Overrated? No. Overplayed? Yes. I think the most fascinating thing about it is that it is a Classical multi-movement cycle without a first movement. I’ll wait for the responses on the statement I just made. 😌
This thread shows up all the time. No I don't think it's necessarily overrated, but it overshadows some other great Beethoven sonatas. There's a lot of interesting aspects to it and the "quasi una fantasia" elements are quite experimental (although not as much as 27/1).The shifting in weight to the finale also foreshadows the late works which is a distribution that wasn't followed all that much after Beethoven.
Don't you think it is overplayed because it is overrated?
Don't you think it is overplayed because it is overrated? People would not go around digging moonlight sonata pieces just for nothing. Personally I play pieces because for me they sound nice. I don't grab a piano sheet just because I saw or heard someone play that.
I need to stop being so long-winded or people are going to stop reading my posts.
As for people exaggerating their reactions to any given piece, I agree it's stupid and cringey as hell, but that doesn't necessarily mean that said piece is overrated.
Not to be too philosophical, but something you mentioned in your post is really what we were talking about when discussing works like the Moonlight Sonata and the perceived quality of it in light of its popularity. When you say “because for me they sound nice,” what we are really talking about here is “X-factor.” It is that special something about a musical work or a composer/performer that you can’t quite describe with words but obviously generates a tremendous amount of allure. Beethoven, Louis Armstrong, Elvis… these are all good examples of those once-in-a-lifetime restructuralists that truly upend everything that had been done before and influence scores of musicians even long after they are gone. The Moonlight is just one good example of that legacy. I don’t think it is overrated despite its ubiquity. I do believe, however, that we have become desensitized to its true impact considering how much music history has occurred since then. Imagine being one of the first persons to hear this sonata performed before anybody else had a chance to hear it. It’s difficult to imagine how that would affect someone considering how different Beethoven’s style of writing was at that time compared to everybody else. Not to take away from the impact of other composers, but in my opinion Beethoven reflects the human condition much more effectively than say, Mozart or Schubert. Some might call it pathos. Others might call it affect. Whatever the case, it’s difficult for me (when playing Beethoven) to separate my life experiences and emotional perspective from that which Beethoven is trying to communicate through his music. For example, with the Moonlight Sonata, there is calm reflection, joy and satisfaction, and outright rage and frustration all in one 20 minute period. The fact that Beethoven was able to capture all of this in such a compact form and get so much passion and musical distance from so little material is truly amazing. I think this is why so many people have been drawn to the piece for the last 200 years and will continue to draw interest for the next 200. It just satisfies our inner need to conquer such things.I need to stop being so long-winded or people are going to stop reading my posts.
People have different interpretation for certain things. Whatever emotion pieces bring to every person, it is still the same notes but it might have a different impact on different personalities. As for me, I think Beethoven is a wonderful composer, and he made a lot of pieces that people continue to like even though it was made centuries ago and that is nice. But moonlight sonata is overrated. That is why it overshadows some other beautiful pieces made by the same person which I think are better than Moonlight Sonata.That is my opinion. Remember, we all have different insights and perspective and nobody can change that. I still think Moonlight Sonata is overrated.
It seems to me that, in any case, you're already set on your opinion about it being overrated, and you're looking for other people who share that opinion and who will confirm it here, rather than willing to listen to and consider arguments that may not agree with that view and use that wider perspective to help you decide whether you still find it overrated or you might actually change your mind about it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to have a fight with you, nor am I saying you should change your opinion about that work. If that's what you think about it, then that's just how things are, and that's ok, but then it's rather a waste of time to ask people for their opinion on the matter. What's the point of having others confirm your opinion, if you're already convinced it's true? And what's the point of having others refute it and offer different takes on the subject, if you're not going to even consider their arguments, to begin with?
Life doesn't have to be an aphorism...
I did not post this to help me decide whether Moonlight Sonata is overrated or not. I also did not post this thinking I might change my mind. I expected many to disagree that moonlight sonata is overrated, and to share their reasons why and as I have said, we have our own perspective and I am not trying to change that the same as you are not trying to change mine. And most of all this post is not only for people to confirm that they have the same insights as me, so we could party and talk about the similarities we have. No no no that isn't what I wanted for this post. I posted this for people to share their their opinions and feel free to say what they have in mind. Yes, I am convinced it is true, that moonlight sonata is overrated but I do consider what you guys say. However I don't get your thoughts on this topic, so I try to suggest things that YOU might consider but I don't expect you to change your mind. The whole point is, I didn't post this because I don't know what to think about moonlight sonata and stuff but I posted this because I want to know what others think about this piece. I am curious with your opinions so I wanna know what you think and not to trouble you by figuring out what I think.
The way you seem to be approaching your question is, "do you think that the moonlight sonata is one of beethoven's best?" or "is moonlight sonata one of your favourite pieces"?
I mean, isn't it just a chord repeating over and over again and just making things faster in the 3rd movement? There are lots of other better pieces than Moonlight Sonata. Anyone agree with me?
Haha, nice one!
Maybe if OP takes Schiff's suggestion/approach that 1st movement of Moonlight is indeed a funeral march (as Moonlight was not titled by the composer), then he/she may have other feelings and experiences towards the work
Is it just me or is Moonlight Sonata really overrated? No offense to those moonlight sonata fans, I think Moonlight Sonata is a nice piece but don't you think people's reactions are too much when they say "Wow!" Or things like that when a pianist plays that piece. I mean, isn't it just a chord repeating over and over again and just making things faster in the 3rd movement? There are lots of other better pieces than Moonlight Sonata. Anyone agree with me?
I take it you're a non-European.
Topic: Moonlight Sonata is overrated. Or is it just me?... 