Piano Sonata No. 14 (Beethoven)

Ludwig van Beethoven opus 27 no. 2 is the Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor "Quasi una fantasia" (Italian: Almost a fantasy), popularly known as the Moonlight Sonata.

Beethoven wrote this sonata in 1801 and dedicated it to 17-year-old Countess Giulietta Guicciardi, with whom he was deeply in love. However, in 1832, the poet Ludwig Rellstab compared the music to "moonlight shining on a lake". Since then, it became known as the Moonlight Sonata.

The Sonata has three movements. The first is by far the most well known. Its powerful, haunting and quiet melody was at first disturbing to audiences. But Beethoven later complained of its popularity, writing "Surely I've written better things."

1. Adagio sostenuto (attacca),
2. Allegretto and
3. Presto agitato