Beethoven’s Sonata – the Piano Master Who Changed the Musical World

Beethoven’s Sonata – the Piano Master Who Changed the Musical World

Beethoven is not a new name to the world of music. For the music buffs he is an inspiring icon. Beethoven’s musical genius has inspired generations and is continuing to do so. He immortalized himself in the world of music with his sonatas.  He composed music for operas, sonatas, quartets, pianos, violin concerts and orchestras. The talented musician’s famous compositions are the Moonlight sonata, Fur Elise and Fifth and the Ninth symphonies.

 

Genius In The Making

 

Beethoven was born in the year 1770, on the 16th day of December in Bonn, Germany. Coming from a family of musicians, he showed his inclination towards music, even when he was young. He was gifted in music even as a child, and began performing in public at the tender age of six.  He became a professional at the age of 13. He had to fight hearing impairment but emerged brave by countering the problem and composing beautiful tunes. The illustrious musician died at 56 but he still lives on, through his wonderful music. Such is the genius of Beethoven.

 

Beethoven’s Sonatas

 

Beethoven composed over thirty two piano sonatas and each of them is considered to be a precious treasure in the world of music. He played a pivotal role in the evolution and transformation of the sonata form. Many traits followed by his predecessors like Mozart and Haydn were sustained in his sonatas but he projected his personality and emotions through them and made sonatas, an impressive art form.

 

The tonality is the fundamental principle on which Beethoven’s piano sonatas are organized. Beethoven considered tonality vital for understanding any kind of musical form. In the thirty two sonatas composed by him, twelve of the sonatas have four parts, thirteen comprise three parts and remaining seven sonatas consist of two parts. A significant aspect of the Beethoven’s Sonata is the distinguished diversity of the movement types and the succession order. The distinct feature of his sonatas is the diligence with which he creates a connection between the constituent parts of the Sonata.

 

Beethoven’s Sonata No. 14

 

The piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor by Beethoven is known popularly as the Moonlight Sonata. He completed the sonata in the year 1810. During the composition of this piano Sonata, Beethoven began to lose his hearing faculty. He used a custom made rod that was attached to the soundboard of the piano. This helped him to sense the vibrations. The name of the sonata is ‘Moonlight Sonata’ since it is compared to moonlight which shines on lake Lucerne by a music critic, Ludwig Rellstab.

 

 

 

 

Beethoven’s Sonata No.8 in C Minor

 

Beethoven’s Sonata No.8 in C minor is called Pathetique. In 1799, this piano sonata was published. The work was dedicated to Prince Karl Von Lichnowsky, his friend. The beauty of the sonata is its tragic sonorities.  The sonata has been performed in concerts and recordings frequently, owing to its popularity.

 

The musical theme of Beethoven’s Sonata allures the listeners. The musical theme in his compositions becomes a concept that pervades throughout the composition. Beethoven’s piano sonatas are played by both amateurs and professionals alike. His compositions are performed by pianists worldwide and are even recorded extensively.

 

The gifted musician has reflected his sorrows, joys and all kinds of emotions through his compositions. How else do you describe music? Is it not a channel to describe yourself, your emotions? His brave fight against the odds like his hearing disability did not stop him from composing and playing beautiful music. Playing his sonatas on a piano is like reading the life of this gifted and illustrious musician, full of all the colors and hues of human life – full of music – full of…Beethoven

Yoke Wong is the founder of http://www.yokewong.net, a leading piano lessons provider with piano courses sold in more than 80 countries. Sign up for piano playing tips


Bernstein talks about Beethoven’s life and performs bits of Beethoven’s exhilarating Piano Concerto No. 1.