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Question: How fast should Moonlight Sonata be played!?
The first movement !?

in bmp!? Like how fast did Beethoven intend it to be played when he wrote it!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
I think the real question here is whether Beethoven's tempo marking, Adagio sostenuto, refers to the pulse at the half note (minim) or quarter note (crotchet)!. Most artists continue to assume that the adagio refers to the quarter note even though the time signature for this movement is clearly alla breve (cut time or 2/2)!.

I feel very strongly that any artistically informed performance of this movement demands that the pianist accept the relationship between the adagio and the metric pulse at the half note level!. With this in mind, I can recommend a range of tempi between half note=36 on the slow end and and half note=44-48 and the fast end!. Hall size, instrument characteristics and mood all play a part in any final decision about the tempo!.

Even the slowest tempo I recommend is faster than most recordings of the work, but traditions hold little water with me!. I consistently seek the composer's truth revealed through the notation and instructions in the score!. In this case, we have clear evidence that Beethoven's intent was to feel the piece in 2 rather than four!.

Of course, there is no single tempo for this music as it must assume a somewhat rubato character in order to support the triplet accompaniment and the simple melody!. Without the the proper phrasing and shape, the movement sinks to the level of a triplet etude!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Renaissance Man!.!. THANK YOU!.!. I'm 69 years old!.!. and a professional musician for most of those years and the Moonlight Sonata was the first serious piece I ever learned, (all 3 movements) many years ago!. I have often wondered what the correct time signature was for that piece!.!.!. and I thank you for the detailed answer!.

You get MY 10 points and I'd give you 20 more if I couldWww@QuestionHome@Com