Sonata Pathétique

Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, or commonly known as Sonata Pathétique by Ludwig van Beethoven. It was written in 1798 when Bethoven was 27 years old and published in 1799. He (Beethoven) dedicated this to his friend Prince Karl von Lichnowsky. It is one of the few works that named by the Bethoven, it was actually named Grande sonate pathétique by the publisher, who was impressed by the sonata's tragic sonorities.

Prominent musicologists debate that, whether or not, the Pathétique might have been inspired from Mozart's piano sonata K. 457 ? Since both compositions are in C minor, and also have three similar movements. The second movement, Adagio cantabile, especially, makes use of a theme remarkably similar to that of the spacious second movement of Mozart's sonata.

However, Beethoven's sonata has a very unique motif line throughout, a major difference from Haydn or Mozart’s creation.