I need to find a specific, long-lost Beethoven piano piece...C minor?

Question

When I was about 15 I used to play piano with the Royal Conservatory of Music- there was this piece I used to play in Grade 5, it was a short Beethoven piece- one or two pages long, max- I'm not sure if it was a sonata or not- in C minor, and it was very sad and very emotional- DEFINITELY not a happy piece, and one of the saddest Beethoven works I had ever played. I loved it- to me it sounded like rain pouring. I lost my book, I'm 24 now, and I can't find it anywhere. The first few bars were just C, E flat and G- broken chords in various combinations in both the right and left hand, and this went on for quite a while and then the chords changed. (I can still play maybe the first quarter of the piece, but it's driving me nuts- I must find what this song is so I can play or at least listen to the rest.) 

It was so beautiful, if anyone can help me I would be so grateful. 

Thank you very much!

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

All above answers are TOO difficult to be in grade 5 RCM..

The only thing I can think of - is the F and G major Sonatina by Beethoven are about the level you mentioned..

I dont think it's going to be one of the sonata..such as
Op.10 No.1,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkPRclVC3vs
Op.13 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq4G3KRAuXc&feature=related
not to mention, Op.111
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBFphuxUlQA


So I started to suspect this might be a transcription of some sort...from Beethoven's compositions..

P.S: 
First thing pop into my mind is concerto No.3 in c minor..begins with C E flat and G..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FetACZlj0_0
but this is definitely not the right answer..

mephistopheles · Answer

I think all of the C minor pieces have been mentioned already except for the 32 variations in C minor on an original theme,  WoO 80..
Perhaps it could be variation no.5 which is rather tense?
It begins and ends in C minor but changes in the middle if I'm not mistaken.

Malcolm D · Answer

Well, Ludwig's sonata No.5 is in C minor. You could try that. Also No.32 is in C minor - but both are rather longer than you are suggesting. Of the shorter pieces there are:

Bagatelle No.5 from op.119 is in C minor.
There is also the Allegretto in C minor (Hess 69).

I suggest you go on Amazon and listen to all the samples of pieces that might be the one you are looking for.

? · Answer

Ecossaisen (WoO 83) Even though it's in in Eb Maj, this one's got a chance...

Or one of the Bagatelles (Seven Bagatelles -- Op 33, Eleven New Bagatelles -- Op 119, or Six Bagatelles -- Op 126) ... they're probably all too light and airy for what you're after, but they are a suggestion.

Anonymous · Answer

i think you might be thinking of moonlight sonata movement 1, but its in c-sharp minor not c minor so im not sure.  it does match about everything else though (minor broken chords, around level 5), so im adding a link to a youtube video of it.  hope its the one ur looking for :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6txOvK-mAk

Anna-Theodora S · Answer

Maybe it is the Pathetique sonata, first movement. I know that the first movement is a lot younger than you are saying, but there are lots of pieces that are rearranged for younger kids and for shorter versions of a piece. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL0u9QXNvEg

Anonymous · Answer

I love the fifth Piano concerto, the Emperor...It is so majestic, yet it has sweet parts, other parts are a contrast, very much like Beethoven, full of contrasts...I love especially the end part of the last movement...Wow!

del_icious_manager · Answer

Sounds very much like the Pathétique Sonata to me.

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I need to find a specific, long-lost Beethoven piano piece...C minor?

8 Answers