About the piece
Beethoven called it Sonata quasi una fantasia and dedicated it in 1801 to the young countess Giulietta Guicciardi. The nickname “Moonlight” came after his death, from the critic Ludwig Rellstab, who compared it to moonlight on Lake Lucerne.
The first movement, Adagio sostenuto, is built on continuous right-hand triplets, deep octaves in the left hand and a melody given to the weakest fingers of the right hand.
How to practise it
- Triplets first, without the melody: they must be perfectly even and soft, like breathing.
- The melody above the triplets is played with the fourth and fifth fingers of the right hand, slightly louder than the rest: this is the real challenge.
- The left hand holds long octaves: watch the video to see how long they last.
- Change the pedal at every change of harmony, or the sound gets muddy.
Frequently asked questions
Is it suitable for beginners?
The notes are not fast, but making the melody sing over the triplets takes some experience. Hands separately and at reduced speed, it is a reachable goal.
How long is the first movement?
About five minutes at the usual tempo; the version in the video is a little shorter.