Pick up Beethoven’s famous and representative works!
Ludwig van Beethoven created innovative music that served as a bridge from the Classical to the Romantic era, leaving a profound influence on later generations.
His music is passionate yet rich in beautiful melodies, and it conveys a sense of essential depth, as if pursuing things to their very core.
There are many masterpieces that everyone has heard at least once, such as “Fate” (Symphony No.
5) and “Für Elise.”
In this article, we’ve picked out some of Beethoven’s famous and representative works.
Why not immerse yourself in the music of Beethoven, one of the great composers?
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[Beethoven] Pick Up Famous and Representative Works! (101–110)
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 “Moonlight,” First MovementLudwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No.
14 in C-sharp minor, Op.
27, No.
2, widely known as the “Moonlight Sonata.” The first movement, which unfolds at a gentle pace as if expressing profound sorrow, is a masterpiece that invariably appears on lists of “beautiful piano works.” The nickname “Moonlight Sonata” was taken from words spoken by a music critic after Beethoven’s death.
Although it is unclear what the composer himself envisioned, is there any expression more fitting for this piece than “moonlight?”
Piano Sonata No. 17 “Tempest,” Third Movement, Op. 31 No. 2Ludwig van Beethoven
Strictly speaking, it’s the third movement of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No.
17 in D minor, Op.
31 No.
2, “The Tempest.” All the sonatas in this class are very demanding, and the opening unfolds with a succession of beautiful phrases reminiscent of Beethoven’s own “Für Elise.” It gradually develops into impassioned, variegated passages, building a powerful melody.
While a seasoned pianist may make it look easy, the relentless flow of sixteenth notes, the need to maintain a steady tempo, and the seamless connection of arpeggios between the right and left hands all require careful attention; otherwise, the performance can quickly lose the piece’s appeal.
Around the time this work was composed, Beethoven was tormented by hearing loss and wrote his testament.
The persistence of a single motif throughout the entire piece is very characteristic of Beethoven.
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 “Appassionata”Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata No.
23 in F minor, “Appassionata,” Third Movement.
This intense, endlessly passionate piece is a work by Germany’s musical titan, Ludwig van Beethoven.
It’s a piece in which you can almost hear Beethoven’s suffering and sorrow as he lost his hearing.
True to its title, “Appassionata,” it captivates with a fervent, magnificent melody.
While it is highly difficult to play, it’s a piece I strongly encourage advanced players to take on.
As you reach an advanced level, you may find you can breeze through many scores, but when it comes to piano sonatas and concerto-level works, the difficulty spikes so dramatically that even professional pianists may not be able to master them despite daily practice.
At this level, even among pianists, simply being able to play it is considered remarkable.
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 “Pathétique,” First MovementLudwig van Beethoven
One of the greatest composers, Ludwig van Beethoven.
Beethoven is beloved by a wide range of players from beginners to advanced, but among his works, the first movement of Piano Sonata No.
8 in C minor, Op.
13 “Pathétique,” can be said to be one of the most popular with intermediate players.
The first movement is known for being among the most challenging within the “Pathétique,” yet its difficulty falls into the upper-intermediate level, so even junior high school students can take it on.
Although there are many staccatos, be careful not to get caught up in them and play too short.
Für EliseLudwig van Beethoven
A well-known masterpiece for solo piano, as everyone knows.
Its simple and accessible structure follows a rondo form, and it has been loved by children and adults alike, past and present.
It is a quintessential solo piano piece that almost everyone has heard at least once.
There is a theory that the “Elise” in the title actually refers to Therese, a woman Beethoven loved.
[Beethoven] A Selection of Famous and Representative Works (111–120)
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 “Pathétique,” II. movementLudwig van Beethoven
Among Beethoven’s piano sonatas—by the German Classical master Ludwig van Beethoven—the Pathétique is celebrated alongside the Moonlight and the Appassionata.
Said to have been composed between 1798 and 1799, it was highly acclaimed upon its premiere and became the breakthrough work that helped solidify Beethoven’s status as a composer.
In particular, the second movement is widely beloved and frequently used as background music—often in rearranged form—in television and commercials.
With its calm yet somehow poignant sonority and a middle section that shifts dramatically in mood from the main theme, it is a work of great beauty.
Piano Sonata No. 14, Op. 27 No. 2 “Moonlight”Ludwig van Beethoven
Among Beethoven’s piano sonatas, this work is widely loved for its popular melody.
The nickname “Moonlight” comes from a comment by the poet Rellstab.
The first movement carries a solemnity that evokes the night, while the third movement is strikingly different, with a stormy, lightning-like intensity.
It’s a piece that lets you enjoy Beethoven’s many facets.
