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Topic: Why is the sheet written this way (Moonlight Sonata 1st movement)? (Read 1774 times)

salim

Jr. Member
Posts: 40

Why is the sheet written this way (Moonlight Sonata 1st movement)?

on: July 08, 2015, 03:14:12 PM

Moonlight Sonata 1st movement, the key signature shows to have C, D, F and G as sharps. In a few measures, there is a note for D with a sharp next to it.. it's played as D#, but shouldn't it be an E (since it has an accidental and the key signature with a sharp)? There are no oter Ds in the same measure that have the accidental cancelled so I'm a little confused..

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dcstudio

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 2421

Re: Why is the sheet written this way (Moonlight Sonata 1st movement)?

Reply #1 on: July 08, 2015, 04:09:36 PM

no--it's a courtesy accidental-- because in mm 13-15 the D is natural--it's played as D#

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michael_c

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Sr. Member
Posts: 255

Re: Why is the sheet written this way (Moonlight Sonata 1st movement)?

Reply #2 on: July 08, 2015, 05:50:22 PM

Accidentals are absolute, not relative. If you see a sharp in front of a D, it means D-sharp, no matter what the key signature is. Often an accidental is added as a reminder, as is the case here: as dcstudio says, it's a "courtesy accidental".

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salim

Jr. Member
Posts: 40

Re: Why is the sheet written this way (Moonlight Sonata 1st movement)?

Reply #3 on: July 08, 2015, 10:44:15 PM

Ahh ok, thanks!

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