Moonlight sonata: How hard is it?

[chongkeat]

I want to learn this piece, but I have some questions.
1. Can it be played on a 61-key keyboard?
2. Is it suitable for my skill level? I've tried Nocturne Op9No2, so is it around that level of difficulty?

Thanks.

[feddera]

Do you mean the first movement or all three?
1. No.
2. I'd say the first movement is easier than op9no2, but the third would be much harder.

[gyzzzmo]

1) No, there's no serious classical music wich can be played on any keyboard. Get a clavinova or an accoustic piano if you want to play classical music
2) the 3rd movement is harder than op9/2. Btw, the first (famous) movement is technically easy, but musically quite hard.

[shortyshort]

Can you play Nocturne Op9No2 on a 61-key keyboard?

[dnephi]

How well do you want to play it?

[chongkeat]

I've played Nocturne about 80%, then I realised that I need an extra octave to my right, so that's why I posted this topic asking about Moonlight to avoid repeating the same mistake again.

Oh, and do any of you know any pieces that can be played with 61 keys?

[chongkeat]

Do you mean the first movement or all three?

I was hoping to play all three, but after checking all of them out on youtube (I had no idea that there were three movements. I've only heard the first one.) The third movement seems impossible, at least at my level, so i dunno...... Maybe just the first two?

[slobone]

I've always understood that the pianos Beethoven wrote his earliest works for had fewer than 88 keys. Was I wrong?

[shortyshort]

Oh, and do any of you know any pieces that can be played with 61 keys?

I'm not sure, but I think Mozart "Rondo Alla Turca" can be played. 

[feddera]

I was hoping to play all three, but after checking all of them out on youtube (I had no idea that there were three movements. I've only heard the first one.) The third movement seems impossible, at least at my level, so i dunno...... Maybe just the first two?

I too considered learning the first movment of the moonlight sonata when I got into classical music. However, as already pointed out, it's hard to do a that well-known piece justice, and you really don't know the "moonlight sonata" if you're only playing parts of it. So I changed my mind, and will only learn it when I am sure I can pull off all movements. In your case you don't even have a large enough keyboard, so I'd wait a little longer.

Why don't you try sonata no.19 or sonata no.20 (op49) ? They are both only two movements each, so you don't need half a year to learn the notes, and an excellent introduction to Beethovens sonatas. Except for maybe 3 or 4 non-essential notes on the left hand, they can be played on a 61-note keyboard too.

[chongkeat]

OK, then.
Checklist:
1. Rondo Alla Turca
2. Piano Sonata No 19/20

Thanks.

[xpjamiexd]

I want to learn this piece, but I have some questions.
1. Can it be played on a 61-key keyboard?
2. Is it suitable for my skill level? I've tried Nocturne Op9No2, so is it around that level of difficulty?

Thanks.

1) Technically it can be altered by moving everything up an octave, though even then not all of it can be played. To give the piece the respect it deserves you should play it either on a Clavichord or Acoustic piano (I use a Clavichord) as you need the control and weighting to get the right sound.

2) Although the piece is technically not very challenging the real test is doing it justice by bringing out the melody as a 3rd voice.

[queenrock]

I've always understood that the pianos Beethoven wrote his earliest works for had fewer than 88 keys. Was I wrong?

Beethoven had 2 and a half octaves above middle C first of all, then i think around 1803ish he got one with 3 octaves above middle C, which caused him to revise his 3rd piano concerto in C minor.

[pelajarpiano]

I've played Nocturne about 80%, then I realised that I need an extra octave to my right, so that's why I posted this topic asking about Moonlight to avoid repeating the same mistake again.

Oh, and do any of you know any pieces that can be played with 61 keys?
[/quote

Yes, i can play rondo alla turca with 61 key.
and one again, if i am not mistaken, it is The Flight of Bumble bee..

[gerryjay]

hey chong!
most of the repertory before the 19th century is suited to play with 61 keys. french baroque music, bach, haydn, mozart...the list is quite long. some early 20th century music is possible as well: bartok, stravinsky, turina.

of course, some subtleties are impossible and your technique (in a broad sense) will not develop properly. anyway, it's better than nothing, isn't it?

i would only say to get away from any piece that require something else, even the 62th key. furthermore, pieces that require precise and/or extensive use of the pedal you should avoid. then, beethoven's opus 27/2 is a very bad idea.

best!

*************

ps: sorry. about your actual question, i agree with people said: the first is way harder to render musically than the nocturne (and probably impossible on a keyboard - even a 88-key one), and the third is way harder to get under your fingers.

*************

pps: anyway...if you want just to have fun, and don't care about anything else, play whatever you like and be happy.