Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14
             On December 16th, 1770, Ludwig Van Beethoven was born in Bonn. His father a court musician and tenor as well as a forceful alcoholic. Ludwig's father forced him into becoming a child prodigy, and at 14, he became a paid member of the Bonn court orchestra. He played the viola and the harpsichord. In 1792, he was given a grant from the electoral prince of Bonn to travel to Vienna. In Vienna Haydn, Salieri, and Forster instructed him in music composition and theory. In 1798, his symptoms of deafness worsened and from 1819 on, he was having such a hard time, he had trouble making himself understood. In 1809, three members of the Viennese nobility promised him an annual pension to stay in Vienna. Before Beethoven died in 1827, he wrote many symphonies and sonatas.
             I chose to write about Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14. This sonata was the first movement in the "Moonlight Sonata." Of all the musical compositions put together by Beethoven, this is my favorite. When I listen to any of Beethoven's music, I get a great feeling of relaxation hit me. This piece performed,
             in C-sharp minor, feels the most relaxing. I listen to this song a lot when I am trying to write. I feel that along side of relaxing, it also brings out my creative energy. If I am writing and am stressed for time, I can play the music and it will ease my worries without distracting me from my task.
             Beethoven's Sonata No. 14 is relevant to the class because it was composed during the time of Metternich rule over the Austrian Empire. In some ways Beethoven's music could be considered "revolutionary" (much like the events that happened during this period) when compared to other composers of his time.
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