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The Moonlight Sonata: How did Beethoven want it played?

Pearl Acoustics

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Everyone has their own opinion as to how Beethoven's piano sonata No. 14 in C# minor should be played. However, in this video I discuss the challenges that every pianist has to face - and the impossibility of knowing what is required. I demonstrate how it would sound if one performed it exactly as written. But in this video I go much further, discussing the limitations of the process of composition, interpretation and performance, not just for the Moonlight Sonata, but for every piece of written music.

Chapters:
00:00 - Titles & Introduction
02:10 - The limitations of the process of composition to performance
17:39 - example of exact (computer) performance of what is written
19:12 - the invention of the Pianola
23:10 -interpretation and rhetoric
27:00 - timbre
31:05 - Conclusion

Link: to interview with Jos Van Immerseel: Jos Van Immerseel - Rhetoric
Link to talk on The Rite of Spring: From Scandal to Masterpiece: Stravinsky’s ...
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Link to to talk on Daft Punk: Random Access Memory: Great Recordings: Daft Punk, Random Access...

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Disclosure: All comments and claims in this video are the opinion of the presenter and are given independently of any external company or organisation. Unless otherwise explicitly stated, the presenter does not receive any payment, gifts or other incentives from any of the musicians, producers or companies featured in this video. All equipment in this video has either been purchased by the presenter or is on loan to him expressly for the making of this video.
All facts, figures, prices and technical specifications are quoted on a best-efforts basis for accuracy, no liability can be accepted for any errors therein.

20 Comments

@eurgoloo 3 months ago

You are a master Harley..!! Not only shows a guidance to enjoy music, but inspires us to embrace and love what we hear. Is truly a joy to watch your videos. Thanks..!!

@alexandrefernandes6286 2 months ago

Hi Harvey, another sublime masterclass, thank you so much for this video.

@davidmacnab5213 4 months ago

Tortellier's several recordings of Bach's complete cello suites over his long life demonstrate exactly your point. They are all worth exploring and savouring.

@alwynroberts8465 4 months ago

I have always found it amazing that the composers of 100plus years ago could have all these tunes, swirling around their heads and then get around to writing it down. All this without any technology to help them. Listening to this video has just added a whole new level of mind blowing things to consider. Thanks as always for a great 40 mins of edutainment

@danedes9297 3 months ago

Excellent video. It fits well within your overall discussions of differences between alternates recordings of compositions where interpretation is a key factor.

@mr.a2192 3 months ago

So glad I found this channel. This gentleman truly loves music in all its forms. Loved your videos on some of my favourite artists such as Bob Marley, Johnny Cash, Nina Simone, Massive Attack, David Gray, The Doors and David Brubeck. Love to hear you thoughts on Amy Winehouses Back to Black. Looking forward to seen who else you cover on the channel

@LizardGoddess 3 months ago

Moonlight Sonata was my first favourite piece. When I was 5 years old, my great grandfather would drive me to school on snowy days in his cozy, wood-trimmed Buick. He introduced me to classical music, and listening was always my favourite part of the day.

I grew to appreciate classical first, then found my own style as I got a bit older. While I could enjoy popular music, I found I still had to search for songs that I could relate to.

Then I found Radiohead. 💓

I have a deep appreciation for music, but I can’t deny my favourites being emotive- filled with energy, passion, melancholia, stoicism, euphoria.

Music speaks to my soul. 💕

@davidambiguous4650 4 months ago

The composers signature ? Fascinating ! Excellent video .

@TheDjcarlos67 4 months ago

Hey Harvey. What a superb video. Very enjoyable 🎶

@augustosolari7721 3 months ago

Its part of the magic of the interpretation to bring forward the composer for us to say legitimately "that is totally Beethoven", even though he has been dead for centuries.

@kakarrot62 4 months ago

Fascinating analysis Harley. I found this quite interesting and of course true. Thanks so much!

