Beethoven, the Moonlight and other sonatas, op. 27 and op. 31
By: Timothy Jones.
Series: Cambridge music handbooks
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 1999
Place of publication: Cambridge, UK; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 146
Subjects: Beethoven, Ludwig van, 1770-1827; Beethoven, Ludwig van, 1770-1827; Sonatas (Piano) -- Analysis, appreciation
Description: "Even in Beethoven's day the 'Moonlight' Sonata was a popular favorite. This book provides an accessible introduction to the Sonatas Opp. 27 and 31 (including The 'Moonlight' and 'The Tempest'), aimed at pianists, students, and music lovers. It begins with the works' historical background - the emergence of a 'piano culture' at the end of the eighteenth century, Beethoven's aristocratic milieu in Vienna, and his oft-quoted intention to follow a new compositional path. An account of the sonatas' genesis is followed by a discussion of their reception history, including a survey of changing performing styles since the mid-nineteenth century. The concept of the Sonata quasi una Fantasia is examined in relation to the cult of artistic sensibility in early-nineteenth-century Vienna. The study concludes with a critical introduction to each sonata."--Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.