the cartoon Garfield and Friends called "Up a Tree," the Moonlight Sonata is played when Garfield is stuck in a tree overnight.
• Moonlight Sonata is the name of a 1937 movie. It starred Paderewski, the concert pianist who became Prime Minister of Poland. He played himself in the movie, performing at the piano.
• In the 1990 film Misery, starring Kathy Bates, the music is used in the famous "hobbling" sequence.
• The piece appears in the television show Magnum P.I. whenever the piano is played at Robin Masters' estate.
• Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov, 1988 and 1994 Olympic champions in pairs figure skating, performed their long program in the 1993-1994 season to the Moonlight Sonata.

Related Activities:

• Click here to listen and watch a jazz version of the Moonlight Sonata.
• Are there any amateur pianists in your group? Click here to download sheet music of the Moonlight Sonata - for free!

Other "moon" songs include Moonlight Serenade (Glenn Miller), Allegheny Moon (Patti Page), Moonglow (Benny Goodman), When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain (Kate Smith), Moon Over Miami (Ray Charles), Here Comes the Moon (George Harrison), Moonshadow (Cat Stevens) and many more.