@cuebj 1 month ago

This has contributed to me, age 71, thinking of getting into classical music.
The whole hearer - author thing is a debate among scholarly circles not just for music but also for most writing.
Interesting take on it: we recently spent £2,500 on CD, amp, and speakers to go with my ancient turntable to play our old vinyl & CDs for the first time in decades. We were both very surprised to experience life-enhancing joy at hearing our music not only for the first time in years, but also at a quality we never knew before. Then I improved the Atacama speaker stands with heavy plates under the bases, larger top plates to take the Wharfedale Super Dentons, and their Atabite denser than sand filler for the columns. Transformation! Base & drums tight to slam you in the guts even at low volume with a clarity and precision of a skilled karate punch, makes me get up and move and dance. My wife doesn't like the change. She preferred the earlier decent and quite nice base - relaxing, cossetting, like a deep muscle massage for a nice feeling but not so engaging. I'm pretty certain the modified stands make for music that's closer to the original recording artists intentions and I'm invigorated but she is disturbed by the same sounds.

@LairdMorris 3 months ago

Thank you very much Harley 👌🏼

@garoldpowell863 2 months ago

Hi Harley,

Haven't seen a YouTube video for a while and miss your talks. Hope everything is well with you and can't wait for your next conversation.

@DrJulianNewmansChannel 3 months ago

At 30:15, I believe Jos Van Immerseel introduces the moderator pedal, which inserts a layer of felt between the hammers and the strings. I notice that at 30:36, you describe the sound as being so "delicato"; what's interesting is that Beethoven writes that the first movement of the Moonlight Sonata should be played "delicatissamente" [i.e. "very delicato"], and fortepianists typically apply the moderator pedal to help achieve that effect. There are some nice YouTube videos discussing and illustrating the use of moderator pedals in that movement. Of course, modern upright pianos also sometimes have a "practice pedal" that inserts a layer of felt between the hammers and the strings. On my channel I have a recording of the movement played with the "practice pedal"; while sounding very different from an old fortepiano, it still has its own distinctive ethereal and distant timbre that works well for the movement, in the kind of way that I think Beethoven was hoping for.

@LizardGoddess 3 months ago

Do you have a list of artist analyses you’ve done? I found this absolutely wonderful, and found your work through Massive Attack. I really like the way you dissect the music and explore the layering and concepts.

Thank you for sharing.

@davisatdavis1 3 months ago

It's a shame music has become so rigid. We're often not really encouraged to interpret or be individuals, we're more taught to play the page and be careful. My dream piano is a graft. But to fit in with today's world, my dream piano is a fazioli. But I'm happy with my steinway. But my true favorite is the graft. We're so often put down for being free thinkers when handling music that isn't our own, we're encouraged to compose not to strengthen our individuality, but to see how much work composers put into their music to make us respect the score. This way of playing what's on the page perfectly is completely alien to my ideals. They say there is a line between individuality and strictly playing what's written, but I see no line, I see no sides. If we're to carry on the traditions of the past, then we must be free in our own right. Sadly, that's not the reality of our world in music today.

It's very refreshing to hear someone like you with a voice to cover these topics and you added humor in as well. Hopefully there will come a time when these powerful conservatories will listen and jump on board.

@fashionnnlover345 3 months ago

Hello, please I don't know if you'll ever see this. Can you review "This album may contain hope" by RAYE. Your analysis of Cowboy Carter was insightful and raw in a way only a true musician can understand. While my background is medical, this album was - for me - the pinnacle of what music in the 21st century deserves to be. She was a co-author on Cowboy Carter. I think you'll adore this album. Hope you see this xoxo

@rcpdox11 4 months ago

BEAUTIFUL. This is one of the Most Insightful and enlightening talks I have ever heard. Thank you beyond words. I have not learnt music of any kind but I am deeply devoted to it - almost in a mystical sense - across genres - from Western Classical to Jazz to Classic Rock and to Hindustani Classical. You have clearly put Western Classical music in a perspective that makes perfect sense to a Hindustani Classical afficionado. Hindustani is completely about interpretations of an idea (a Raga) which is denoted by a handful of concepts - a set of notes, their upward and downward movement (aaroha & avaroha), and their essence of melody (pakad or chalan). There is absolutely no script. So every musician has to improvise in real time. Each raga - even if played or sung by the same musician multiple times - it sounds completely different. A single spirit but different manifestations - perhaps what a biologist would call :"the horseness" of a horse - completely evident bue essentially undefinable. THANKS A LOT. Hope to have many more of thses kinds of videos from you.