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Beethoven

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Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight’ Sonata

This image appears in the gallery:
Beethoven: Compositions, biography, siblings and more facts

moonlight

14. Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight’ Sonata

It’s one of Beethoven’s great piano works, but he never knew the piece as the ‘Moonlight’ Sonata. He simply called it Piano Sonata No. 14, and it wasn’t given its poetic nickname until 1832, five years after Beethoven’s death. German poet Ludwig Rellstab said the first movement sounded like moonlight shining upon Lake Lucerne, and the name stuck.

  1. Image 1: Beethoven Haus Bonn
  2. Image 2: Ludwig's father Johann van Beethoven
  3. Image 3: Beethoven's brother
  4. Image 4: music manuscript violin
  5. Image 5: classical piano
  6. Image 6: Count Waldstein
  7. Image 7: Vienna
  8. Image 8: Bach's well tempered clavier
  9. Image 9: young Beethoven
  10. Image 10: Hofftheatre Vienna 21 images

See the full gallery: Beethoven: Compositions, biography, siblings and more facts

Beethoven latest

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18-year-old pianist Zak plays Beethoven and Chopin medley at Sheffield train station

18-year-old pianist stuns with original Beethoven and Chopin medley at Sheffield train station

Discover Music

Great classical music. Pictured: Gustavo Dudamel, Classic FM Live at the Royal Albert Hall, and cellist Margarita Balanas

10 pieces of classical music everyone should know

Discover Music

Yuja Wang plays a piano with three pedals – but what are they for?

Why do pianos have three pedals, and what do they do?

Discover Music

Stephen Schwartz, composer of Wicked.

‘I just stole it from Beethoven’: Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz on how he wrote ‘Defying Gravity’

Young boy conducts in the Carlo Felice Theatre

Conductor dad sits his son on the podium, who reveals his incredible baton skills

Videos

Peter Schickele Beethoven 5 parody

PDQ Bach delivered the ultimate classical music and sport parody in this Beethoven performance

We ranked Beethoven’s nine symphonies from worst to greatest

We ranked Beethoven’s nine symphonies from worst to greatest

French Army Choir and children sing Beethoven in Omaha Beach D-Day ceremony

Armed forces and children sing Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’ in stirring D-Day commemoration

Glenn Gould, Mitsuko Uchida, Yuja Wang: exploring the 25 greatest pianists of all time

The 25 best pianists of all time

Discover Music

Cat wanders on stage during Beethoven’s ‘Pastoral’ Symphony at Istanbul Music Festival

Curious cat wanders on stage during Beethoven’s ‘Pastoral’ Symphony in Istanbul

Best classical music

See more Best classical music

The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

Discover Music

Best symphonies: Ludwig van Beethoven, Antonin Dvorak and Florence Price

The 15 greatest symphonies of all time

Discover Music

4 eras of classical music

The 4 eras of classical music: a quick guide

Discover Music

A young Marin Alsop, Sir Simon Rattle, and Seiji Ozawa conduct their respective orchestras.

The 25 greatest conductors of all time

Discover Music

Hildegard von Bingen, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Edward Elgar among the greatest composers in classical music history.

The 30 greatest classical music composers of all time

Latest on Classic FM

Netflix releases series inspired by Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’

What classical music is featured in Netflix’s The Four Seasons, and how is it inspired by Vivaldi’s masterpiece?

Vivaldi

Young audience members can enjoy classical concerts at a low price across the UK

15 cheap classical music concert ticket schemes for young audiences

Discover Music

‘Sinners’ composer Ludwig Göransson breaks down his movie soundtrack

‘Sinners’ composer Ludwig Göransson breaks down his movie soundtrack

Discover Music

87-year-old pianist moves judges with original composition

87-year-old veteran moves ‘The Piano’ judges to tears with original composition

Videos

10 of the best pieces of classical music written in the 20th century

10 incredible 20th-century classical works that would change music forever

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Wales v Australia

Welsh national anthem: what are the English and Welsh lyrics to ‘Land Of My Fathers’?

Discover Music

The fascinating history of the opera glove – which originated in the 16th century

Opera gloves: what’s the history of the fashion items that originated in the 16th century?

Discover Music

MADAME BUTTERFLY Poster for Puccini's opera

Giacomo Puccini: Madame Butterfly – short opera summary

Puccini

10 pieces of classical music to commemorate VE Day 80

10 pieces of classical music to commemorate VE Day 80

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Best World War II film scores: Atonement, Saving Private Ryan, The Imitation Game

10 of the greatest Second World War movie soundtracks

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