e appear? "His head dropped upon his
breast", and "his hands rested upon his knees".

What is the next action? The young shoemaker
asks Beethoven who he is.

What did the composer answer? "He played the
opening bars of the Sonata in F." This revealed
his name. The writer says that the young people
"covered his hands with tears and kisses".

What were their feelings? Their actions were
expressions of their affection and admiration.

What takes place next? The brother and sister
beseech him to play "once more".

What description is given here? Beethoven's
appearance in the moonlight.

Describe him. He was very "massive" in size,
his head was large and his features strong, and
the light from the moon encircled his head.
(Produce a picture, if possible, of Beethoven.)

Did he agree to play again? Yes, he said he
would "improvise a Sonata to the Moonlight".

What does "improvise" mean? He would compose
the music as he played.

Had this any relation to what goes before? Yes,
the writer has told us how thoughtful he had
been when the moonlight first streamed into the
room. Now he is going to express his thoughts
and feelings through the tones of the piano.

We said at the beginning that a Sonata was a
musical composition consisting of various
movements. What are the movements? In this case
there is first, "a sad and infinitely lovely
movement", then, "a wild, elfin passage in
triple time", and lastly, "a breathless,
hurrying, trembling" close.

Let us examine this description of the
"Moonlight Sonata" more closely. What did the
moonlight suggest to Beethoven? "Spirits"
dancing in the moonlight.

What does the first movement suggest? The
"moonlight" flowing "over the dark earth".

What does the second movement suggest? The wild
dance of the "spirits on the lawn".

What does the last suggest? "Flight",
"uncertainty", "impulsive terror".

What was the effect upon the listeners? They
were left in a state of "wonder" and
"emotion".

What musical terms are used to describe this
music? _Interlude_, _triple time_, _agitato