“Moonlight” Sonata Op. 27 No. 2: III. Presto agitato

Ludwig van Beethoven · Level 6 (Expert) · Classical · Piano

The stormy finale of the “Moonlight” Sonata (1801): rising arpeggios that crash into sforzando chords, in sonata form. A piano work by Beethoven, between the Classical legacy of Haydn and Mozart and the Romantic impulse. C♯ minor, 4/4, 201 bars (about 13 minutes), complete score.

▶ Play this piece with the interactive score

How to practise it

• Listen first: the site plays it while the score scrolls.
• Wait mode: the score waits for you at every note, at your own pace.
• Tempo challenge: play in time, with a score and a map of the bars you got right.
• The trills and grace notes of the source are not written here. First work the right-hand arpeggios in groups of four with a loose wrist, then aim for short, clean landing chords. Respect Beethoven’s contrasts: sudden dynamics, accents and rests are part of the music. Key signature with 4 sharps: name them aloud before playing and spot the places where accidentals cancel them. One hand sometimes plays two voices: hold the long notes for their full value and let the main line sing louder than the accompaniment.

More pieces by Ludwig van Beethoven

• Sonata Op. 49 No. 2: I. Allegro ma non troppo
• Sonata Op. 49 No. 2: II. Tempo di menuetto
• Minuet in E-flat major WoO 82
• Sonata Op. 49 No. 1: I. Andante
• Prelude in F minor WoO 55
• Sonata No. 25 (1st Movement: Presto alla tedesca) (Op. 79)
• Sonata Op. 79: II. Andante
• Sonata Op. 2 No. 1: III. Menuetto

Source : Mutopia Project · CC BY-SA 2.5