Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata is, without a doubt, one of the most celebrated piano compositions ever written.
Officially titled Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2, it was composed in 1801 and dedicated to Countess Giulietta Guicciardi, Beethoven’s student and love interest.
Despite its fame, Beethoven never called it the Moonlight Sonata.
The name came years after his death, thanks to poet Ludwig Rellstab, who likened its delicate first movement to moonlight shimmering on Lake Lucerne.
Unlike most sonatas of its time, it begins not with energy, but with quiet reflection, setting a melancholic, dreamlike atmosphere that has captivated listeners for centuries.
Enjoy!
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