- Sheet music and tab downloads are located below.
Practice Notes
This is in the key of C# minor, so watch out for D#s and G#s (make sure to get your 3rd finger high enough on the A and D strings for these notes.) Near the end, the notes D, B#, and C# appear in sequence. This makes a set of half steps that requires the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd finger to all play close together. Many students will not close the spaces among the fingers enough resulting in a B# that is too low or a D that is too high.
Practice Exercise Suggestions
C# Minor 1st Position
C# Harmonic Minor 1st Position
Song Information
The first movement of Beethoven's piano sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, also known as the Moonlight Sonata, is arranged here for violin and piano. The sonata was published in 1802 and dedicated to one of Beethoven's piano students. Beethoven didn't give this piece the name Moonlight Sonata. The name was given by German music critic, Ludwig Rellstab, who is said to have stated that the first movement of the sonata gave him the impression of moonlight shining on Lake Lucerne. Other music critics have argued that the title is misleading and wasn't conceived of by Beethoven as representing moonlight. However, the title has been accepted by the public and it is known by that name universally. It was a very popular piece during Beethoven's life and continues to be so through today.