Opera 27 no. 2 Quasi una fantasia
A post dedicated to the Sonata Moonlight by Ludwig van Beethoven.
The piece is very famous and countless films and TV series have used it.
It is the triumph of the full and enveloping sound of the piano, even though in the first edition of the score (Vienna 1802) we find: for the Harpsichord or the Piano-Forte.
It is dedicated to the Countess Giulietta Guicciardi, to whom the author fell in love.
Also in the first edition, we find the original title: Sonata quasi una fantasia.
Sonata quasi una fantasia tells us that Beethoven does not follow the rules of the classical sonata (which begins with a sonata form followed by a slow movement): he opens the piece with an Adagio sostenuto indicating: This entire piece must be played very delicately and without mute.
Among Beethoven‘s sonatas, this is No. 14, and in this article, we will look at the opening melody of the first movement.
It is a structurally simple piece. On a bass line (generally in octaves), a series of triplets are arpeggiated, creating a dark, ever-changing atmosphere. Over this sound environment, the lament of the melody appears, perfectly integrating with the harmony and creating an incredible suggestion.
Opus 27 No. 2, Sonata quasi una fantasia, is also known as the Sonata of the pergola, but even more so as Moonlight Sonata (the definition by music critic Rellstab).
At the base are the bass line with the triplets of the harmony.
In the sheet music, you will find the melody.I have added to the beginning some notes that echo the descent of the bass (to be played softly). As usual, the small notes can be ignored.
At the end of measure five, the actual melody begins.
