Ludwig van Beethoven

Moonlight Sonata

Sonata Quasi Una Fantasia, Opus 27, No. 2, later known as Moonlight Sonata, was dedicated to the 17-year old Countess Giulietta Guicciardi in 1801. She was a student of Beethoven's with whom he was deeply in love. It was published the following year by Cappi in 1802. The title 'Moonlight' was not Beethoven's, but was suggested by poet Ludwig Rellstab in 1832. When he heard the piece, he envisioned a boat on the waters of Lake Lucerne lit by moonlight. Since then, it has become known as the Moonlight Sonata and is probably the most celebrated piece Beethoven ever wrote. The first movement, the 'Adagio sostenuto' is the most popular one of three which completes thesonata. Presented here, in the purest form by Santorella Publications, in this unedited 'Signature Series' edition, transcribed from the original works of Ludwig van Beethoven. This emotionally melancholy masterpiece is heard as the backdrop to countless venues. Weddings, recitals and film scores are a few diverse examples of its use in today's marketplace. Learning this extremely important masterpiece is a necessity for every serious piano student.