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] A selection of famous and representative works! (141–150)
Piano Sonata No. 14 “Moonlight Sonata”Ludwig van Beethoven
A famous piano sonata composed by Beethoven in 1801.
He dedicated it to Giulietta Guicciardi, his piano student and the woman he loved.
Because of their difference in social status, their romance could not develop; Guicciardi married another man and left Beethoven.
The unrequited love he knew could never be fulfilled blends beautifully with a melody that evokes a moonlit lake surface.
Even today in Japan, it is frequently used in films and on television.
It’s a piece best listened to quietly on a night with a beautiful moon.
Piano Sonata No. 14 “Moonlight,” Third MovementLudwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven, the revered musical master Germany is proud of, composed the famous piece “Moonlight.” The gentle first movement is known for being relatively easy, but the third movement is a demanding piece that requires advanced technique! It features rapid passages and is often introduced in various media as a difficult work.
However, it actually has the characteristic of relatively few leaps, so once you master the right-hand arpeggios, it’s surprisingly not too hard to shape into a performance.
That said, you’ll need the stamina to play it through, so make sure to build a solid foundation with basic practice and keep at your training!
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 “Moonlight”Ludwig van Beethoven
Although everyone associates this piece with the image of “Moonlight,” Beethoven himself titled it “Sonata quasi una fantasia.” There are several theories as to how the nickname “Moonlight” became established, but it is said to have spread because the German poet Rellstab—who wielded great influence as a music critic—heard the first movement and likened it to “a boat swaying on the moonlit waves of Lake Lucerne in Switzerland.” It is a work full of varied expression: a heartrendingly beautiful first movement, a charmingly melodic second movement, and a fiercely, breathlessly driving third movement.
[Beethoven] Picking Up Masterpieces and Signature Works! (151–160)
Piano Sonata No. 17 “Tempest”Ludwig van Beethoven
Although it is known by the nickname “Tempest,” this moniker is said to have originated when Beethoven, asked by his pupil Schindler how to interpret the piece, replied, “Read Shakespeare’s The Tempest.” The first movement is marked by bold musical ideas—sudden shifts in tempo and dynamics and recitative-like declamation—that make it feel almost like listening to a reading.
The second movement is an Adagio that is lyrical and serene.
The third movement, said to have been inspired by the sound of horses’ hooves, races throughout on persistent sixteenth notes that carry a restrained inner passion.
Weighty yet dramatic, with beautiful melodies, it is a captivating work.
Piano Sonata No. 20, Op. 49 No. 2, First MovementLudwig van Beethoven
A work by Beethoven, a composer who shines in the history of classical music.
Despite its simple character, this piece exudes high artistry.
Composed around 1795, it is said to have been written as teaching material for beginner pianists, yet its content is refined and reveals profound musical expression.
It opens with the tonic chord, followed by a lively stream of eighth notes that leaves a strong impression.
In the middle section, a series of modulations adds depth to the music.
Recommended not only for piano students but also for classical music enthusiasts.
Why not perform this pleasant, melody-rich piece—showcasing Beethoven’s brilliance—at your next recital?
Piano Sonata No. 23 “Appassionata,” Third MovementLudwig van Beethoven
Among his many piano works, the Appassionata is considered one of the most impassioned.
Beethoven, who was teaching piano to Josephine, the sister of his friend Count Brunsvik, master of the palace, fell in love with her; however, they could not overcome the difference in social status between commoner and aristocrat, and the two were never united.
It is said that the Appassionata was written amid the anguish of this unfulfilled love.
Through boldly and rapidly shifting dynamics and the intense sonorities of chords that seem to break through the melody, one can sense the fierce emotions Beethoven kept hidden in his heart.
Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat major, Op. 106 “Hammerklavier”Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven, a master who shines brilliantly in the history of music.
Among the masterpieces he composed while losing his hearing, the “Hammerklavier” is hailed as the Everest of piano sonatas for its grandeur and technical difficulty.
From the powerful opening of the first movement, through the grief-laden third, to the fourth movement capped by a complex fugue, it is a work that truly reaches the summit of musical achievement.
It demands not only formidable technique but also profound emotional expression, making it an ultimate challenge for pianists.
Its monumental scale and innovative musical language leave listeners in awe.