Piano Sonata No. 8 C-minor op.13 (Pathetique)

Unlike the name “Moonshine Sonata” the name “Grande Sonate Pathetique” is Beethoven´s own idea. He composed the piece in 1798 and it was published by Eder of Vienna in 1799. Beethoven portrayed his ever increasing suffering and the danger of total deafness in this sonata. He must have suffered immensely with his destiny; he wrote to a friend that with this threatening deafness he considered himself to be the “unhappiest of God´s creatures.” This suffering finds its way into the sonata in an impressive way.
The sonata has a very slow and sighing first part (grave) that is followed by the obligatory “allegro”. Here the main theme has a very dramatic structure created by the octave-tremolo of the left hand. Thus the listener participates in Beethoven´s own suffering.
The theme of the second, slow movement (Adagio cantabile) is one of Beethoven´s best known. The rhythm is interesting – the triplets of the middle section are continued in the third section as an accompaniment of the main theme and we hear a dramatic crescendo.
The rondo is a fast and lively movement with a theme that takes up the minor theme of the first movement. It finishes with a powerful C-minor chord. 
In this sonata one can feel Beethoven´s inner struggle against his “threatening fate” in the alternation between desperation and tragedy on one hand and deep passion on the other hand. So not without reason does he compose in C-Minor.


Level 1 is shorter and simpler than Level 1.5.
Level 1.5 has the continuous right hand pattern in the left hand, freeing up the right hand to play just the melody.
Level 2 is simplified and shorter than Level 2.5.
Level 2.5 is written at half the speed of Level 3/3.5, and is further shortened.
Level 3 is substantially shorter than Level 3.5, as it does not include the middle section.
Level 3.5 is in the easier key pf Bb major, and is notated at half the speed.