Master Class: Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata

Do you play the piano? Do you consider yourself to have a musical ear? Do you just love anything by Ludwig van Beethoven?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions, I have the resource for you: medici.tv.

Medici.tv is a streaming video service that is dedicated to providing high quality productions of classical works. You will find recordings and live performances of operas, ballets, and concerts. But what I really want to talk to you about here is their master classes.

In each master class you will be instructed by a professional artist about a particular topic. One that caught my eye is the Moonlight Sonata Master Class with Dejan Lazić. Throughout the entire course, Lazić instructs you on the nuances of Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14, more popularly known as Moonlight Sonata. 

Are you already a piano player? Lazić will give you pointers about precise finger placement on the keys, and encourage you to feel the music your way. You'll also be glad to know that there is a camera focused on Lazic's hands so you can watch how a professional musician plays each movement. There is also a camera that focuses on the pedals during those parts of the lessons. Throughout each lesson, Lazić will give you helpful tips about how to play this centuries old piece on a modern piano. 

Not a piano player but you still want to know more about how Moonlight Sonata is constructed and why it sounds so good? Lazić will discuss Beethoven's own notes and meticulously walk you through each of the three movements and discuss what makes each unique. You can also watch master classes for a wide range of topics including the Anna Karenina ballet, Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E Minor, how to conduct from Marek Janowski, and singing Mozart's arias with Joan Roders.

Want to learn more about Beethoven and some of his other works? Try these resources from our online catalog:

• Beethoven: Variations on A Life by Mark Evans Bonds
• Beethoven: A Life by Jan Caeyers
• Beethoven's Piano Sonatas
• Fidelio by Ludwig van Beethoven
• Cello sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven
• Beethoven for three by Ludwig van Beethoven

Barbara W.
Library Systems Department