PRESENTATION
What is the main point in the story? The circumstances under which the musician wrote the "Moonlight Sonata".
What is a sonata? It is a musical composition which consists of movements fast or slow, sad or playful, according to the varying mood of the composer.
Where was the scene? In Bonn in Prussia.
When? On a moonlight winter's evening.
Who were the two persons? Beethoven and the writer.
Notice that these three important facts are all told briefly at the beginning.
Why had the writer called on the musician? He wished to take him for a walk and afterwards take him home with him to supper.
Had he any reason except the desire for Beethoven's company? Yes, Beethoven's health was not good, his hearing was becoming impaired, and the writer evidently thought he needed rest and recreation. These circumstances led to an important result.
What happened next? In passing through a narrow street, Beethoven heard some one playing his "Sonata in F".
What were his feelings? Surprise to hear it in such a place and delight at the excellence of the playing.
How did he show his feelings? By exclamations, questions, and short sentences.
What is told in the next three paragraphs? They describe a conversation.
Who are speaking? A brother and sister.
What are they saying? The sister is lamenting that she cannot "go to the concert at Cologne" and her brother reminds her of their poverty. Then she wishes that "for once in her life" she "could hear some really good music".
What happens next? Beethoven decides to enter the house.
How does the writer impress this fact on the reader? By giving the argument between himself and Beethoven.
What were the latter's reasons? The player had "feeling, genius, understanding", and these qualities are so rarely found that Beethoven could not neglect them.
Explain these terms. The player showed refined feeling in her interpretation of the music, genius in her skill on the piano, and thorough understanding of the composer's purposes in the composition.
Was it only for his own pleasure that the composer entered? No, he wished to give pleasure to one who could so well appreciate his work.
Describe the scene. A young shoemaker is seated at his work. He is pale from the effects of confinement and toil. A young girl with an abundance of light hair is leaning on an "old-fashioned piano".
What does this piano show? That their parents had very probably been lovers of music, and the piano may have been an heirloom.
What comes next? The musician explains the reasons for his intrusion.
How did the brother look upon it? The young man seemed annoyed at first.
How was this annoyance overcome? The manner of Beethoven was so comical and pleasant that the young man's annoyance passed away.
How had Beethoven addressed the brother and sister? His manner was very confused. He wished to conceal his name, and yet wished to give pleasure to the young girl.
How does he show his confusion? The sentences "I, I also ... play for you", are such halting ones. He does not make his sentences complete.
What was the next part of the conversation? The young man tells Beethoven that the "piano is so wretched" and they "have no music".
What is the purpose of this statement in the story? It shows Beethoven that the young girl is blind and plays these difficult compositions by ear.
How had she learned to play this Sonata? She had heard a lady "practising" it, and "walked to and fro" in front of the house in order "to listen to it".
What does this show? What a love of music and wonderful natural ability the young girl possessed.
What is the next action in the story? Beethoven plays.
Why did he play better than he had often done before large audiences? He realized how greatly his work was appreciated; and he was deeply touched by the thought of the young girl's blindness, her poverty, her skill, and her passion for good music.
What trifling occurrence now affects the story? The last candle in the house burned out, so the writer opened the shutters and admitted "a flood of brilliant moonlight".
What effect had this upon the composer? It changed the current of his thoughts and feelings.
How did he appear? "His head dropped upon his breast", and "his hands rested upon his knees".
What is the next action? The young shoemaker asks Beethoven who he is.
What did the composer answer? "He played the opening bars of the Sonata in F." This revealed his name. The writer says that the young people "covered his hands with tears and kisses".
What were their feelings? Their actions were expressions of their affection and admiration.
What takes place next? The brother and sister beseech him to play "once more".
What description is given here? Beethoven's appearance in the moonlight.
Describe him. He was very "massive" in size, his head was large and his features strong, and the light from the moon encircled his head. (Produce a picture, if possible, of Beethoven.)
Did he agree to play again? Yes, he said he would "improvise a Sonata to the Moonlight".
What does "improvise" mean? He would compose the music as he played.
Had this any relation to what goes before? Yes, the writer has told us how thoughtful he had been when the moonlight first streamed into the room. Now he is going to express his thoughts and feelings through the tones of the piano.
We said at the beginning that a Sonata was a musical composition consisting of various movements. What are the movements? In this case there is first, "a sad and infinitely lovely movement", then, "a wild, elfin passage in triple time", and lastly, "a breathless, hurrying, trembling" close.
Let us examine this description of the "Moonlight Sonata" more closely. What did the moonlight suggest to Beethoven? "Spirits" dancing in the moonlight.
What does the first movement suggest? The "moonlight" flowing "over the dark earth".
What does the second movement suggest? The wild dance of the "spirits on the lawn".
What does the last suggest? "Flight", "uncertainty", "impulsive terror".
What was the effect upon the listeners? They were left in a state of "wonder" and "emotion".
What musical terms are used to describe this music? Interlude, triple time, agitato finale.
Explain them. Interlude is a piece of music played between the main parts. Triple time is time, or rhythm, of three beats, or of three times three beats in a bar.
Give an example of triple time. It denotes sprightliness, as in the waltz. The agitato finale means the close of the passage with a hurrying movement.
What takes place next? Beethoven rose quickly, promised to come again, and hurried away.
Why did he hurry? He wished to write out the "Sonata" while it was still fresh in his mind.
What does the last short paragraph state? It tells that this was the origin of the "Moonlight Sonata".
Where is the theme of the whole lesson found? In the last sentence.
What has the writer told us? He has given us all the circumstances which combined to inspire Beethoven to compose this great work.