Is moonlight sonata by Beethoven a ghost song or something?
That is probably because the Moonlight Sonata is the best-known work which is commonly associated with nighttime–except for Debussy’s “Au Clair de Lune,” which cannot be interpreted as spooky enough. If there is any image which Beethoven would like for us to conjure up, it is Shakespeare’s King Lear. Arnold Schering compiled a list of literary works which allegedly inspired piano sonatas by Beethoven. Thanks to Schering, op. 31 no. 2 has been nicknamed “The Tempest” Sonata. If Schering had his way with all of the sonatas on the list, some of the nicknames would have to be replaced. The “Pathetique” sonata would be called the “Hero and Leander” sonata. The “Pastorale” sonata would be called “The Winter’s Tale” sonata. The “La Chasse” sonata would be called the “As You Like It” sonata. The “Waldstein” sonata would be called the “Odyssey” sonata. The “Appassionata:” sonata would be called the “Macbeth” sonata.
