An Analysis of the Structure and Key Components of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata in C#m Essay

Beethoven, Moonlight Sonata in Cm, Movement No. 1I chose to analyze the first movement of Beethovens Moonlight Sonata in Cm. Like earlier classical pieces, the Moonlight Sonata is structured simply, following clean chord progressions. Works by early classical composers usually contained a clear melody, played over accompanying subordinate chords. In Beethovens Moonlight Sonata, he uses the notes that make up each chord to construct the melody, while the left hand plays the octaves of one note (typically the root) of the chord. Similar to Mozarts Piano Concerto in C, K. 467, the melody consists of arpeggios. The piano part in Mozarts Piano Concerto in C also plays a lot of rising and falling scales, which isnt present in Beethovens Moonlight Sonata, however the movement of the melody in Beethovens piece rises and falls as the arpeggios played in the melody follow the chord progression of the piece. Beethovens piece is also much darker in sound. This would make sense since Beethovens Moonlight Sonata is in a minor key and Mozarts Piano Concerto is in a major key. However, all of Beethovens work proved to be revolutionary. His pieces yielded sounds new and strange to the classical and romantic music world. Some might say Beethovens work was revolutionary. The composer used techniques used prior by classical composers such as Haydn and Mozart. Despite using similar practices, Beethoven changed the game, bridging the classic and romantic styles with innovative mind, using modulation in his pieces more frequently than other composers. Beethoven develops his themes and motifs through the use of modulation in the home key. Extending the development of the melody through different keys in a way that connected contrasting keys in a more vibrant and rapid fashion. In comparison, some of Haydns later works connected distinct keys more fluidly, modulating over time, making Beethovens fierce approach to modulation stand out in...

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